Wales finish Six Nations with wooden spoon as Lamaro leads Italy to epic win

The blue wall proved to be sturdier than the red. Given the rate at which Gonzalo Quesada’s Italy are improving that should come as little surprise, but the facts are increasingly stark for Wales. Warren Gatland’s side have been consigned to the wooden spoon for the first time since 2003 after a seventh straight Six Nations defeat at home. They end a dismal tournament with five defeats out of five and only four points.

Wales’s timing was off, passes refused to stick, attacking options were limited. Basic errors and a lack of communication hampered them at every turn. They are a young team, but there could be little excuse for some of the ineptitude on display. George North heads into international retirement on a low note that his phenomenal career does not deserve, but he will not be remembered for this.

Italy, meanwhile, make history by avoiding defeat in three championship matches for the first time. They have built since the second-round defeat by Ireland: a dramatic draw in France, a stirring success against Scotland, and now a stunning display that silenced the Principality Stadium. There are new faces such as Louis Lynagh and Ross Vintcent but a hat must be tipped most of all in the direction of their relentless captain, Michele Lamaro.

The first half was one-way traffic. Some beautiful handling by Paolo Garbisi, Tommaso Menoncello and the dangerous Monty Ioane crafted an opportunity down the left: after a couple of short-range bashes, the ball was worked right for Ioane to sprint over. Things seemed to be falling into place for Italy: passes fizzed and runners were always available. All Wales had to show for the first quarter were a couple of turnovers while Garbisi punished the hosts with a couple of penalties.

When Wales finally did create something, a run by the scrum-half Gareth Davies stretched the Italian defence and the home crowd’s volume rose for the first time, but the energetic Lamaro forced a turnover. Garbisi soon launched a speculative kick down the middle, and a mix-up between Cameron Winnett and Sam Costelow handed Italy an attacking scrum. The hallmark of the great Gatland sides was that they gave you nothing. The current iteration, young though they may be, give you plenty. Menoncello narrowly failed to collect a smart kick over the top by Garbisi close to the line.

North was determined not to go quietly. His elusive run in midfield was followed by a pinpoint kick from hand that forced Italy back. But their set-piece held firm. Wales gave up a penalty at an attacking scrum before Garbisi belted the ball into touch a few seconds later to bring a dismal half for Wales to a close. Granted, there were considerably fewer points to make up than there had been here in round one, when they trailed Scotland 27-0. But the lack of fluency of the first-half performance made it hard to see Wales coming back.

Rio Dyer’s burst down the left five minutes after half-time had the crowd on their feet, and Wales built phases in Italy’s 22, only for a neck roll by Adam Beard on Federico Ruzza to bring a promising attack to an abrupt end. Gatland’s men paid a heavy price when the Azzurri countered and sliced through the home defence. Ioane’s well-timed pass teed up the full-back Lorenzo Pani to capitalise on an overlap and apply a wonderful finish with a weaving run.

Quesada introduced Martin Page-Relo off the bench along with Vintcent, whose stunning tackle stopped Gareth Thomas close to the tryline, but a long TMO check confirmed that the prop Elliot Dee had snuck over for a try. Finally Wales were on the board and still had a quarter of an hour to erode an 11-point deficit after Costelow’s conversion. Will Rowlands crossed for what looked only a consolation, and then with the clock in the red, Kieran Hardy’s clever kick from hand saw Mason Grady sprint into space and in under the posts. A bonus point secured for Wales, but precious little else.