Six Nations

Wales cruised to a convincing 33-10 Six Nations victory over Italy at the Millennium Stadium - ending a disappointing season on a high.

James Hook crossed for a second-half brace of tries to ease Wales to only their second win of the championship and lift the pressure on head coach Warren Gatland.

Wing Shane Williams added a third try, while flyhalf Stephen Jones scored 18 points, including four penalties and three conversions in a 100 per cent kicking and man-of-the-match performance.

Italy fought to the death and were rewarded for their efforts when fullback Luke McLean touched down for a consolation score.

Tom Prydie became Wales' youngest ever player, beating Norman Biggs 122-year record by 25 days.

And the 18-year-old showed no fear on his debut as the teenage wing was in the thick of the action from the kick-off.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland had praised Prydie's physical attributes in training and he proved his ability with his first tackle on McLean after just 38 seconds.

Then the Ospreys young gun inflicted his first Test casualty with the help of Gethin Jenkins in a crunching hit to force Italian centre Gonzalo Canale off with a rib injury.

After a frantic opening, with Adam Jones also departed with a head wound Stephen Jones booted the home side into a ninth minute lead.

Bradley Davies became the third player to exit proceedings inside 15 minutes with concussion, but the passion and commitment Gatland had asked for prior to the clash was met with an emphatic response with fit-again Jenkins and skipper Ryan Jones doubled up to stop McLean in his tracks.

Jones added a second penalty and after a period of sustained pressure, Wales appeared to have broken the deadlock in the 28th minute.

But Lee Byrne saw his try disallowed by the officials following a forward pass from Shane Williams.

Wales nudged into a nine-point lead when Jones fired home a long-range penalty in the 32nd minute.

The hosts piled on the pressure and Hook nearly created the opener with a solo effort.

Hook caught Craig Gower's wayward kick, launched a swift counter-attack and chipped ahead but McLean covered before conceding a penalty.

Jones handed Wales a 12-0 interval advantage with his fourth successful kick.

Italy had defended well in the opening period following a horror show in Paris six days earlier but Wales persistence finally paid off.

Hook had the chance to score in the 47th minute but was pushed into touch but the centre made amends just four minutes later.

Byrne was foiled short of the line and after British Lions halfbacks Stephen Jones and Mike Phillips combined, Hook fended off the tackle of replacement Tito Tebaldi to score a converted try in the left corner.

Italy then pressed the self-destruct button when Mauro Bergamasco was yellow carded in the 56th minute for coming in from the side.

Gatland's men took advantage instantly and Phillips and Jones fed Hook for a fine double under the posts.

Jones converted for a 26-0 lead before Mirco Bergamasco finally got Italy on the scoreboard with a penalty on 66 minutes.

Williams looked to have wrapped up the victory with a close-range score after neat build-up from Byrne, Tom Shanklin and Phillips before McLean added a late consolation for the visitors.

Man of the match: This one is easy - flyhalf Stephen Jones scored 18 points, a classy all-round performance.

Moment of the Match: The first of James Hook's two tries - it signalled the beginning of the end for Italy.

Villain of the match: Nothing too villainous, but Mauro Bergamasco was yellow-carded.

The scorers:

For Wales:
Tries: Hook 2, Williams
Cons: S Jones 3
Pens: S Jones 4

For Italy:
Try: McLean
Con: Mirco Bergamasco
Pen: Mirco Bergamasco

Yellow card: Mauro Bergamasco (Italy, 55 - repeated infringements, off-side)

Teams:

Wales: 15 Lee Byrne; 14 Tom Prydie, 13 James Hook, 12  Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams; 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Mike Phillips; 8 Ryan Jones (captain), 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Jonathan Thomas; 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Bradley Davies; 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Paul James, 18 Ian Gough, 19 Gareth Delve, 20 Dwayne Peel, 21 Andrew Bishop, 22 Tom Shanklin.

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Craig Gower, 9 Pablo Canavosio, 8 Alessandro Zanni, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Marco Bortolami, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain), 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Valerio Bernabo, 19 Manoa Vosawai, 20 Tito Tebaldi, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Matteo Pratichetti.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Marinus Jonker (South Africa), Stuart Terheege (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)