WALES 24 ITALY 3

WALES made very heavy weather of their victory over a terrible Italy but remain on course for the Grand Slam with France to come in Cardiff next Saturday.

But this Wales side will have to up their game considerably if they want to make their own piece of history and claim Wales' third Grand Slam in seven years.

In a game of very poor quality, Wales struggled to break the Azzurri who offered little apart from excellent defending and sheer doggedness.

Wales were careless with the ball and were guilty of making far too many handling errors and giving away silly penalties.

A dour first half saw Wales lead 9-3 after Leigh Halfpenny kicked three penalties to Italy wing Mirco Bergamasco’s solitary effort.

Had it not been for a superb individual try by centre Jamie Roberts after 50 minutes, Wales could have really struggled to put away an Italy with just about one tactic in mind - damage limitation.

Halfpenny's yellow card for taking out Sergio Parisse in the air after 61 minutes did little to help matters.

Italy skipper Parisse was tremendous and his try-saving tackle on Halfpenny in the first half had kept his side in the game.

Giant wing Alex Cuthbert, who had a fine game, scored another try of high individual quality late on to put a big gloss on things.

The Azzurri were truly awful in attack and this match could act as a serious reality check for Wales.

They are certainly no world beaters on this evidence.

Rhys Priestland failed to control the game again at outside-half which is a worry ahead of next weekend’s crucial match.

Head coach Warren Gatland could have given James Hook a chance to show what he could do at fly half but, for some reason, decided not to, the Perpignan star only coming on late at full back for Halfpenny.

The positives for Wales were few really but there were fine performances from all their back row of Dan Lydiate, Toby Faletau and Justin Tipuric in for skipper and openside Sam Warburton who was ruled out with a knee injury.

Wales’ defence was also solid but Italy are no All Blacks.

And a terrible game of rugby wasn’t helped by the poor refereeing of Irishman George Clancy.

Wales scorers: Tries - Jamie Roberts, Alex Cuthbert, Conversion - Leigh Halfpenny, Penalties - L Halfpenny (3), Rhys Priestland

Italy scorer: Penalty - Mirco Bergamasco

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

Star man: Dan Lydiate

* To answer a point made by don quixote in the comments below, Alex Cuthbert played in one game for Newport.

The Cardiff Blues wing turned out for the Black and Ambers in a pre-season friendly against The Rock Newfoundland on August 1, 2009, a game the Rodney Parade side won 49-21.