Italy U20 v Wales U20, Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
Italy U20 (15) 18
Tries: Ducros, Casartelli Cons: Fasti Pens: Fasti 2
Wales U20 (10) 20
Tries: Bowen, Thomas X2 Cons: Ford Pens: Ford
Player of the Match: Harry Thomas (Wales)
The Azzurrini scored the first try in the 16th minute, making the most of a penalty advantage, Roberto Fasti put up a kick for winger Jules Ducros to latch onto, letting it bounce he crashed over in the corner.
The Welsh reacted in the 24th minute with a wide pass to Cardiff winger Tom Bowen, who cut back inside back avoiding his Italian opponents and dove over in the corner. Shortly after, Wales won a penalty and chose to hooker for the corner, the Welsh maul gathered momentum, and hooker Harry Thomas crashed over, putting his side in front.
At the end of the first half, Italy attacked the Welsh goal line with a series of pick and goes, until flanker Nelson Casartelli found the right gap which, with Fasti's conversion, brought the teams to the break at 15-10.
Wales came out from half-time firing, with Thomas the beneficiary again following another strong Welsh maul attack. Wales retook the lead with Harri Ford's conversion, but the score continued to swing as the Azzurrini regained the lead at 18-17 with a penalty from Fasti.
Before the hour mark, Wales had the opportunity to reclaim the lead with a penalty in front of the posts. Ford's kick took the score to 18-20, with 10 minutes to play in Treviso.
The final moments in Treviso were chaotic, as Italian winger Malik Faissal appeared to have scored the winning try, only for a TMO intervention to rule it out due to a knock-on over the line.
Italy were given another chance with the final kick of the game, but Fasti's effort drifted just wide, bringing an end to this epic encounter.
Wales secured their first away win since Jac Morgan's U20 side triumphed in Ireland in 2020.
