Wales move closer to Grand Slam

Wales 24 Italy 3:Tries from Jamie Roberts and Alex Cuthbert helped Wales set up a Six Nations Grand Slam clash with France next weekend as they eased past Italy at the Millennium Stadium.

While Wales were not at their best in attack, their sheer weight of possession and territory told after the break as Roberts and Cuthbert both raced in from distance as the Azzurri tired.

Fullback Leigh Halfpenny kicked three first-half penalties and converted Roberts’s score, with outhalf Rhys Priestland also adding a penalty of his own. Italy’s only points came courtesy of a Mirco Bergamasco penalty early in the first half.

Brimming with confidence, the hosts started purposefully with giant wings George North and Alex Cuthbert making big inroads through weak Italian tackling in the opening moments.

Halfpenny booted Wales into a 10th-minute lead their early dominance merited after some needless back chat from Italy captain Sergio Parisse had seen his side marched back 10 yards after an infringement, putting the penalty within range of the fullback’s boot.

Bergamasco quickly responded in kind after skipper Gethin Jenkins was penalised for failing to bind at a scrum in his own 22. But the balance of the game was firmly in Wales’ favour and Halfpenny put the hosts back in front at the end of the first quarter with a penalty which took him past the 50-point mark in this season’s championship.

Wales spurned two shots at goal in order to go for the opening try but were unable to find the accuracy to take full advantage of their huge advantage in territory and possession, with Cuthbert and Halfpenny losing the ball in promising conditions.

The ceaseless pressure continued but Italy’s defence bravely refused to be breached as Roberts was hauled down short of the line by Alessandro Zanni after receiving a lovely offload from Toby Faletau. But their plight was leading to ill-discipline from the visitors and another penalty allowed Halfpenny to slot his third successful shot at goal as half-time approached.

Italy then surprisingly turned down the chance to go for goal late in the half, kicking a penalty to touch which eventually came to nought.

Italy attempted to keep ball in hand at the start of the second stanza and there was a scare for Wales when a loose pass was hacked into their 22 but North mopped up the danger.

And the first try finally arrived in the 50th minute as Alun-Wyn Jones swooped on a loose ball outside his own 22 to spark a superb Welsh counter.

The ball was worked through Mike Phillips, Halfpenny and Priestland to Roberts, who broke the defensive line to outpace the cover and race in from 60 metres to dot down for a score converted by Halfpenny.

It took a brilliant cover tackle from Kris Burton to deny Cuthbert in the right corner moments later after a superb take from Justin Tipuric on the other side of the field, with Wales threatening to cut loose.

Halfpenny was then sin-binned when Irish referee George Clancy adjudged that he had taken Parisse out in the air, although replays suggested the punishment was harsh as the fullback looked to have simply competed for the ball.

Despite the numerical advantage Italy remained starved of possession and another strong Welsh scrum allowed Priestland to land a penalty, with Halfpenny still in the bin, and extend the lead to 19-3.

Twickenham hero Scott Williams, on as a replacement for the excellent Jon Davies, then broke clear down the left but once again they were frustrated by Italy’s scramble defence. But Wales finally got their second try as Cuthbert made the most of tired Italian tackling to race clear and get over in the corner.