ROME — Only a fortnight after looking buried, a revived Wales has impetus and a winning streak going in the defense of its Six Nations rugby title after beating Italy 26-9 in rainy Rome Saturday. Wales wore down Italy with two second-half tries and 16 points from Leigh Halfpenny's trusty boot for a second successive win in the championship. Only two weeks ago, Wales went to France with last rites ringing its ears over its chances of defending the title. But it won in Paris to end an eight-test losing streak, and won at the Stadio Olimpico Saturday to achieve a fourth successive win away from home for the first time since the tournament expanded in 2000. Interim coach Rob Howley's squad still wasn't close to dominating like it did last season en route to the Grand Slam, but wins by any margin on the continent were precious. Italy at home has also given Wales fits for a decade, and despite missing its suspended captain Sergio Parisse, was back in the same stadium where it humbled France this month. But Wales did all the damage after halftime. Center Jonathan Davies ran in for one converted try and winger Alex Cuthbert quickly followed to put Wales out of sight after leading 9-6 at halftime. Halfpenny added four penalties and the conversions, while Kris Burton accounted for all of Italy's points with three penalties. With the rain falling more heavily in the first half, both sides preferred the boot to the hand, and penalties proved the key as the forwards were evenly matched. Neither side looked like scoring a try, and midway through the first half Italy center Gonzalo Canale managed to trip up Cuthbert by the ankle along the right sideline with open space ahead. Five minutes before the break, Halfpenny had his only penalty miss of the day. In the 53rd, two Italy defenders botched a chip from scrumhalf Mike Phillips and Davies scooped up the loose ball to run in unchallenged. Less than 10 minutes later, Cuthbert angled across the defense to slide into the left corner, also unchallenged. Wales next visits Scotland on March 9, while Italy plays at England a day later. — AP
