Sonny Parker makes a break (Getty Images).
WALES REACH LAST EIGHT
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When it really mattered Wales turned in their finest performance of the World Cup to beat Italy 27-15 and cement a place in the quarter-finals.
With New Zealand awaiting the Welsh in Sydney next week, this was effectively a Pool D play-off to join the All Blacks in the last eight of the World Cup.
And Wales went in front as early as the eighth minute when Mark Jones finished off a sweeping move to touch down in the corner - and once they held the advantage there was
nothing Italy could do to wrench it back.
Sonny Parker scored just before the interval after a break from Ceri Sweeney, and flanker Dafydd Jones peeled off the back of a maul for the hammer blow 20 minutes from time.
After two penalties from Italy fly-half Rima Wakarua - who finished with all 15 points - had reduced the deficit to just five, it was Jones' score that finally sapped the Italians' will.
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