Italy hand sorry Wales another dismal defeat in Six Nations
Ange Capuozzo scored the hosts' only try at a soaking Stadio Olimpico with Tommaso Allan's quality kicking also condemning Wales to a defeat which could be key to deciding the destination of the wooden spoon.
Wales have lost all eight of their Six Nations fixtures since winning in the Italian capital two years ago and slump to 12th in the World Rugby rankings, below Georgia.
It is the lowest Wales have ever been in those standings and Warren Gatland's team will be wondering from where the next win is going to come with two-time champion Ireland up next in Cardiff later this month.
"I'm gutted with the result. We've worked hard all week and things just didn't go our way," Wales captain Jac Morgan told S4C.
"Discipline let us down. We gave them opportunities to kick points and that built the score board to be too high at the end."
A single point from their opening two matches, thanks to a bundled score from Aaron Wainwright and a late penalty try, will do little to inspire any confidence, while the Italians will be dreaming of another positive campaign under Gonzalo Quesada.
Italy showed very little of the handling errors and poor decisions which have traditionally plagued even their positive performances, handily holding off Wales once Allan's boot put them far enough in front.
Quesada's team next host a daunting clash with France who take on England at Twickenham in the day's late match.
"After so many close defeats to win here in Rome in front of my son is incredible," Allan told Sky Italia.
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