Wales U21 were clinical against an inexperienced side with the young dragons converting all but one of their twelve scores through the impressive boot of Nicky Robisnon who amassed a total of 26 match points overall taking into consideration his two tries. Gareth Swales and Liam Roberts also contributed a brace of tries each to compliment Robinson with Mathhew Brayley, Gareth Williams, Rhys Jones, Paul James, Adam Jones and Mike Phillips providing the other six tries.
Wales U21 had all but crushed Italian spirits by half time as their powerful scrum dominated proceedings. The match at Ellis Park, venue of the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final, was as good as won and Wales U21 had run in four tries. With the freedom and comfort zone to enjoy themselves in the second half, Wales U21 were let off the leash and the barrage of a further eight tries followed.
Italy U21 were able to respond with two tries through Sacca and Mariuzzo during periods of Welsh indiscipline and managed some further points from the boot taking advantage of Welsh infringements.
The match bred huge confidence ahead of the second round clash to Argentina U21 where Wales U21 were looking for a victory to set them up for a winner-takes-all clash with New Zealand U21.
This clash represented Wales U21’s first match in the IRB version of the U21 competition. Twelve nations took part to contest the tournament which developed from its SANZAR forerunner which ran from 1996 to 2001 beginning with just South Africa U21, Australia U21, New Zealand U21 and Argentina U21 in the very first instance.w
