Wales are top of the Six Nations table, but they didn’t pick up a bonus point here. Might that cost them later in the tournament? Perhaps, but with all those changes, Gatland appeared happy to take that risk in order to give players some extra game time.

Jonathan Davies, captaining Wales for the first time tonight, says his team are “frustrated” by their performance, but praises the efforts of the debutants and fringe players who came in. “We’ll have to be much better against England”, he adds, and he is not wrong.

That’s it! Wales have an 11th consecutive win, and their second away success in this year’s Six Nations. It was far from pretty, and they struggled until Warren Gatland called key men off the bench to dash growing Italian hopes of a shock victory.

NO TRY! Prop Dillon Lewis bustles through from Anscombe’s offload, and Thomas Young crosses into the corner. It’s ruled out – Anscombe’s pass was forward – but that’s harsh on Young, denied his first Wales try.

78 mins: Josh Navidi is named man of the match for a battling performance at No 8.

The try count is 2-2, Dan Biggar’s four penalties in the first half-hour proving crucial. Without them, Italy would be a point ahead.

Wales leave a gap in their defence and Italy exploit it, Allan sidestepping into space and teeing up Padovani, who cruises into the corner. Allan shanks a tricky conversion wide.

73 mins: More sterling work from Steyn and Parisse carries Italy upfield. If only Italy’s entire team was as strong as their back row. The hosts have a scrum, and a chance to make the scoreline look more respectable…

“Italy may have Bigi but what we have is Biggar,” says Phil Grey, picking up the pun that’s been staring at me all game.

As I type those fateful words, Anscombe cuts Italy open with a delicate chip beyond the line – and Owen Watkin is onto it ahead of Morisi. Anscombe converts, and Wales have wrapped up the win!

69 mins: Wales pick up another penalty, and then an advantage close to the Italian line. It’s all a little uninspired though …

67 mins: More changes for Wales, with Elias, Amos and Ross Moriarty coming on. That means that Wales have Holmes and Moriarty on the field together. Elementary.

NO TRY! Due to technical issues, we haven’t been able to hear the referee throughout the game, and he can’t communicate directly with the TMO, either. After a bit of back and forth, we learn that in the booth, a knock on was picked up.

64 mins: Wales pounce on an Italian mistake as the ball squirms away from Jayden Hayward, as he tries to pick up a grubber kick. Adams and Jonathan Davies are both onto it in a flash, the latter grounding the ball. It’ll be reviewed for a potential knock on…

62 mins: Allan has returned after his head injury assessment. A crafty banana kick from Anscombe sets up an Italy lineout, as Wyn Jones and Gareth Davies come on.

60 mins: Italy make two more front-row changes, with Bigi and Pasquali replacing Ferrari and Ghiraldini. Scrum-half Edoardo Gori is also on, replacing Pazzani.

59 mins: Italy snatch the lineout ball – that area continues to pose problems for Wales. The visitors go again, but Williams’ attempted grubber kick is straight into an Italian shin.

57 mins: More Italy changes, with Marco Barbini on for Negri, and a couple more lined up. Traore is penalised for not rolling away, and Wales will have a dangerous lineout…

Dan Biggar adds the conversion, taking his total to 14 on a mixed night for him, before heading off as Gareth Anscombe comes on.

Wales get the breathing space they needed! Davies leads the drive and Italy are short of numbers on their right. Liam Williams gets through a half-hearted Hayward tackle, and offloads to Josh Adams, who races in and dots down under the posts.

53 mins: Federico Ruzza is on for Dean Budd in the Italian pack. I’m surprised he didn’t start today; he was terrific when coming on at Murrayfield.

52 mins: Biggar has amassed all of Wales’s points but some of his kicking has been erratic, and he looks annoyed with himself as he plants an effort straight into touch. He hasn’t helped his claims for a World Cup starting spot today.

51 mins: Changes for both sides. Wales call on their captain, Alun Wyn Jones, who replaces Jake Ball. In the front row, Dillon Lewis replaces Samson Lee. For Italy, Cherif Traore is on, replacing Nicola Quaglio.

50 mins: The game opening up a little bit, Biggar leading a charge before Italy turn it over, McKinley kicking downfield and forcing Williams to gather smartly under pressure.

48 mins: Ian McKinley comes on, with Tommaso Allan requiring a head injury assessment. If you’re wondering why he’s wearing goggles, he has lost sight in one eye after a horrific injury:

46 mins: Yikes, Aled Davies can’t clear the ball out of the maul, and Braam Steyn turns the ball over! The clearing kick is poor, and Wales have a lineout – but Steyn is on hand again.

45 mins: The penalties keep piling up, Dean Budd penalised for a high tackle. Biggar backs himself to kick into the corner, and does so clinically. Welsh lineout, five metres out…

Thomas Young tried to sneak in and steal the ball, but the ruck had formed and the risk didn’t pay off. Allan atones for his miss before half time. Is it time for Wales to make changes?

42 mins: Biggar misjudges his kick to touch, and Italy have a lineout. Wales penalised for an offside, and Italy can pick up where they left off…

He’s hit the post! It wasn’t a gimme, but … oh, Italy. A scrappy half ends with Wales relieved to still have a five-point cushion.