Wales leapfrog from fifth to second in Six Nations table with hammering of Italy

Wales 38 Italy 14: The hosts went down to 13 men at one point but still managed to overpower their visitors

Sam Peters
Principality Stadium
Sunday 11 March 2018 17:59 GMT
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George North carried on his good form with two tries
George North carried on his good form with two tries

George North rounded off a difficult week in style with two tries as Wales moved into second place in the Six Nations table courtesy of a bonus-point win over rudderless Italy.

The Wales wing, in the middle of a dispute with his club Northampton, crossed in each half of a patchy game which initially promised fireworks but flattered to deceive in the second and third quarters before the home side powered home towards the end.

Scarlets centre Hadleigh Parkes enjoyed an almost flawless game, scoring one try and having another disallowed as Wales claimed a bonus-point win which lifts them from fifth into second with one game left at home against France next Saturday.

But it was North who dominated as he looked back to his blistering best after being heavily criticised last week by Northampton’s interim head coach Alan Gaffney, who implied he had chosen not to play in the club’s Aviva Premiership encounter with Sale.

North, who would have claimed a hat-trick in the dying minutes only for referee Jerome Garces to spot a knock on, took his international try tally to 34 in 75 Tests to prove he is far from a busted flush at the tender age of just 25.

“It’s been a difficult couple of weeks, but it’s been good to be in camp with a real focus," North said after the final whistle in Cardiff. "International rugby is a tough old place and you have to keep your head on you, focus on the challenges ahead and for me it was a case of looking at Italy and making sure it was full steam ahead. Having this game as a focus was a really good thing for me.”

James Davies, younger brother of Jonathan, made his Welsh debut

“It was job done,” said Wales head coach Warren Gatland. “We wanted to get that bonus point so we had our destiny in our own hands going into the final game.

“I thought George was great. He scored two tries and can’t see where there was a knock on at the end. You have to accept it. He caused Italy a lot of problems with his footwork and the way he carried the ball.”

Lock Cory Hill and flanker Justin Tipuric also crossed for Wales, who finished strongly against an Italian outfit which has now lost 16 successive Six Nations games. On this evidence, it could be some time before that losing streak ends.

Gatland made 10 changes to the side which lost to Ireland in Dublin.

North was recalled following his spat with Gaffney, while Scarlets flanker James Davies was handed his debut, Liam Williams started at full back and Taulupe Faletau captained the side for first time.

Liam Williams was shown a yellow card for this tackle

Wales opened the scoring four minutes in when Parkes ran a superb in-out line to burst through opposite man Tommaso Castello’s attempted tackle and score. Castello was knocked unconscious in the process.

Gareth Anscombe, playing fly half in place of Dan Biggar, converted before Owen Watkin galloped 50 metres to feed North on his right. North needed no second invitation to scream over for his seventh try in eight starts against Italy.

Anscombe made it 14-0 before Italy full back Matteo Minozzi evaded Liam Williams’ attempted tackle before skipping past Gareth Davies to score in a breathless opening 12 minutes.

North scored his first tries of the tournament

Scrum half Davies had a try disallowed and Anscombe added a penalty before full back Williams was sent to the sin bin on the stroke of half-time for a high hit on Minozzi.

It proved Williams’ last act as he was replaced by Leigh Halfpenny on 50 minutes.

“I have no problem with the yellow card,” Gatland said. “Whether he gets cited as a result I was disappointed he went that high. Liam is such an emotional player. It brings the best out of him but we could risk another yellow card and then a red card.”

Hadleigh Parkes was the man of the match

Wales went 24-7 ahead shortly after half time when Hill bundled over but then lost Davies to the sin bin when he was penalised for an intentional knock on.

Parkes had a try disallowed on 65 minutes before North and Tipuric completed Wales’ scoring as Italy’s defence collapsed.

Wing Mattia Bellini scored a late Italian consolation try but it couldn’t mask another utterly woeful display from Conor O’Shea’s men.

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