Autumn Nations Cup: Wales 38-18 Italy - Five tries secure victory for Wales

1. Use audio icons at the top of the page to listen to commentary
2. Wales and Italy are competing in the Autumn Nations Cup fifth-place play-off
3. Kieran Hardy and Sam Parry score Wales tries in opening 20 minutes to lead 14-0
4. Two Paolo Garbisi penalties and Marco Zanon's converted try bring Italy back within a point
5. Italy take advantage of Josh Adams' yellow card to take the lead through Johan Meyer's try
6. Gareth Davies, George North and Justin Tipuric score late converted tries to seal victory

Thank you and good night

That's all for tonight then.

Italy gave them a scare but Wales were ultimately comfortable winners in the Autum Nations Cup fifth-place play-off.

There's still a lot for Wales to improve - the line-out, the breakdown, discipline and more - but at least they've signed off 2020 with a rare victory.

That was only a third win from 10 matches under Wayne Pivac, who will have learnt a great deal about his squad as he builds towards next year's Six Nations.

The pressure is not off completely - but tonight's win will certainly alleviate it.

Thanks for joining us this evening, and we look forward to having your company again soon. Good night! Nos da!

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'A reasonable result' for Wales - Pivac

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac told Amazon Prime Video: "For us it was really important to win the game and get some more questions answered about some of the young players.

"Some of the older boys stood up and in the end we got a reasonable result.

"As frustrating as this eight-week campaign has been at times we have learned a lot, now we need a squad that can do really well in the Six Nations.

"We were happy with the scrum today but the line-out didn't go as well as planned but again we had a guy [Sam Parry] that is not used to calling at this level of the game."

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'Faletau made me look good!' - Tipuric

Wales flanker Justin Tipuric told S4C's Clwb Rygbi: "It's nice to play with Toby [Taulupe Faletau]. He did all the hard work and made me look good!

"It was down to the front five getting us front-foot ball.

"Especially in defence, we wanted to make sure we were better.

"We spoke about playing in the right areas. We didn't want to play like the Baa Baas, throwing it about and being silly.

"We went back to the basics and it was enough to come out on top."

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Wales back row did 'dirty work too'

Wales hooker Ken Owens, currently out injured, has been speaking to S4C's Clwb Rygbi about Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.

"It's not just the pretty things - they do the dirty work too, carrying the ball, holding up players defensively," he says.

"The front five need to cross the gainline for them to able to do that."

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Wales new caps 'will push on' - Faletau

Wales man of the match Taulupe Faletau told Amazon Prime Video: "I think we wanted the result we got today but there are parts of that performance we will work on next time.

"We spoke at half-time about taking our foot off the gas and letting them back into the game.

"The young guys are very exciting, it will do them good to get game time during this camp and I'm sure they will push on and get more."

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'We showed what we can do' - Hardy

Wales scrum-half Kieran Hardy told S4C's Clwb Rygbi: "We gave them too many opportunities through a lack of discipline.

"They pushed us hard but we came through in the end.

"It was a great feeling to cross the line for my first international try.

"In the games we'd played so far, we hadn't shown what we can do so I think we did that today."

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Kieran Hardy scored the opening try of the match against Italy

Gareth Delve

Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

The quality shone through in the end, there were some good performances but I think we will struggle to find too many positives.

'Result to build on for Wales'

Richie Rees

Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

Wales looked to their big players, Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric and George North. Callum Sheedy was also accomplished at 10 with experience around him.

You can probably can the first half, the positives were there to seen in the second half and it is definitely a result to build on.

Full-time - Wales 38-18 Italy

The score might suggest a convincing win for Wales but, with Italy leading at one point in the second half, that was a nervous evening at times for Wayne Pivac and his players.

But when you have players as good as Taulupe Faletau and Justin Tipuric, you're always going to be a threat.

Wales will be relieved to sign off a disappointing 2020 with victory, and this at least ends their Autumn Nations Cup campaign on a winning note.

This victory secures fifth place for Wales.

Man of the Match

In the least surprising news of the day, Taulupe Faletau has been named man of the match.

Italy will end the match on the attack. They've kicked a penalty into the Welsh 22 in the final minute.

Wales in summary?

Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau: excellent.

The rest: meh.

Fair?

It's those two again!

Converted try - Wales 38-18 Italy

It's that magic combination once more - Taulupe Faletau and Justin Tipuric.

Callum Sheedy threads a lovely pass between two Italian defenders to find Faletau, who canters into the Italian 22.

The number eight then throws a fine, flat pass to Tipuric, who has an easy run-in.

Callum Sheedy converts.

Wales' half-backs are getting some treatment.

Fly-half Callum Sheedy after being hurled into touch like's taking part in a wrestling match, and it looks like Gareth Davies has taken a knock to his leg.

They're both fit enough to continue for now, though.

Just as well as Wales have used all their replacements.

Credit to the likes of Cory Hill and Aaron Wainwright - they've given Wales a new lease of life since coming on.

There's more urgency and energy to their play and they are far more effective at the breakdown, in attack and defence.

'Speed from defence to attack makes the try'

Richie Rees

Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

The speed from defence into attack makes the try, the Italian defenders are never going to regather when the pace in transition is that quick.

Replacement

Wales make their final change as tight-head prop Leon Brown comes on for Tomas Francis.

Italy, meanwhile, are awarded a penalty and they kick it into the Welsh 22.

Converted try - Wales 31-18 Italy

Excellent work by Wales' replacements, Cory Hill and Aaron Wainwright, who secure a turnover near the halfway line.

Wales quickly shift the ball wide to the right wing, and George North thinks he's over for a try.

Referee Wayne Barnes checks with TMO Pascal Gauzere.

North is over the line and, although there are quite a few bodies in the way, the try is awarded.

Callum Sheedy converts smartly from the right and Wales should win comfortably from here.

Huw Evans Picture Agency

Regarding that earlier Alun Wyn Jones replacement, Elliot Dee has indeed come on in the back row.

The Dragons hooker is preparing for a scrum at blindside flanker, with Aaron Wainwright in the second row.