Record-equallers in Rome, but Wales will not be record breakers back home if they play like this again.

An 11th consecutive win to match the 1907-10 vintage was splutteringly sealed over Italy; it will be a year unbeaten when England come to Cardiff next, and Wales must fill the cracks by then.

Josh Adams had their belated try just before an hour to answer Braam Steyn’s first-half score, Owen Watkin took a late one to make sure and Dan Biggar kicked 14 points but this was by no means the swashbuckling slicing required ahead of England’s visit. 

Owen Watkin kept his eyes planted firmly on the prize as he went over for Wales second try of the evening

The young centre sealed victory for his side, who continue their bright start to the Six Nations campaign

Italy rallied with a late surge and sent Edoardo Padovani clean through, but Wales were able to retain their grip

After a failed conversion the hosts quickly saw the tie slip beyond their reach, and have now lost two from two

A well-worked move saw Wales penetrate the Italian defensive line and send Josh Adams clear through to score a try

Adams displayed nimble footwork and sound position awareness to shrug off his opponents for Wales’ first try

The 23-year-old Worcester Warriors wing was hugged by his team-mates warming up on the sidelines following his effort

‘I am very satisfied with the win,’ said Warren Gatland.

‘Sometimes you have to win ugly, we did not play that well but we will move on and think about England.

‘We never looked like we were going to lose. There is no regret in making the changes, as we are two wins from two. A lot of people will be writing us off, which is a good position to be in flying under the radar.’ Wales’ last two first-halves they have played have felt like watching the England side of last year – who started to win uncomfortably and then saw a run of victories became a run of defeats.

For Wales, who made 10 changes, two incredibly average starts to games is not encouraging. At least this week they scored some points and led after at the break.

But they could not find a try. It is now 105 minutes of rugby since they gone over in the first half – since Liam Williams took a second of the day after 15 minutes against South Africa in the autumn.

Italy took one. Biggar had put Wales 12-0 up with four of the simplest penalties – most right in front of the goal-posts – before the Italians stirred.

The second penalty they kicked to touch brought reward. Dean Budd claimed the lineout, the Azzurri bashed through phases right, Seb Negri prominent. 

Earlier, Adams had been thwarted by Italy’s Federico Ruzza and Cherif Traore after trying to craft an opening for his side

Dan Biggar was clinical with the boot and slotted home four penalties for Wales inside the Olympic stadium

The Northampton Saints star wasn’t alway influential for his side but helped keep possession ticking over for Wales

And when Steyn piled over they had the try. Tommaso Allan hit the conversion and Italy were five points back.

You had a feeling, when Allan then struck a post with a penalty to end the half that that was as good as it might turn out for Conor O’Shea’s men – especially as they had not won here in the Six Nations for six years and lost 32 of their last 33 Tests against top opposition.

Wales did start nicely, with Thomas Young – on Championship debut – combining with Elliot Dee to win a penalty inside the first minute, but otherwise they were profligate and sloppy.

Adam Beard spilled a ball when they had momentum in the Italian 22, and captain Jonathan Davies butchered a clear try-scoring opportunity when he had Liam Williams and Jonah Holmes queueing up outside.

He flung wide to Holmes, missing out Williams, which stopped the Leicester man in his tracks and the moment went.

Biggar was typically raging when the try was conceded. He started well by collecting kicks, barked orders and found men in space – even once attempting a no-look pass – desperate to regain the fly-half role more permanently.

But Wales’ lineout spluttered. Two in the second half led to turnovers; this was not going to plan at all.  

Abraham Steyn was mobbed by red Wales shirts but managed to plunge over the line to score a try for Italy

Steyn was congratulated by team-mates after his effort raised the decibel level inside the Olympic Stadium in Rome

Allan hit a penalty when Young was offside, and Italy were only two back. Most thought Wales would be sipping on their post-meal Limoncello’s in Rome having gunned Italy down in the first half, but this performance was leaving a bad taste in the mouth.

Soon Gatland had enough and took Jake Ball off for Alun Wyn Jones, the usual captain playing his 50th Six Nations game and first bench appearance for three years.

Biggar, though, lost his mojo. A missed-touch from a penalty and then a kick going straight out on the full, and Gareth Anscombe was summoned to warm up.

He only replaced Biggar after Wales had found their try, though. At last the blue wall crumbled. Aled Davies made an initial surge up the right wing, then left went Wales – Biggar to Jonathan Davies to Williams.

The full-back powered past Edoardo Padovani and Jayden Hayward then popped to Adams who ran round from the left to score under the posts. Biggar converted, then departed.

Captain Davies then had a try disallowed when he knocked on before touching down, referee Mathieu Raynal having to use the fourth-official’s headphones to confirm with the TMO as his communications were not working.

But Wales did score a second, Anscombe’s chip over the defence touched down by Watkin charging through. The replacement No 10 converted.

Padovani strolled in for a late Italy try but their run stretched to 19 consecutive Six Nations defeats. Another record broken.

‘We are really disappointed,’ said O’Shea. ‘It’s bloody difficult to be here the whole time, but we are working hard. It’s impossible if you stop believing. Any time we do anything remotely good it’s the other team’s fault.’

