Italy have won a Six Nations match for the first time since 2015 after a dramatic last-gasp victory over Wales in Cardiff on Super Saturday.
The long-suffering Azzurri finally snapped a 36-game losing streak in the championship courtesy of a late try from Edoardo Padovani that was crucially converted with the clock in the red by Paolo Garbisi, who sank to his knees in tears after securing a memorable 22-21 triumph at the Principality Stadium.
Italy’s hopes of ending their torturous run without a Six Nations victory looked to have been dashed with less than 15 minutes to play in the Welsh capital, with Josh Adams weaving through to put Wales back ahead 21-15 in a topsy-turvy clash.
The visitors had earlier carved out an advantage with two early penalties, only for Owen Watkin to score the first try of the day for Wales.
Garbisi and Padovani hit back from the tee once more, with Welsh hooker Dewi Lake then going over as the lead continued to switch back and forth.
Another Garbisi penalty then put Italy ahead 15-14, with Adams’ try looking to have denied them an unforgettable afternoon, until Padovani was teed up for the decisive score following an excellent break by Ange Capuozzo.
It was Italy’s first ever win in Cardiff.
“It’s just unreal,” said Italy captain Michele Lamaro. “I couldn’t believe it, I want to stay with my family and teammates and celebrate with them because we deserve it and we worked so hard to get here.
“It’s the first step of our long process that we just started. Capuozzo is the superstar of our squad right now and that last try was amazing. I think just being in the moment until the end took us to the win.”
Defending champions Wales finish a difficult campaign with just one solitary victory, with Dan Biggar’s 100th cap and the returning Alun Wyn Jones’ 150th appearance milestone both spoiled on a chastening day.
“It’ probably the toughest interview I’ve had to do, simply not good enough,” Biggar told BBC Sport. “It’s so poor to lose it from where we were, we’ve played poorly all day but to not finish it off from 70 metres from our line.
“We’ve said in the huddle now that’s probably last chance for a lot of players.
“I think we’re a bit unlucky on the try, Wyn [Jones] thinks he’s scored the try when it goes to TMO, if that’s given the game is different but it wasn’t.
“We were chasing as high as we could get and from the get go we weren’t quite at it and you get punished. Too many boys not quite up to speed, we were second to loose balls and balls in the air.
“It’s really disappointing that something that we pride ourselves on that requires no talent is work ethic.”
