Gatland’s gamble pays off as Wales whip sorry Italy
CARDIFF: Warren Gatland heads into the final round of the Six Nations something of a relieved man after Wales gave themselves a shot at finishing second in this season’s Championship.
The Wales coach saw his decision to make 10 changes to his starting side rewarded with a 38-14, bonus-point win over Italy in Cardiff on Sunday.
Had Wales failed to beat the struggling Azzurri, after successive defeats by England and Ireland, the New Zealander would have faced an uncomfortable few days leading up to Saturday’s home finale against a resurgent France, for all he might have learnt some valuable lessons regarding squad depth ahead of next year’s World Cup.
But instead Wales will kick off knowing another bonus-point win over Les Bleus will assure them of the runners-up spot behind already-crowned champions Ireland.
This latest reverse meant Italy had now lost 16 successive Championship matches — only France with a run of 17 straight defeats from 1911-1920 have endured a longer losing streak in the Five or Six Nations.
But Italy will equal that unwanted record if they are beaten by Scotland in Rome on Saturday.
Wales enjoyed several sparkling moments while running in five tries during their 12th consecutive victory over Italy but, unsurprisingly given so many new combinations, errors also crept into their game.
“It was a job done, it’s what we wanted,” Gatland said after a match where Wales wing George North bagged a try double, with Hadleigh Parkes, Cory Hill and Justin Tipuric also crossing Italy’s line.
“But we achieved what we wanted to do, to get a bonus point and have our destiny in our own hands next week to finish second in the Championship.”
Wales won on Sunday despite being reduced to 13 men early in the second half.
Liam Williams was shown a yellow card just before the break for a high tackle on opposing fullback Matteo Minozzi, while scrum-half Gareth Davies followed him into the sin-bin soon after the interval for a deliberate knock-on. RESULT Wales 38 Italy 14 (HT: 17-7) Scorers Wales: Tries - Parkes (4), North (6, 67), Hill (43), Tipuric (71); Conversions - Anscombe (4, 6, 43), Halfpenny (67, 71); Penalty - Anscombe (35)
Italy: Tries - Minozzi (10), Bellini (75); Conversions - Allan (10), Canna (75)