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Hello and welcome to ESPN's coverage of Italy v Wales on a crucial final day of the 2015 Six Nations. Wales need to win and win big to stand any chance of ousting England and Ireland. We're around 15 minutes from kick-off in Rome...
Wales have made two changes with Aaron Jarvis and Rob Evans coming in for the injured Gethin Jenkins (hamstring) and Samson Lee (Achilles).
Italy, meanwhile, have been dealt a huge blow with skipper Sergio Parisse failing to recover from a foot injury picked up in last weekend's 29-0 drubbing by France. Kelly Haimona and Martin Castrogiovanni are also back in.
It's dry but cloudy in Rome and the anthems are underway. Almost time!
You feel that if Wales are to get the big win they need, a lot will rely on their two inexperienced international props in Evans and Jarvis against some proper Italian grunt. It's a big test for the pair against an experienced Italy front row that includes the returning Castrogiovanni.
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| 1 |
3 - 0 |
Well they didn't score at all last week, but Italy are on the board inside the first minute today. Charteris penalised for obstruction from Haimona's kick-off and Haimona splits the posts.
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| 2 |
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Italy look to build on their 22 and Gori clears. Williams takes it brilliantly to earn a penalty. He kicks to touch.
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| 3 |
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Chance for Wals to break as they attack the Italian 22 - but Webb's pass to North is intercepted. Gori knocks on in the tackle and it's a Welsh scrum.
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| 4 |
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Break in play for treatment to Haimona, who went down hard under a tackle from Roberts.
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| 6 |
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Even worse news for Haimona, as he limps off with his arm in a sling. Orquera is the replacement.
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| 7 |
3 - 3 |
Wales try to break in the Italian 22 and the hosts are caught offside. Penalty Wales and that man Halfpenny makes no mistake. All square again in Rome.
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| 9 |
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Italy are fired up for this and a bad kick from Webb offers the hosts a lineout just outside the Wales 22. Charteris is caught offside and Orquera has the chance to add to the scoreline.
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| 10 |
6 - 3 |
It's a wobbly one from the replacement, but it sneaks inside the right-hand post. Scrappy start in Rome.
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| 11 |
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Another penalty! Wales are handed the chance to level matters immediately as Italy are penalised for obstruction straight from the re-start. 40 metres or so for Halfpenny...
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| 12 |
6 - 6 |
No mistake from the Welsh kicker - straight down the middle. We might get a game of rugby at some point...
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| 14 |
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Superb attack from Italy after Sarto collects Biggar's high punt, but Venditti spills and Wales have the scrum.
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| 16 |
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Vunisa finds a rare gap in the Wales defence but is quickly hunted down by the pack. A completely different attitude to this Italy team to what we saw last week.
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| 17 |
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Wales have a break of their own and earn a penalty when Castrogiovanni holds on.
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| 18 |
6 - 11 |
And there's the first try of the match! Superb vision from Davies, whose pass finds Charteris. The big man is brought down but the ball finds its way to Halfpenny who slots a delicious kick through to Roberts who goes over unchallenged. A very well-taken try from the visitors, but Halfpenny can't add the extras as his kick drifts wide.
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| 20 |
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Italy respond well, forcing Williams into a knock-on and they kick downfield.
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| 22 |
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Italy testing Wales' defence now as the rolling maul moves over the Welsh 22. Scrum penalty to Italy. Can the visitors hold off?
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| 24 |
11 - 11 |
Well no, they can't. Brilliant persistence from Italy and Venditti sneaks through what seemed like 15 Welsh shirts to go over.
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| 26 |
13 - 11 |
Orquera makes no mistake with the kick and Italy lead again.
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| 28 |
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Wales work themselves into an excellent position with a lineout midway through their opponent's half. But Jones knocks on and it's Italy's scrum.
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| 29 |
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The Italian front row piles on the pressure and it's another penalty for the hosts. Italy are playing with a swagger we have yet to see from the Azzurri at this year's Six Nations.
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| 30 |
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Venditti breaks but Warburton forces a penalty for Wales at the breakdown. Wales clear and it's their lineout.
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| 31 |
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Another injury as Baldwin receives treatment - but he's okay to go on.
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| 32 |
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Wales' drive at the Italy defence before Webb finds the galloping North on the touchline, but the winger is hauled into touch.
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| 33 |
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Huge break from Vunisa who storms into the Welsh half, but Halfpenny takes one for the team by throwing himself in front of the monstrous Italian. Halfpenny took a knee to the head - this does not look promising.
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| 34 |
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Halfpenny, helped by two members of the Welsh medical staff, hobbles off the pitch. He looks shaken. Williams on.
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| 35 |
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With Halfpenny undergoing Head Injury Assessment, his Welsh side are starting to look flustered on the pitch. Evans gets a talking to from the referee. "Next time, you're in the bin," he says.
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| 37 |
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Vendetti offside following Biggar's kick, who opts not to go for the posts. In to touch instead as Wales look to build.
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| 39 |
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Wales pile into the Italian defence, seemingly desperate to gain the lead before the half-time. Welsh penalty and they go into touch right in the corner. Huge chance here.
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| 40 |
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So close! Biggar's delightful chip is not quite gathered but Ghiraldini is penalised and is the latest player to get a stern talking to. Biggar can go for the posts now…
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| 40+1 |
13 - 14 |
29 metres out and no mistake from the Welsh replacement kicker - and it gives Wales the lead for the first time in this match right on the stroke of half-time.
