Wales 21-24 Italy: Six Nations 2024 – as it happened

Luke McLaughlin’s match report from Cardiff

Italy finish fifth in the Six Nations and hand the wooden spoon to Wales. It is the first time Wales have finished last in 21 years. A rebuild continues. But the focus today should be on Italy who executed a good game plan and produced potentially the try of the tournament with Pani’s score. The report from this game will drop shortly and the live coverage of Ireland v Scotland has started so make sure you don’t miss any action there. Have a good rest of Super Saturday and thanks for joining me.

Italy still have things to work on in their game, particularly in those last five minutes where they conceded two tries. But what a remarkable difference from the teams of the past. They ended their losing streak at the Principality Stadium two years ago. They then put in good performances in the 2023 Six Nations but come away with no wins. Then 2024 they have two wins, a draw and two losses. Absolutely phenomenal improvement and long may it continue.

Wales have the wooden spoon for the first time in 21 years. Warren Gatland has some work to do with the team but if anyone is going to succeed it is him.

Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins said: “No disrespect to Italy we strive to win those games and beat those teams. You like to think in pressure scenarios we would rise to the occasion but I don’t think we did.”

Italy captain Michele Lamaro told the BBC: “It is everything for us. I want to say thank you to every single Italian that is here. We want to achieve even more. We know we have had a good tournament but we know we can do more than this. I think there are a few things we have changed. The mindset is obviously something we haven’t had before, we have confidence. In the last few years we have worked so hard. We have been though a lot of difficult moments.”

Player of the Match Juan Ignacio Brex told the BBC: “It means a lot, we are so happy we worked really hard for this. It is easy to play with him [Menoncello]. He is a young guy, he has a great future. I think after the World Cup we had a good meeting between the players and staff.”

The scoreboard does not reflect the match, Italy were dominant and thoroughly deserved the win. It was a well managed game until the last five minutes where they crumbled slightly. But wow, the first time they have ever been unbeaten in three matches. In that context was just a three-point loss to England. It could have been so much more.

Full time! Wales 21-24 Italy

TRY! Wales 21-24 Italy (Grady, 82′)

CONVERSION! Wales 14-24 Italy (Lloyd, 80′)

80 min: The Principality Stadium erupts as North is off with injury. What a legacy. What a career.

TRY! Wales 12-24 Italy (Rowlands, 79′)

79 min: Wales get another penalty advantage as they look to find another try. They keep hitting the line and they are just short.

78 min: Wales spill it over the line from Rowland, we come back to the earlier penalty advantage.

78 min: The lineout is good and they initially maul but then switch to through the hands.

77 min: Wales win a scrum penalty and the hosts kick to the corner, can they get another try before the end of the match?

76 min: Wales form a good attack, the have good runs and passes but Winnett tries to find Dyer but the pass is just over his head. The Player of the Match has been named as Juan Ignacio Brex.

75 min: In the past Italy’s wins have felt like last-minute heroics but this has been a masterclass. Really well thought out game plan, great execution and no panic after conceding. Thoroughly deserved and they have definitely silenced those calling for them to be relegated from the tournamemt.

PENALTY! Wales 7-24 Italy (Page-Relo, 74′)

73 min: Garbisi won a penalty at the breakdown there, what a jackal on Dyer and the fly-half points to the sticks again. Great game management.

72 min: And just think if the penalty was scored at the end of the France game Italy would have three wins if this game is seen out. A huge tournament for the team. Wales have possession now and the ball is whipped to Dyer, Lynagh tries to intercept but it just slips away from him – that would’ve been a try.

PENALTY! Wales 7-21 Italy (Garbisi, 71′)

70 min: Italy box kick and the ball is back with Wales. They put in a kick and they collect it but it’s pulled back as Hardy is offside. Wales their own worst enemies at the moment. Garbisi is pointing to the sticks here, it’s a long way out but worth a punt.

69 min: The Italian scrum is reset and then it is clean, Wales were searching for a penalty there but the visitors manage to get it away.

67 min: Wales kick upfield and they will look to score here again, if they get the next try who knows how this game will turn out. The lineout is good but it comes to Martin and he knocks on.

66 min: Wales could definitely pull it off but if Italy lose this game they will be gutted. Until the 63rd minute it had all been them but they are on the attack again. Wales win a breakdown penalty.

CONVERSION! Wales 7-18 (Costelow, 64′)

TRY! Wales 5-18 Italy (Dee, 64′)

64 min: The Welsh attack hit the Italian defensive line again and again, they look like they are over the line. Dee thinks he is over but they are looking at this. Is it over?

63 min: Williams is off for Hardy, he limps off after the tackle on him by the line. Wales are on the attack now though.

63 min: From the amazing tackle, made by Vintcent not Brex, Italy turn the ball over and clear. I cannot get over how amazing that tackle was. Williams was two metres from the line and he’s hauled down. A great rescue effort from the Italian pack too to turn it over.

62 min: Brex puts in a try-saving tackle there on Williams, he looked sure to score!

62 min: Negri is off for Zuliani as play gets back underway. The scrum, with a Welsh put in, is good and the hosts look to attack.

61 min: TMO Joy Neville and referee Rainal are in agreement that they both think they were both going for the ball. A assistant referee has offered another opinion that it was foul play but Rainal looks again at the incident in real time and he decides it is just a rugby collision. Weirdly both are not having an HIA. That could come later.

61 min: Grady and Pani were both looking at the ball, a complete accident, but they smash heads. I don’t think Pani has been knocked out and he is alert with the medics. They are looking at this now on the TMO, I think there’s nothing in it.

61 min: Wales’ defence is much more aggressive in this half, that is an improvement from the first 40. Italy’s ruck speed is much slower but of course, Italy would be happy to run down the clock slightly. There’s a horrid collision in the middle of the pitch as Wales look to break. There’s a break in play, I think Pani was knocked out.

60 min: Italy’s lineout is slightly messy but they come away with it. They go through some phases and then Page-Relo puts in a box kick which Adams collects.

59 min: North is okay to continue. Italy make some changes with Lucchesi and Spagnolo coming on. Wales also make a change with Martin on for Mann.

58 min: The voices are quickly silenced though as Italy remain strong and win a breakdown penalty. North is getting some treatment now.

58 min: Adams makes a great break and Wales are into the 22. Here comes the loud support from the fans.

57 min: The Welsh scrum is good from both teams and the hosts are off, they need to give this crowd something to cheer about. North looks slightly injured at the moment, hopefully he can stay on.

55 min: Costelow decides to put in a cross field kick with attack stalling but it meets Lynagh. Italy attack but eventually use a box kick, which Wales do shortly after – Garbisi then knocks on and so we have a scrum

53 min: The Welsh scrum is clean and the team are on the attack, they look the brightest they have all match. Winnett takes it into contact and Brex is over the top to win the turnover. The centre has to make the team of the tournament, he has been seriously impressive.

52 min: Beard is off for Rowlands as more of the benches are called upon.

52 min: Page-Relo, Zulocchi and Vintcent are all on for Italy. The visitors have possession but it is loose and Wales have the advantage, the hosts knock on but we come back for the penalty.

51 min: The chants of ‘Wales’ ring around the Principality as the team move towards the line but Grady spills. He then puts in a high tackle on Menoncello and so Italy have a penalty and clear. This is all going the way of Italy.

50 min: Wales win a penalty and Costelow kicks to the corner, he tries to get as much from it as possible but instead he doesn’t find touch. The third time the fly-half has done that this afternoon. Italy clear and so Wales are in possession.

49 min: Wales make their first change as Grady comes on for Tompkins, who has not had his best game today.