Italy 23 Wales 20:Time may not be on Gareth Jenkins' side, as the Wales coach has presided over only two wins in 10 matches - against the might of Canada and the Pacific Islanders - since he took charge last year.
And it was not on his team's side as Italy made history by winning two successive games in the Six Nations for the first time.
The manner of Wales' fourth defeat in this year's Six Nations, which resulted in an apology from the referee Chris White yesterday, will gnaw away all week like a toothache as they prepare for the visit of England on Saturday evening. Because, even in the Eternal City, time does not stop, a painful lesson for the young centre James Hook.
He spurned the chance of a kickable penalty seconds from time that should have given Wales a repeat of their draw with Italy last year. Thinking his side had enough time to win a lineout and attempt a winning try, Hook kicked for the corner only for White to blow for time and for the game to end in mayhem.
The laws state that a side should complete a move if a penalty is awarded, but Hook's and his forwards' delay in shuffling over to the lineout meant that the clock had ticked towards the 80-minute mark as he launched his fateful kick to touch.
Bill McLaren, famously, used to refer to the final whistle as the whistle for "no side", but not here. Italy were in raptures, Wales in despair. Italy's players were on a bonus of €20,000 a man if they beat Wales. But the price Wales may pay for all this confusion could be a whitewash.
But Wales have to take a good look at themselves, though, for squandering a match that also hinged on a decision to kick for touch. Eight minutes before time Ramiro Pez spurned a kick at goal with his side four points down.
The Italian pack failed, after an age, to drive over for a try from the lineout, but when Alessandro Troncon released the ball to his outhalf, Pez chipped over the defence and Mauro Bergamasco plundered the winning try.
Bergamasco was outstanding once more for Italy, especially as the flanker had to switch to a position in the three-quarters at the start of the second quarter after the injured centre Gonzalo Canale had been replaced.
Italy, like Wales, chose to have five forwards and only two backs on the bench. Bergamasco, though, angered Wales with what looked like a punch on Stephen Jones in the first half which forced the outhalf off the field with blood dripping from a head wound until after the interval.
After the break Hook took over kicking duties and it was a pity Wales' best back, after landing two penalties and a conversion, will be remembered for his final kick. Hook's penalty 13 minutes after the break had given Wales a seven-point cushion.
It was a position, following a try from a lineout by hooker Matthew Rees, from which Wales looked sure to send their supporters home happy.
Instead, it led to the hardest of Latin lessons.
SCORERS - Italy: Tries: Robertson, M Bergamasco. Cons: Pez 2. Pens: Pez 3. Wales: Tries: S Williams, Rees. Cons: S Jones, Hook. Pens: Hook 2.
ITALY: De Marigny; Robertson, Canale, M Bergamasco, Pratichetti; Pez, Troncon; Lo Cicero, Festuccia, Nieto, Dellape, Bortolami, Zanni, M Bergamasco, Parisse. Replacements: Zaffiri for Canale (22 mins), Staibano for Lo Cicero (59 mins), Perugini for Nieto (59 mins).
WALES: K Morgan; M Jones, Shanklin, Hook, S Williams; S Jones, Peel; Jenkins, Rees, Horsman, Gough, A Jones, Popham, M Williams, R Jones. Replacements: G Thomas for S. Jones (29 mins), D Jones for Jenkins (62 mins), R Thomas for Rees (79 mins), A Jones for Horsman (57 mins), J Thomas for R Jones (72 mins).
Referee: Chris White (RFU).
