It was a win that saw them come within an inch or two of picking up a bonus-point when Liam Williams lunged for the line in the last move of the match, only to lose control of the ball on the line. That, admitted new skipper Alun Wyn Jones, was a frustration.
But scoring three tries and 30 unanswered points in the second half was a vast movement on the opening 40 minutes, which saw Italy take a 7-3 lead into the interval. This is what the key characters had to say after the game.
WALES HEAD COACH, ROB HOWLEY
“It’s a win and momentum is going to be really important in this Six Nations. To come out here to play a tough Italian side and get a win is great. I said before the game conditions would have an impact, and they did, but we showed composure to get back into the game. Our experience played a big part in that. We know how tough it is to come to Italy and the conditions made it even tougher.
“Dan Biggar had a bump to the ribs and we will wait to the morning to assess him. George North has a bad bump to his thigh, but I was delighted he stayed on and got his try. Sometimes you have to show that toughness in Test match rugby.
“It’s important we started well and I’m glad we can go into the next game against England with self-belief and a bit of confidence. We talked at half-time about the experience we have in the team and I thought that came through. It was important to keep our composure, and we did that, so I have to praise the players. Our discipline was fantastic and we didn’t give away many penalties.
“I thought Sam Davies played well. He came off the bench in a difficult game and a difficult situation and he controlled things nicely. He showed a lot of composure and created space for other players around him. He’s got a lovely left boot and we’re lucky to have three excellent fly-half options with him, Dan Biggar and Owen Williams.
“It was a shame to lose Dan, but we got through it. I said in the autumn that Sam is ready to start a game. The competition for places is something we have talked about and I was pleased to see Sam show some lovely touches. We’ll have to wait and see how Dan is, but Sam has come in and put some pressure on the selectors. It’s nice to have a headache.
“We want to improve in all areas. We want to be relentless with and without the ball and at times today we didn’t do that as I would have liked. We will need to put England under more pressure than we did to Italy today.”
WALES CAPTAIN, ALUN WYN JONES
“The first half proved how much of a test it was. It has been said before how notorious we are for starting slowly and we did today. The character we showed in the second half was pretty pleasing.
“It’s a tough one to call with the way the other results have gone this weekend. We got our second wind and started working a bit harder in the second half. Ultimately we came together it the second half.
“There is a bit of frustration with the result, but in parts the performance was there. There are still big parts of the game we need to improve on. We’ve got a foot in the door and now we move on to next week.”
WALES TRY SCORER, GEORGE NORTH
“The weather came down pretty hard before the warm-up and we knew it was going to be a tight game with the passion they bring. Each year they get better and better and we had to fight for every inch. We’re happy with the performance in the end.
“Italy always front up, but towards the latter end we backed ourselves a bit. That showed and when the holes and miss-matches came we took them very well.
“Unfortunately we lost Biggs to an injury, but Sam Davies came on and showed the form he has had with the Ospreys. The link between him, Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies to score that try was beautiful.
“It’s all about what I can do for the team. We knew we had to come here and we’d have a tough start, but we got the win and the result we needed. We’ve put our best foot forward.”
ITALY HEAD COACH, CONOR O’SHEA
“It’s very difficult emotionally straight after the game because you always remember the things that happened towards the end of the game. We lost our discipline in the second half and the energy we gave Wales through that made it difficult for us to maintain our first-half display, which was magnificent at times.
“Wales were the best team in the second half but we were the best team in the first. We have to change the perception of us at this level to ensure we are officiated on a level playing field. Our scrum, maul and defence was outstanding and that’s a real positive. But you can’t have a penalty count 16-5 against you and win a Test match.
“I don’t think fitness had anything to do with it. It’s our fault and I felt there was a real opportunity for us if we’d managed to control the first 20 minutes of the second half. I’ve got no doubt the penalties given against us were correct, but what I don’t agree with is that only five were given against Wales. There’s no point going into specifics. Watch the first two minutes of the match and the scene is set.”
