Wales gave a workmanlike performance against a side where centre Michele Campagnaro gave an eye catching performance with two second half tries to keep Italy in the game after Wales had threatened to run away with it after leading 17-3 at the break.
Alex Cuthbert and Scott Williams scored tries for Wales with the rest of the points coming courtesy of Leigh Halfpenny’s boot.
Italy had a horrendous start when conceding a try inside two minutes but they regrouped to push Wales all the way until the final whistle.
Debutant Angelo Esposito made a hash of a bobbling ball on the floor and arch predator Cuthbert was on hand to score the easiest try of his career. Halfpenny’s conversion from wide out gave Wales the perfect start.
Italy’s much vaunted pack then rumbled forward to set up a promising attack before Wales were caught offside to give fly half Tommaso Allan an easy shot at goal which he nailed with aplomb.
Wales then decided the best way to move the Italians around the park was by spinning the ball wide. Jamie Roberts, George North and captain Alun Wyn Jones softened the underbelly with thrusts but the Azzurri defence task to their task to keep the red tide at bay.
Sergio Parisse was penalised for pushing in a lineout and Mr Reliable – Halfpenny – casually stroked over his first penalty of the afternoon to put Wales 10-3 in front after 29 minutes. In doing so he moved into third place on the all-time Wales list, past James Hook with 349 points and only behind NeilJenkins and Stephen Jones.
Wales had a lucky escape when Parisse knocked the ball on in mid air when contesting the ball with North. The Italian No8 collected the ball and scored but the try was ruled out by the TMO.
Two minutes from the break Scott Williams and Jamie Roberts exchanged passes to put the Scarlets centre clear. Halfpenny’s conversion put Wales in control at halftime, leading 17-3.
Italy were out of the blocks fastest in the second half, when centre Michele Campagnaro followed up winger Leonardo Sarto’s chip over Roberts’ head. He hacked the ball away from the covering Halfpenny and dived on the ball just before it went dead. With Allen missing the conversion, Italy had closed the gap to nine points.
Allen then had a further chance to chip away at the lead but his penalty hit the left upright.
The visitors, who had never won in Cardiff, had the hot favourites rattled with Perisse leading the charge but despite pegging Wales back deep in their own half, they couldn’t get the vital breakthrough.
Eventually Wales pulled further ahead when Halfpenny slotted an easy penalty after the Italian scrum was penalised in the 67th minute.
Campagnaro then put a cat among the pigeons when he plucked a pass from Halfpenny to Roberts out of the air and raced 60m to score unopposed. With Allen’s conversion, Italy were suddenly back in the game with the hosts holding a 20-15 lead with 10 minutes remaining.
Nerves were eased when Halfpenny made amends when he drilled over his third penalty to put Wales out of sight with six minutes remaining.
