Six Nations

Rugby, Italia coughs up the last and resurrects Wales

At the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, the hosts beat the Azzurri 31-17 to break a run of 15 consecutive defeats in the tournament

by Giacomo Bagnasco

14 March 2026

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Wales v Italy - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - March 14, 2026 Italy's Federico Ruzza looks dejected after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Italia missed the chance to score their best Six Nations ever, and Wales shrugged off a huge burden by breaking a 15-match losing streak in the tournament. It was a 31-17 win in Cardiff, but the most striking factor was the 31-0 win by which the hosts - who scored four tries - led with half an hour remaining. From that moment on, only the Azzurri scored: three goals with a mainly 'cosmetic' value, because the final outcome was in fact already decided.

On the eve of the match, the Italian coach Gonzalo Quesada set an objective that went beyond the result, hoping that in this match, as in the first four, the team would show consistency from the first to the 80th minute. Hopes dashed, unfortunately, due to a first half that was totally not up to the standard of the Italia seen so far. There is also an overall statistic that frames this match, in which missed tackles exceeded 20% of the total.

A decisive first half where things just didn't work. Rhythm less high than usual, insufficient possession and territory, contacts and reactivity not too consistent, two presences in the opponents' 22 area that could have brought points and instead were wasted, a defence less efficient and careful than usual. Add to that a few unrealistic initiatives born of frustration. Apart from a few dubious decisions by the referee, Wales' superiority was even surprising for how clear-cut it was.

Surely, if we have seen the Azzurri's worst 40 minutes in the Six Nations 2026, we can turn the tables on the hosts, who had shown progress in the previous two rounds but had never managed to deliver such a performance. It all served to bring enthusiasm on the pitch and in the stands, while the Azzurri seemed unfocused and even lost at times.

Exemplary the first goal of the Dragons, after Paolo Garbisi had failed a not impossible penalty. In the 15th minute a touchline won by the hosts, offensive action at great pace and then No. 8 Wainwright broke through: by power, yes, but also taking advantage of the not very aggressive defence of Nicotera and Lorenzo Cannone.

Terrible, then, the one-two between the 25th and 28th minutes. Two punishments played into the lineout, two winning drives with the final touch first by Wainwright (who scores a brace) and then by Lake. On the latter occasion it all stemmed from a lineout throw for the Azzurri who had the ball stolen by the Welsh, ready to set up a lightning fast counter-attack.

The second half began by removing any doubts about the match's prospects, as Wales stormed off and, after just four minutes, brilliant opening half Dan Edwards went wide and created the momentum for the try. He also scored all the conversions and the drop for the temporary 31-0.

Dragons electrified and euphoric, but from that point on also careful to manage the game. Italia began to play better, at the 52nd minute they had 'their' penaltouche, with Di Bartolomeo going in goal on a collective push, while the opposing pylon Griffin took a yellow and was out for ten minutes. From then on, for the Azzurri, two tries cancelled "on the video", by Ioane and Marin, and two valid scores. On the half-hour mark a remarkable break on the right out by Menoncello, the best of ours, and subsequent change of front until Allan's decisive touch. And as time expired Garbisi's goal, after a closed scrum and a beautiful sequence of passes.

There was little consolation in the face of a sub-par game, but it did not detract from the 'plus' sign of the Azzurri's first Six Nations home win.

The match

Wales-Italy 31-17 (first half 21-0). For Wales: 4 tries (Wainwright on 15' and 25', Lake on 28', Edwards on 44'), 4 transformations (Edwards), 1 drop (Edwards on 48'). For Italia: 3 tries (Di Bartolomeo in the 52', Allan in the 69', P. Garbisi in the 81'), 1 transformation (P. Garbisi in the 52'). Kicks between the posts: Edwards 4 for 4; Garbisi 1 for 4. Yellow card to Griffin in the 52nd minute.