Wales 31-17 Italy: Wales end three-year wait for Six Nations win as they snap losing streak in style
Wales snap 15-game losing streak in Six Nations with bonus-point win over Italy in Cardiff; Aaron Wainwright scores two tries with captain Dewi Lake and fly-half Dan Edwards also dotting down; it is Wales' first home win in Six Nations since beating Scotland in February 2022
By Tony Tighe
Last Updated: 14/03/26 9:33pm
Wales emphatically ended their three-year wait for a Six Nations win with a 31-17 crushing of Italy in Cardiff.
Steve Tandy's side have shown marked improvement since their shambolic loss to England in round one and were finally rewarded with a win as Aaron Wainwright's first-half double put them on course for a much-needed victory, their first in the tournament since March 2023 to snap a 15-game Six Nations losing streak.
It will not prevent a third successive wooden spoon unless England fall to a record loss in Paris, but it at least gives some reasons for optimism during uncertain times in Welsh rugby.
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Wales 31-17 Italy - Score summary
- Wales – Tries: Wainwright (15,25), Lake (29), Edwards (44); Conversions: Edwards (16,26,30,45); Drop-Goals: Edwards (48)
- Italy – Tries: Di Bartolomeo (52), Allan (69), Garbisi (81); Conversions: Garbisi (53)
No 8 Wainwright crossed twice in 11 minutes during a man-of-the-match display, with captain Dewi Lake also dotting down on the half-hour to give Wales a 21-0 lead at the interval.
Fly-half Dan Edwards bagged the bonus-point try, while also adding 11 points with the boot, with replacements Luigi Di Bartolomeo and Tommaso Allan and fly-half Paolo Garbisi responding for the outclassed Italians.
Italy were a shadow of the side that claimed a historic win over England. They employed a kick-heavy gameplan and did edge their hosts in the air on occasion, but it was a frustrating afternoon for their talented backline which was spent mostly on the back foot.
An early Tommaso Menoncello break from inside his own half proved a false dawn, with Garbisi squandering the chance to open the scoring as he dragged a penalty across the posts. Things went steadily downhill from there.
Wales went in front on 15 minutes through Wainwright, who ran over Giacomo Nicotera on his way to the tryline, and he forced his way over for a second after the hosts mauled to within a metre of the whitewash.
Another catch and drive on 30 minutes resulted in a try for captain Lake, Edwards converting all three during a dream first period.
Edwards crossed for the bonus-point try after the restart, dummying his way over on penalty advantage, and he tagged on a drop-goal to make it 31-0 after 48 minutes.
Luigi Di Bartolomeo touched down from a driving maul to get Italy on the scoreboard, with replacement prop Archie Griffin yellow-carded for his cynical attempts to take it to ground, but they failed to further reduce the deficit during the 10-minute sin-bin period.
Fellow replacement Allan scored their second, moments after butchering a chance down the right wing, while the TMO ruled out late efforts from Monty Ioane and Leonardo Marin.
Garbisi did dive over in the corner on the final play but Wales supporters were already basking in a first home Six Nations win since February 2022.
Lake: This win is for Wales fans
Wales captain Dewi Lake speaking to the BBC:
"This is for the 70,000 fans who come to watch and have supported us through the tough times.
"There is a lot of noise and stuff going on behind the scenes in Welsh rugby but once you get into camp, all your focus goes into that.
"[Coach Steve Tandy] has really brought this group together in terms of how much we care for and trust each other.
"Those bonds don't come overnight but they help you in tough moments on the field. That care he, and the whole staff shows, has made us tighter."
Tandy praises Wales young guns
Wales head coach Steve Tandy speaking to the BBC:
"This performance has been coming.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, we have to make sure big parts of our game are coming together but I think they did in the first half.
"This young group is learning and getting better. We need to keep doing that. They are amazing to work with, want to represent the country."
Lamaro rues Italy inconsistency
Italy captain Michele Lamaro speaking to the BBC:
"Credit to Wales, they played an amazing game in front of their crowd. We know how much this stadium means to them.
"We knew we had a good opportunity and that if we played our game - were very physical, very precise - we could create an impression.
"We did it in stages but we were too inconsistent, gave away too many penalties, allowed them in our 22, and you lose a lot of energy doing that.
"We tried to control at the end but it was too late."
Was there a hangover from the England game? "One hundred per cent no. It has been a long Six Nations and we spent a lot of energy in games. That is the Six Nations and why it's a beautiful thing."