Georginio Wijnaldum returns with a bang for Liverpool as the irreplaceable Dutchman shows why he is the darling of Jurgen Klopp’s dressing room

• Georginio Wijnaldum returned to action for Liverpool against Bournemouth 
• The Dutchman showed just why the Reds missed him against West Ham 
• Wijnaldum doubled Liverpool’s lead in the first half with a deft, chipped effort
• His performance shows just why he could be a secret weapon for Jurgen Klopp 

By

Joe Bernstein for MailOnline

Published:
12:26 EST, 9 February 2019

|
Updated:
15:33 EST, 9 February 2019

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk tend to grab the headlines at Liverpool but unsung midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum was their true hero – defying a sore knee and diarrhoea to help get the club’s title challenge back on track.

Wijnaldum, badly missed in Monday’s below-par draw at West Ham when his absence let Mark Noble dominate, was in severe danger of missing his first Premier League game at Anfield when he felt ill on Friday night and kept away from his team-mates at the team hotel.

But he was unexpectedly passed fit after a remarkable recovery and capped a man-of-the-match performance with his second goal of the season, a delightful one-touch finish that killed off Bournemouth resistance.

Georginio Wijnaldum returned with a bang for Liverpool and dazzled against Bournemouth

‘He was nowhere to be seen on Friday. Then he produces a performance like that,’ said skipper James Milner about his 28-year-old Dutch colleague.

Jurgen Klopp was a little more graphic. ‘He had pretty much everything you don’t want to have for two nights before a match. Then he said after a couple of hours sleep, I feel good, I can play.

‘We are where we are because of the mentality of the boys. I was only concerned after Gini scored when everybody gave him a hug!’

Klopp picks Wijnaldum more than any other midfielder and on Saturday you could see why. His movement, energy and technical skill were the perfect antidote to two disappointing draws that had seen Liverpool wobble and overtaken by Manchester City.

The Dutchman scored a sublime chipped effort to put the Reds two goals in front

Bournemouth set up to stifle Liverpool and for the first quarter of the game, there was frustration in the Kop, particularly when Wijnaldum played the ball sideways to Naby Keita rather than attempting the killer pass.

But Klopp wanted patience and control in Liverpool’s build-up play, and he was right.

After 24 minutes came the breakthrough when Sadio Mane headed them in front, though Bournemouth justifiably complained of offside. From there, Wijnaldum’s consistent break-up up play coupled with clever runs behind the Bournemouth defenders were cheered to the rafters.

His personal reward came after 34 minutes when Andy Robertson spotted him just inside the right angle of the penalty area. On receiving a pass, Wijnaldum had the awareness to see goalkeeper Artur Boruc coming out and dinked the ball over his head into the top corner before breaking out into a beaming smile.

Wijnaldum showed why he is held in such high esteem by his team-mates and Jurgen Klopp

It was such a composed finish you can imagine Klopp demanding more goals from him now and at 2-0 Liverpool were home and dry, Salah later adding a third.

Salah is the darling of Anfield and the supporters regularly sing his name but Wijnaldum is their Fernandinho, irreplaceable and most missed when he’s not there.

The ovation he received when he was replaced by Klopp 14 minutes from the end was fit for a hero.

He’s featured in 24 of Liverpool’s 26 games so far. If he can stay fit, and healthy, for the remainder of the season, it could be a very special season on Merseyside.

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Police investigating violent clash after Watford’s win over Everton amid reports two Hornets fans left ‘covered in blood’ with one ‘not moving a lot’

• BBC’sRick Kelsey took to Twitter after encountering aftermath of violence 
• Kelsey said two Watford fans were left hurt as ambulances arrived to treat them
• The incident followed Watford’s 1-0 win over Everton at Vicarage Road  

By

Jack Bezants for MailOnline

Published:
15:17 EST, 9 February 2019

|
Updated:
15:21 EST, 9 February 2019

Hertfordshire police are investigating a violent incident after reports that a Watford fan was left ‘covered in blood’ following their match against Everton on Saturday.

According to reports, a cemetery near Vicarage Road is cordoned off and BBC reporter Rick Kelsey said he saw two fans hurt as ambulances arrived.

‘Outside @WatfordFC loads of police after fighting in-between coaches and railings next to crowd,’ Kelsey wrote. ‘Two Watford fans on ground covered in blood. Ambulances on scene.

BBC reporter Rick Kelsey said he saw two fans hurt as ambulances arrived

Kelsey said on Twitter that one fan ‘was not moving a lot as ambulances arrived’

‘One man ( in his thirties ish) was not moving a lot as ambulances arrived. Police blocking coach doors to stop fans getting off.’

The incident followed Watford’s 1-0 win over Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The match saw former Hornets manager Marco Silva return with Everton after leaving the club in acrimonious circumstances last season.

He was sacked by Watford in January 2018 with the club blaming Everton’s approach the previous November for disrupting his focus.

Watford won thanks to a 65th minute strike from Andre Gray. 

 

 

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What’s Portuguese for schadenfreude? Marco Silva’s return to Watford began with a handshake and ended with an embrace, too.

