Italy continued to get closer to their first win over Wales, but the day really belonged to skipper Ieuan Evans, who played on his club pitch in his 72nd and final test. This was also his one cap to be won as a Bath club player – the other 71 all being won with Llanelli.
The crowd wanted to see a final try by Ieuan, but he could not add to his tally of 33. Instead, they saw a superb try by fellow wing Gareth Thomas.
However, Itay came back into the match with two tries and Diego Dominguez added four goals.
This was the first international match played in Llanelli for 105 years, while scrum half Robert Howley became the 112th skipper of Wales, replacing flanker Gwyn Jones, who received a serious spinal injury whilst playing for Cardiff against Swansea two months earlier.
Wales: N J Jenkins; I Evans, A Bateman, S Gibbs, G Thomas; A Thomas, R Howley (capt); A Lewis, B Williams (J Humphreys), D Young, G Llewellyn, M Voyle, R Appleyard, S Quinnell, M Williams (C Charvis).
Tries: Gareth Thomas, Penalty Try. Con: Neil Jenkins Pens: Neil Jenkins (3)
Italy: C Pilat; P Vaccari, L Martin, C Stoica, Marcello Cuttitta; D Dominguez, A Troncon; G de Carli, C Orlandi, A Castellani, G Croci, V Cristofoletto, M Giovanelli (capt), J Gardner, A Sgorlon.
Tries: Cristian Stoica, Andrea Sgorlon. Cons: Diego Domingues (2). Pens: Diego Dominguez (2).
Referee: Steve Lander (England).
