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Wales’ pacey back three gave Steve Hansen a perfect send-off as his side mauled Italy in their final Six Nations match yesterday.
A near-capacity crowd cheered Hansen’s men steam-rolled the Italians with the running rugby that impressed so many people at last year’s World Cup.
It was a day for records, with 35-year-old lock Gareth Llewellyn equalling Neil Jenkins’ achievement of 87 Tests, and fullback Gareth Thomas beating Ieuan Evans’ Wales record of 33 Test tries with his second-half effort.
Stephen Jones kicked two early penalty goals before Rhys Williams raced to within metres of the try-line and quick ball to the left gave fellow winger Shane Williams the space to burrow over for his 14th try in only 18 Tests.
Rhys wasn’t to be outdone, though, and a simple but well-executed blindside move involving scrum-half Gareth Cooper and fullback Gareth Thomas gave him the space to sprint past Italian skipper Andrea De Rossi and score in the corner to give Wales a 16-0 lead at halftime stage.
That was reduced to 13 only a minute into the second half when Italy’s South African-born fly-half Roland De Marigny slotted a simple penalty goal, although he then missed two long-range efforts that could have made things interesting.
Just as the crowd began going quiet, Gareth Thomas brought the house down. Joining a backline move at a perfect angle, the big man carried two defenders over the line with him as he broke the Wales record with his 34th Test try – and his eighth against Italy.
Jones converted and Wales were in again two minutes later when replacement Tom Shanklin dotted down with only his second touch of the match.
Centre Andrea Masi gave the visitors something to cheer about with a try in the 63rd minute, but the crowd didn’t have long to moan about it, with quick hands from a close-range scrum giving Shane Williams his second try. Another free-flowing move and a clever basketball pass from lock Michael Owen put Rhys Williams over for his second try in the same corner and the crowd was over the moon.
Wales (16) 44
Tries: S Williams (2), R Williams (2), Thomas, Shanklin
Cons: Jones (4) Pens: Jones (2)
Tries: A Masi Con: Wakarua Pen: De Marigny
Wales: Thomas (Warriors), Williams (Blues), Taylor (Scarlets), Harris (Blues), Williams (Ospreys), Jones (Scarlets), Cooper (Warriors), Jones (Ospreys), McBryde (Scarlets), Jenkins (Warriors), Llewellyn (Ospreys), Owen (Dragons), Charvis (Tarbes, capt), Williams (Blues), Jones (Scarlets).
Replacements: Davies (Warriors), Evans (Blues), Sidoli (Warriors,), Popham (Leeds Tykes), Peel (Scarlets), Sweeney (Warriors), Shanklin (Blues).
Italy: Canale (Benetton Treviso), Mazzucato (Ghial Calvisano), Masi (Viadana), Stoica (Montpellier), Dallan (Benetton Treviso), De Marigny (Overmach Rugby Parma), Griffen (Ghial Calvisano), Lo Cicero (Lazio & Primavera), Ongaro (Benetton Treviso), Castrogiovanni (Ghial Calvisano), Dellape (Benetton Treviso), Del Fava (Overmach Parma), Bortolami (Safio Petrarca Padova), Persico (Leeds Tykes), De Rossi (Ghial Calvisano, capt).
Replacements: Festuccia (SKG Gran Parma), Perugini (Ghial Calvisano), Mandelli (Ghial Calvisano), Orlando (Treviso), Picone (Benetton Treviso), Wakarua (Brescia), Bergamasco (Stade Francais).
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa).
