Italy handed Wales the wooden spoon in the Six Nations with their second ever win at the Principality Stadium.
Tries at either half from Monty Ioane and Lorenzo Pani with fly-half Paolo Garbisi kicking nine points was enough despite late tries from Elliott Dee, Will Rowlands and Mason Grady.
Italian fly-half Garbisi opened the scoring after six minutes with a routine penalty following a Danillo Fischetti turnover.
Visiting skipper Michele Lamaro was next to win the battle of the breakdown as he pounced on a Welsh error to win the penalty which resulted in Garbisi kicking his second penalty of the afternoon.
Garbisi and Monty Ioane were causing the Welsh defence problems in the as they combined for a linebreak in midfield before a neat pass to the winger who crossed unopposed.
Gatland’s side barely threatened in the first half as for the fourth time this tournament Wales have played 40 minutes of rugby without scoring a point.
Gonzalo Queseda’s side picked up a second try at the start of the second half from a lovely first phase move with Ioane making the break before providing the pass to fullback Lorenzo Pani who stepped the final Welsh defender to score.
The hosts eventually picked up points in the 64th minute through hooker Dee who drove over the tryline from short range as they looked for a last quarter comeback.
Garbisi added his third penalty before replacement Martin Page-Relo kicked a long-distance penalty to seal the victory.
Wales managed a couple of consolation tries through replacements Rowlands and Grady but Warren Gatland’s side finish bottom of the Six Nations without a win with the Auzzrri taking a 24-21 win.
Star player – Michele Lamaro (Italy)
The Italian captain led by example with a brilliant display in defence.
He made two crucial turnovers in the first half with one of them reliving pressure off his defence following a line break and he made 21 tackles, honourable mentions go to Garbisi and Ioane who were brilliant in attack.
Wales: 15. Cameron Winnett 14. Josh Adams 13. George North 12. Nick Tompkins 11. Rio Dyer 10. Sam Costelow 9. Tomos Williams
1. Gareth Thomas 2. Elliott Dee 3. Dillon Lewis 4. Dafydd Jenkins © 5. Adam Beard 6. Alex Mann 7. Tommy Reffell 8. Aaron Wainwright
Bench: 16. Evan Lloyd 17. Kemsley Mathias 18. Harri O’Connor 19. Will Rowlands 20. Mackenzie Martin 21. Kieran Hardy 22. Ioan Lloyd 23. Mason Grady
Italy: 15. Lorenzo Pani 14. Louis Lynagh 13. Ignacio Brex 12. Tommaso Menoncello 11. Monty Ioane 10. Paolo Garbisi 9. Stephen Varney
1. Danilo Fischetti 2. Giancomo Nicotera 3. Simone Ferrari 4. Niccolo Cannone 5. Federico Ruzza 6. Sebastian Negri 7. Michele Lamaro 8. Lorenzo Cannone
Bench: 16. Gianmarco Luccesi 17. Mirco Spangolo 18. Giosue Zilocchi 19. Ricardo Favertto 20. Ross Vincent 21. Manuel Zuilani 22. Martin Page-Relo 23. Leonardo Marin
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