WALES and their long-suffering supporters were in dreamland as they FINALLY ended their 15-match losing run in the Six Nations by doing a proper job on Italy.
Aaron Wainwright, the Dragons’ best player throughout this Championship, led the way with two barnstorming first half tries.
Wainwright was named after Elvis Presley – whose middle name was Aaron. The all-action No 8 was hailed as The King of Cardiff as his adoring fans celebrated this long-awaited victory.
And fly-half Dan Edwards was the new Prince of Wales. He finished the Six Nations with a one hundred per-cent kicking record – landing all nine shots at goal – and added a try and a dropped goal for a 16 points haul.
Wales had the four try bonus point in the bag just four minutes into the second half as they powered into a 31-0 lead.
After that, a first Six Nations win at home in 1,491 days – since they saw off Scotland in February 2022 – was guaranteed, even though the Dragons eased off, and allowed the final scoreline to flatter the Italians.
After a cagey start by both sides, Italy should have taken the lead after ten minutes, but Paolo Garbisi somehow dragged an easy penalty shot wide of the posts.
And the home side made them pay as Wainwright steamrollered through two tacklers and crashed over for his first try.
Edwards knocked over the simple conversion, and he also added the extras after Wainwright again proved unstoppable from close range.
The Dragons had turned down the chance of an easy three points to kick for the corner before that second score, a clear sign of the confidence flowing through them.
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They again opted for the lineout as the rattled Azzurri conceded another penalty near their posts a few minutes later – and again it paid off with skipper Dewi Lake diving over from the back of the rolling maul.
Edwards maintained his perfect success rate with the boot in this Championship – making it eight from eight – and, incredibly, with less than half an hour played Wales were leading 21-0.
And it got even better four minutes into the second half, as Edwards glided over for a try, added the conversion – and then banged over an outrageous dropped goal from 40 metres out.
The home team took their feet off the gas after that, and Italy hit back with tries from replacements Tommaso Di Bartolomeo and Tomasso Allan, and a last-gasp score from Garbisi.
But no-one wearing red was too worried, as the Dragons built on their encouraging performances against Scotland and Ireland with a win that put the smile back on the face of Welsh rugby.
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