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Players back out for the second half at the Stadio Olimpico. Wales need a completely different performance to stand any chance of overhauling the points difference. Otherwise they're relying on Scotland and France...
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| 40 |
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Wales given a chance with the scrum as Gori knocks on as he attempts the catch straight from Biggar's re-start.
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| 41 |
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Wales with the first breakaway of the second half as they work it out wide to Scott Williams who, under pressure, tries to fling it back in-field to Webb, but his attempt at a one-handed pass is spilled and it's Italy's turn to take charge of the scrum.
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| 42 |
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Short break in play as Castrogiovanni receives treatment for a hand injury - but he looks okay.
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| 43 |
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Rizzo off his feet in the ruck giving Wales the penalty - Biggar kicks into the corner.
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| 45 |
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Welsh throw deep inside the Italian half and Warburton has words with Ghiraldini, who was clinging on to the ball as the Welshman tried to speed things up. The ball disappears under a pile of bodies from the lineout and somehow Castrogiovanni appears with it.
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| 47 |
13 - 21 |
Italy give away a penalty for hands in the ruck and some quick-thinking from Webb, whose tap penalty allows Liam Williams to break through the hosts' defence and touch down. Biggar makes no mistake from right under the posts.
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| 49 |
13 - 26 |
And another! This time it's Liam Williams who turns provider to find North galloping into space.
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| 50 |
13 - 28 |
Biggar makes it three from three and suddenly it's looking much brighter for the Welsh, who are chipping away at England and Ireland's point advantage. Wales now +27, England +37 and Ireland +33. Of course none of this matters if Scotland and France were to take victory.
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| 51 |
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Liam Williams is enjoying himself in this second half and he looks to break again but is hauled down by a wobbly Italian defence.
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| 52 |
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It gets worse for Italy - as Masi is ordered into the bin for a tackle off the ball.
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| 54 |
13 - 33 |
Liam Williams goes so close to taking the ball in the corner and Italy are handed the chance to clear from the lineout, but Jones sneaks in and the ball is worked across to North who bundles over. Wales on a roll here.
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| 55 |
13 - 35 |
What a strike from Biggar. A Halfpenny-esque kick from the replacement there. Now Wales +34, England +37 and Ireland +33. Completely different games for England and Ireland now as the Welsh pile on the pressure.
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| 58 |
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It's all Wales now as Warburton storms into Italian territory, but North is caught offside.
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| 59 |
13 - 42 |
Hat-trick! North bundles over under the posts after stunning work from the Welsh forward line. North hasn't scored in his last four Tests and now has three inside 10 minutes. Biggar puts the ball down and puts the ball between the posts with barely a run-up.
As it stands: Wales 8pts (+41), England 6pts (+37), Ireland 6pts (+33)
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| 62 |
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Italy just can't get in the game in this second half - and you have to wonder how much of an impact that penalty right at the end of the first-half had on them.
Webb attempts to break but to no avail. Meanwhile, Masi is out of the bin.
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| 64 |
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Geldenhuys now in the bin for dragging down the Welsh maul.
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| 65 |
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Wales break clear and did they go over? TMO called...
No try but we go back to the penalty. Wales have the ball right in the corner.
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| 66 |
13 - 47 |
Good grief where was the Italy defence? They are just crumbling here as Webb sells the dummy before skipping through two Italians to score in the corner.
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| 67 |
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Difficult kick for Biggar and he hooks it slightly. It drifts wide but Wales are pushing towards 50 points here.
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| 68 |
13 - 52 |
And there it is! Unbelievable stuff from Wales here and the formidable Warburton is released expertly by Tipuric
to break clear and go over unchallenged.
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| 69 |
13 - 54 |
Easy kick for Biggar. Pressure seriously building on England and Ireland now.
As it stands: Wales 8pts (+53), England 6pts (+37), Ireland 6pts (+33)
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| 72 |
13 - 59 |
Just incredible stuff from Wales. Have you ever seen a second-half of rugby like this? From the Italian lineout just yards from the Welsh try-line, the ball is spilled and Wales break expertly. Scott Williams collects the ball just inside Italian half and outsprints the defence to go over. Breathtaking try and 47 unanswered points since the break.
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| 73 |
13 - 61 |
Another routine kick for Biggar and Wales have gone from 13-11 down to 61-13 up in a little more than half an hour.
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| 75 |
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A rare handling error from the Welsh, but it matters little. This game is done. Italy are done. They look lost out there. This is a demoralising defeat. How they miss Parisse.
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| 77 |
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Almost another break as Gareth Davies capitalises on a mistake in the Italian defence, but he had one eye on the try-line and drops the ball. The whole of Wales will be hoping that doesn't prove costly this evening...
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| 79 |
18 - 61 |
Well, well, well! Sarto bursts clear and piles over in the corner. TMO in action as Biggar looked like he may have clipped the Italian into touch...
But it's given! Biggar protests but to no avail. How crucial could that be in where the Six Nations title is headed?
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| 80 |
20 - 61 |
Orquera drives the kick between the sticks and what a final day we have here.
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Unbelievable match. Breathtaking. Have you ever seen a performance like that? That late try from Italy could be crucial. England must beat France by 16 and Ireland must beat Scotland by 20 to stand any chance of overtaking Wales.
Stay tuned, it's going to be gripping...
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