Wales’ second win of the competition was not enough to leapfrog their rivals in the table as Richard Whiffin’s side would finish fifth. It would, however, be a fine way to finish an up-and-down campaign with their first win over the Azzurri since 2021 and be perfect preparation for the under-20 World Cup this summer in South Africa.
Italy led 15-0 at the break after an utterly dominant first-half showing scoring through prop Marcos Gallorini and a penalty try.
Wales, however, would respond with gusto after the interval with four unanswered tries and seal a famous evening in Cardiff. Harry Thomas, Harry Beddall, Kodi Stone and Maty Young all going over to turn an entertaining contest on its head to earn the home side a bonus point win.
Ospreys number eight Morse, who made 21 tackles and carried for 47 metres, was the star performer and named as the player of the match with an outstanding all-round performance.
It was one-way traffic early on, with the Italian scrum on top. Gallorini muscled his way over the try line from close range, before the same player earned his side a penalty try just before the break. Wales’ task was made all the more tougher being reduced to 14 with Josh Morse sent to the sin bin.
With the Italians in control, a Welsh comeback seemed unlikely, but Richard Whiffin’s side would look a different team after the break.
Playing with energy and purpose they would prove too much for the Italians who would become ill-disciplined and lose Gallorini to injury early on.
Back to a full quota, it would be the Welsh who would force the errors from the visitors. Pressure in the Italian 22 seeing lock Samuele Mirenzi the latest to head to the bin.
With the numerical advantage, Whiffin’s side would reduce the scoreline to seven with replacement hooker Thomas powering over the line to dot down following a rolling maul.
Captain Beddall then followed with another lineout drive to cut the visitors’ lead to just three, before Ospreys scrum-half Rhodri Lewis’ flash pass saw replacement wing Stone score moments after coming on for his debut.
Full back Young then raced over for the bonus point following a barnstorming break by Morse with fly-half Harri Wilde kicking the extras to seal the win.
Wales head coach Richard Whiffin said:
“At half-time, we felt Italy had shown everything they had with their big scrum, but we felt the tide would turn on that.
“We knew if we could keep the ball more, play with a high tempo then we could tire out their big forwards and opportunities would come.
“We kept our discipline and took the game away from them in the final 20 minutes. It gives us a lot of confidence for the summer’s World Cup.”
Wales Under-20s: Matty Young; Huw Anderson, Elijah Evans, Macs Page, Aidan Boschoff; Harri Wilde, Rhodri Lewis; Josh Morse, Evan Wood, Kian Hire, Jonny Green, Jonny Green, Thomas, Lucas de la Rua, Harry Beddall (capt), Morgan Morse.
Replacements:
Harry Thomas, Jordan Morris, Sam Scott, Gethyn Cannon, Osian Thomas, Ieuan Davies, Elis Price, Kodi Stone.
[Lead image: Welsh Rugby Union]
