There were plenty of winners in the Wales side this weekend
08:45, 15 Mar 2026
Wales players sing the anthem on a day they brought an unwanted run to an end(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Finally after 1,099 days, Wales won a game in the Six Nations.
This 31-17 victory over Italy at the Principality Stadium was Wales’ first in the competition since defeating the same opponents in Rome back in March 2023.
Steve Tandy’s side was good value for the win but it was not enough to avoid a third successive Wooden Spoon.
Here are your winners and losers.
WinnersDewi Lake
The Wales hooker has been through some very dark times as captain of this side and has endured a number of chastening defeats.
Following the opening round hiding at Twickenham Lake cut a forlorn figure in the post-match press conference but has responded exceptionally well.
Lake is a player who leads by example and he has been outstanding over the last three Test matches.
The Gloucester-bound hooker helped fix Wales’ lineout, carried well against the Italians, consistently got his side over the gain line and brought a huge level of physicality.
Wales’ skipper deserved to celebrate a long-awaited Six Nations victory more than anyone, such has been the way he has held this team together through adversity.
Aaron Wainwright
Undoubtedly Wales’ player of the championship, he was awarded the official player of the match award.
Wainwright has been outstanding throughout the entire championship and is among the best backrowers in the Northern Hemisphere.
The 28-year-old carried well, getting his side over the gain line, and claimed a brace of tries.
Wainwright is going from strength to strength and will be a key player for Tandy’s side over the next few seasons.
Ben Carter
The 25-year-old has been in and around this Wales side for the past few seasons but over the past few weeks he has cemented his place as a first-choice player.
Carter got given an opportunity after Adam Beard’s below-par performance against France and hasn’t looked back.
The Dragons lock was given the responsibility of running the lineout and he ensured it operated well against the Azzurri.
Carter also put in a big shift around the park and should be a permanent fixture in Wales’ starting XV moving forward.
James Botham
Any openside flanker playing in the same era as Jac Morgan is going to find it tough going breaking into the Wales side.
But in Morgan’s absence Botham has been excellent. The Cardiff backrower was very good in the victory over Italy with his physicality playing a big part in Wales’ victory.
Botham finished the game as the top tackler with 15, while he was excellent at the breakdown, slowing down the speed of Italy’s attacking ruck ball.
The 28-year-old has been in and out of the squad for a few years but if he can stay fit should become a regular in the matchday 23 moving forward.
LosersItaly
It is stating the obvious somewhat but Italy were a shadow of the side who claimed an historic victory over England eight days ago.
The Azzurri had taken giant leaps forward in the Six Nations, beating Scotland in Rome, pushing Ireland all the way in Dublin before beating England for the first time ever.
Gonzalo Quesada’s side were favourites to overcome Wales in Cardiff but were outplayed by their hosts in front of a vociferous crowd at the Principality Stadium.
Dave Reddin
The Welsh Rugby Union’s director of rugby and elite performance fronted up on the BBC live coverage post-match.
Reddin has been the subject of fierce criticism for his plan to restructure the professional game in Wales which includes a reduction from four to three clubs.
He doubled down on his belief that Wales should go down to three sides which hasn’t gone down well on social media.
After Reddin’s interview, Wales legend Alun Wyn Jones was brought into the discussion and offered a critique of how the situation had been handled.
Jones said the issue was not necessarily the change itself, but the way it had been communicated.
“It’s interesting, having a connection on the pitch but the cost of disconnection off the pitch is very dangerous,” Jones told the BBC.
“We heard some of the chat around the plan and we all agreed change was needed. Had we known the details of the plan earlier, people would have been able to get over it earlier and understand.
“Couple that with the trust issue with certain things going on. Those are the barriers that have been created in the process, irrelevant of what the plan is.”
Reddin is copping it from all angles and is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.
Scarlets
The Scarlets were the only Welsh club in action in the United Rugby Championship this weekend as they slipped to a 31-14 defeat to Connacht in Galway.
Nigel Davies’ side were a long way off their best and got dominated up-front by their hosts.
Defeat has all but ended any slim hopes the west Walians had of making the URC play-offs and they must strengthen their pack if they are to see a marked improvement next season.