As Lee Probert blew the final whistle at Vicarage Road the Everton boss greeted opposite number Javi Gracia as he had done before kick-off. 

But after another chastening 90 minutes for the Blues manager, the smile had long been wiped from his face. 

Andre Gray (left) opened the scoring for Watford as they beat Everton 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon

Gray gave the hosts the lead on 65 minutes with this close-range finish after great play by Will Hughes

Gray wheels away in celebration after scoring for the hosts against their beleaguered opponents

The 27-year-old was quickly mobbed by his team-mates who rejoiced at his strike against the Toffees

Watford’s jubilation contrasted massively with Everton’s mood of dejection as they went behind 

Then he was off, down the tunnel, unable to face it anymore – the taunts, the chants, the crisis unfolding on his watch.

Watford fans may be optimistic in warning their former boss that he faces an imminent sacking but after three defeats in succession and another largely uninspiring display there is perhaps only one saving grace for Everton: They don’t play again for 16 days.

Watford captain Troy Deeney had told fans to forget about abusing Silva, and instead let the players twist the knife. But for an hour yesterday, neither side kept their side of the bargain.

The home crowd unleashed a barrage of abuse – some of it unprintable, some rather comical, all of it entirely predictable. And rather than ‘kick the s*** out’ of Everton, Deeney and Co stuttered as both sides struggled for quality.

But then came the decisive moment of genius from a most unlikely source.

Craig Cathcart had been tasked with keeping Cenk Tosun at bay but it was his delightful reverse pass that allowed Will Hughes to slide the ball across goal for half-time substitute Andre Gray to win the game.

‘We prepared that,’ Gracia joked. ‘It’s more the pass of a striker than a centre back!’

The goal breathed life back into Vicarage Road as the home fans turned on Silva once more.

‘It’s not important, I cannot control everything,’ he said of Watford’s ‘strategy’. ‘I was really welcome from the people that were working with me many, many months, they welcomed me really well. The most important thing is the people (who) really know everything and they welcomed me really well because they know the truth.’ 

Everton midfielder Tom Davies makes a sliding tackle on Adrian Mariappa during Saturday’s encounter

Watford fans make their feelings known towards Everton manager Marco Silva – who was branded a ‘snake’

At the start of last season Silva was the Watford manager before leaving the club in acrimoniously after Everton’s overtures

Silva was axed by Watford last January amid claims he had been tapped up by the Merseyside club. Now he’s staring down the barrel once more after Gray, the man he signed for a club-record fee, sent Everton to a 12th league defeat of the season.

Gracia was the beneficiary on this occasion, as the home crowd rallied around their current boss.

‘It’s not usually (like that) but I’m very grateful,’ he said. ‘For me the most important thing is to see all the people around me happy… I don’t know (Silva) very well. I wish all my colleagues the best but every game I want to win.’

Silva insisted his side deserved at least a draw and and twice the bar did rescue Watford – first from Gylfi Sigurdsson’s looping effort and then from a late Lucas Digne free-kick.

The Frenchman had salvaged a point in stoppage time when the two sides met at Goodison but there was to be no such reprieve this time round.

Etienne Capoue came close to opening the deadlock in the first half for Watford with this right-footed strike

Ben Foster (centre) continued his Watford heroics from last week’s draw at Brighton with this fine stop from Kurt Zouma

Everton forward Richarlison was hoping to hurt his former club in the first half – but he was well marshaled by the hosts

Watford striker Troy Deeney came close to giving them the lead before half-time but he was denied by Jordan Pickford in goal

Instead Silva and his players were left to rue the officials’ decision to award a corner in the build-up to the goal, with Kurt Zouma earning a red card after the final whistle for his protests.

‘What he said to the referee is what all the other players are saying in that moment,’ Silva said. ‘It wasn’t a corner. (The referee) and assistant they have to see that because it was too clear. If Jordan (Pickford), Zouma, Michael (Keane), all the players there if they can see it, how is it possible they can’t see. It’s very strange.’

It was a rub of the green neither side really merited. Deeney was at the centre of the pre-match circus but a peripheral figure for much of the game.

The returning Richarlison, meanwhile, was equally ineffective and hooked after Gray’s opener to the delight of the home fans.

But it was in Silva’s troubles that they basked most passionately.  

Idrissa Gueye tries to play a pass going forward for Everton, under pressure from Watford captain Deeney

Richarlison was on the receiving end of some rough treatment in Hertfordshire – such as this challenge from Capoue

Foster could only watch on as Sigurdsson’s flick hit the top of his crossbar instead of going in – to the relief of the home team

The stadium DJ whet the appetite with a rendition of Al Wilson’s ‘The Snake’ before the crowd took over.

Silva’s popularity among his own fans is waning and that was tested early, when Etienne Capoue fired at goal from five yards, only for Pickford to save with his head.

At the other end, Michael Keane and Zouma tested Ben Foster with headers but Everton struggled to keep hold of the ball.

It didn’t get much better in the second half, even after Silva sent on Theo Walcott, Bernard and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in an attempt to reverse their fortunes.

Calvert-Lewin came close with a header in the dying moments but it was another of Silva’s former strikers who had the last laugh.