Wales player ratings as Warren Gatland gets selection wrong but Faletau still has it
This was another dark day for Welsh rugby as Warren Gatland side slipped to a 22-15 defeat to Italy in Rome.
Wales have lost 14 Test matches on the bounce and, barring a miracle, look odds on to finish with a second wooden spoon in succession. They did outscore Italy when it came to tries courtesy of Aaron Wainwright and a penalty try but Gatland's side were second best for the vast majority of a frustrating 80 minutes.
Quite where Wales go from here remains to be seen but Gatland's position as head coach is hanging by a thread. Here are the player ratings on the back of a disappointing performance for Wales.
READ MORE: Wales are clueless as Gatland's experiment fails and leaves him on the brink
READ MORE: Warren Gatland Q&A: I want to stay but of I course I question myself
Blair Murray 7
A late replacement for Liam Williams but the Scarlets man gave a good account of himself. He's not the tallest but Murray took a few high balls cleanly and made one stunning break in the second-half which nearly led to a try.
One of the only positives from a very dark afternoon in Rome.
Tom Rogers 5
The Scarlets man was decent under the high ball and defensively but didn't get much opportunity to show his worth with ball in hand.
Nick Tompkins 4
The Saracens man is full of energy but isn't the long-term answer in midfield. One pass went forward when Wales had worked an overlap on the outside.
Part of a Wales attack which didn't spark.
Eddie James 6
Did the best he could with the poor quality of ball which came his way. There was the odd decent carry and some nice handling but this was too infrequent.
Still a promising player who deserves a run of games.
Josh Adams 4
Butchered two try-scoring opportunity by spilling the ball forward with the line at his mercy, albeit in difficult conditions. Received a yellow card for a cynical high shot on Paolo Garbisi.
Ben Thomas 4
Struggled with the kicking game in the first-half and would be better deployed back in the more familiar position of inside centre. Also failed to get Wales' attack firing. Gatland's decision to play him at outside-half looks like a big mistake.
Replaced on 48 minutes by Dan Edwards.
Tomos Williams 6
One of Wales' better players. Williams' kicking was decent enough on the whole but Wales should have scored two tries through his boot with Josh Adams failing to take advantage twice.
Gareth Thomas 5
As always the Ospreys prop worked his backside off, especially in defence, but was part of a scrum which struggled. Only carried the ball once and needs to do better in this area.
Evan Lloyd 4
The lineout is a collective effort but Wales struggled to win much clean ball early on and it improved once Elliot Dee entered the fray. Offered himself as a carrier and does have potential but he remains a work in progress at this level.
Henry Thomas 4
In Paris, the Scarlets tighthead was as solid as a rock but he conceded four scrum penalties in Rome and was replaced after 44 minutes. An afternoon to forget.
Will Rowlands 4
Offered himself as a carrier throughout but struggled to win the collisions, spilling the ball in contact on a number of occasions. The 33-year-old has struggled to reach past heights over the past few months.
Freddie Thomas 6
The Gloucester lock worked hard throughout, putting in nine tackles but was part of a lineout which malfunctioned in the first-half. Thomas was unlucky not to score his first Test try late on.
James Botham 5
Potentially saved a try in the second-half with a textbook turnover just when Italy were getting up ahead of steam in the Wales 22. But was one of many players who struggled with the physicality of the game.
Jac Morgan 7
Again one of Wales' best players, rising above the mediocrity to lead from the front. The Wales captain put in 13 tackles and 11 carries.
Taulupe Faletau 7
Got through a mountain of work and finished the game as the top carrier with 13. Faletau also got through a ton of work in defence, putting in 14 tackles.
Wales' performance would have been a lot worse without the 34-year-old.
Replacements
Elliot Dee 6
Wales' lineout fared far better once the Dragons hooker entered the fray while he was also lively around the park.
Nicky Smith 7
The Leicester Tigers prop made a big impact in the scrum and looked powerful in the tight.
Keiron Assiratti 6
Helped to improve Wales' efforts at scrum time and might have done enough to win the nod to start against Ireland.
Teddy Williams 6
Helped fix Wales' lineout woes and put himself about in the final quarter of the game.
Aaron Wainwright 7
The Dragons added some much needed physicality and scored Wales' only try. Needs to start alongside Jac Morgan and Taulupe Faletau against Ireland.
Rhodri Williams 6
Solid and efficient and didn't leave anyone down.
Dan Edwards 6
Wales had a bit more shape once the young Ospreys replaced Ben Thomas.
Josh Hathaway 5
Not much of an opportunity to show his pace with ball in hand.
