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Wales made a strong start to their defense of the Guinness Six Nations title by beating Italy 42-0 at the Principality Stadium.<\/p>\nWales made a strong start to their defense of the Guinness Six Nations title by beating Italy 42-0 at the Principality Stadium.<\/p>\n
It proved an impressive Six Nations bow for new Wales head coach Wayne Pivac as his team triumphed in bonus-point fashion.<\/p>\n
Wing Josh Adams, World Cup top try-scorer earlier this season, led the way by scoring a hat-trick, including two in 12 first-half minutes, and Saracens center Nick Tompkins claimed a sparkling solo try on his Test debut.<\/p>\n
Fly-half Dan Biggar, who delivered an outrageous scoring pass for Adams\u2019 second try by flicking the ball at pace through his legs, kicked three penalties and a conversion to put Wales 21 points clear by the interval.<\/p>\n
Biggar also converted Tompkins\u2019 score for a 13-point haul, although it took Wales until the 77th minute to claim an all-important fourth try when George North crossed and Leigh Halfpenny converted, before Halfpenny added the extras after Adams completed a treble.<\/p>\n
For outclassed Italy, it was a 23rd successive Six Nations loss, and their next game is against France in Paris.<\/p>\n
Pivac handed a Test debut to New Zealand-born Scarlets wing Johnny McNicholl, while number eight Taulupe Faletau made a first Wales appearance in almost two years and there were places on the bench for Tompkins and scrum-half Rhys Webb.<\/p>\n
Italy, without a Six Nations win since beating Scotland at Murrayfield in 2015, included Gloucester pair Callum Braley and Jake Polledri, and Benetton lock Niccolo Cannone won his first cap.<\/p>\n
Wales made a bright start, gaining promising early territory on the back of a break by scrum-half Tomos Williams, and Biggar opened their account through a third-minute penalty.<\/p>\n
Biggar doubled the advantage with another penalty eight minutes later, before Tompkins replaced McNicholl while he underwent a head injury assessment.<\/p>\n
Italy were pinned back by some aggressive Wales running, with Williams injecting a real snap to Wales\u2019 attacking game, and Biggar completed his penalty hat-trick after just 15 minutes.<\/p>\n
Pivac could not have wished for a more committed opening by his team, and they ended a dominant opening quarter by scoring the first try of this season\u2019s championship.<\/p>\n
It was all down to speed of ball as Wales whipped possession wide, Halfpenny cut a decisive attacking line and Adams sped over before McNicholl rejoined the action.<\/p>\n
Italy were behind the eight-ball, and Wales struck again 10 minutes before half-time as Adams claimed his second try following Biggar\u2019s cheeky assist.<\/p>\n
The fly-half also converted, continuing a virtuoso contribution, as Wales opened up en emphatic advantage and promised more misery for Italy in the second period.<\/p>\n
Italy, though, dominated the early stages of the second-half, keeping possession and patiently building phases as Pivac made a double change, sending on Tompkins for Hadleigh Parkes and Ross Moriarty, who replaced Faletau.<\/p>\n
The Azzurri could not break down Wales\u2019 defense, but it proved a frustrating spell for the home side as they looked to complete the job and collect a five-point maximum.<\/p>\n
Further reinforcements arrived off the Wales bench in prop Rob Evans and lock Cory Hill, yet it proved a third quarter to forget from a Welsh perspective after proving unable to increase their lead.<\/p>\n
But normal service was resumed when Hill charged clear in midfield and Tompkins finished brilliantly from 40 meters, making it an occasion to savor for the newcomer, and Biggar\u2019s conversion.<\/p>\n
A fourth try should have arrived just five minutes later when North sprinted clear, but the score was ruled out after video replays revealed a Tompkins knock-on.<\/p>\n
Webb had joined the action by this stage for a first Wales appearance since December 2017, and North ensured a bonus point by scoring his 40th Wales try to move equal-second alongside Gareth Thomas on Wales\u2019 all-time list.<\/p>\n
And there was still time for Adams to complete his hat-trick, with Halfpenny adding the conversion.<\/p>\n