Wales have dug deep to secure a 23-19 victory over Italy in their Rugby World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff.
The Welsh were punished for a sluggish start when Leonardo Sarto went over for the opening try in the third minute, leaving the stadium in stunned silence.
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Italy failed to take full advantage as Tommaso Allan's conversion hit the wrong side of the post on its way behind, but the 22-year-old made amends moments later by putting away a penalty to give his side an 8-0 advantage.
Wales were right back in it at 8-5 in the 13th minute when George North powered along the left wing and went over for their first try of the evening.
Leigh Halfpenny sliced his conversion wide from a tight angle, but he made no mistake when the Welsh were awarded a penalty in the 28th minute, levelling up the match from the edge of the 22.
Another Allen penalty sent Italy into the break with an 11-8 advantage, only for Halfpenny to level things up again 10 minutes after the restart when the visitors were penalised.
Wales took the lead for the first time in the match in the 63rd minute after the referee lost patience with Italy for failing to get their scrum set.
Halfpenny did the damage from the resulting penalty, but a drop goal from Carlo Canna immediately pegged them back. Two further penalty kicks from the Toulon winger fired Wales into a 20-14 lead with 10 minutes left.
Dan Biggar took over penalty duties after Halfpenny was stretchered off injured and he put Wales further in front in the 75th before a last-minute try from Guglielmo Palazzani made the closing stages nervy for the hosts.
Allan missed his last-ditch conversion, leaving the final score at 23-19 to Wales - but the match was overshadowed by injuries to Rhys Webb and Halfpenny, big blows for Warren Gatland's side ahead of the World Cup.
Mark Langshaw
