Having led 15-12 at half time, and then 25-22 just after the hour mark, they eventually fell to a four consecutive defeat of the campaign, 29-25.
“It was déjà vu really and I’m gutted for the boys again. It is another weekend of disappointment after they put in so much effort,” said Wales U20 head coach, Byron Hayward.
Down but definitely not out! Ryan Woodman reflects on defeat in Italy
“We had chances going into the last 10 minutes, but they defended well in that period. We were in a fight, and we battled hard, but we are getting fed-up of being unlucky losers.
“We are doing so much good, and this is a harsh lesson for these boys to learn. What we have to understand is that they are stepping up to a level they have never played at before.
“It is the first time they have experienced this ferocity and level of opposition. They are giving me 100 per cent and I can’t ask for any more than that.”
Woodman and his players move on to play the French in Oyonnax on Sunday night to complete their Six Nations campaign. Then they will set their sights on the Junior World Championship in South Africa.
“We’ve now got one last chance to get a win on the board this weekend. France came to Italy and only won by a couple of points and if the players show the same fight and pride in the jersey as they have displayed all season, then they will give the French a game,” added Hayward.
“We played some good stuff and perhaps overplayed at times in Treviso. It is all great learning for them and I certainly can’t question the effort of my players.
“You have to give credit to Italy for having such a great set-piece. Their scrum won them the game.
“We knew their scrum was strong, but I didn’t think it would have as big an impact as it ultimately did have. Italy seems to produce these players up front year after year.
“They were very well drilled at scrum and maul, and it was pretty obvious that that’s what won them the game. They played to their strengths.
“I thought Lucas de la Rua was unbelievable – what a find he has been – and Bryn Bradley was really good at centre. A number of other players really stood up as well. We also have another five games to come at the Junior World Championship in the summer.”
Lucas De La Rua on the charge in Treviso
Woodman joined De la Rua and another stand-out player in red on Friday night, No 8 Morgan Morse, in a dominant Welsh back row. The skipper was down, but not out, as he talked about th Italian defeat.
“There is not much we can do when their scrum is doing what it did to ours. Their maul was also very good and they won penalty after penalty,” said Woodman.
“We brought the physicality in phase play, but at set-piece it just wasn’t there. I don’t know how many penalties we gave away at the scrum and you aren’t going to win a game like that.”
There were six scrum penalties conceded and one yellow card and penalty try awarded against the Welsh pack. It will be an obvious area to work on this week.
“We knew it would be difficult against their big pack and we stood up to them and threw everything we had at them. Credit to the Italians, but we will have learned a lot from playing in front of what was a very hostile crowd,” said Wales outside half Dan Edwards.
“We can’t dwell on this too much, we have to move on to a big game in France on Sunday. France will be another very big side. We will have a good training week and go again.”
