The Wales players strolled happily around St Mark's Square in Venice late on Saturday night. After years of humiliations, Wales are at last emerging into the light. The ageing Azzurri were overwhelmed by the elan which characterise Wales under coach Graham Henry.
Henry's arrival from New Zealand has given Wales a focus. There have been recruits, such as prop Peter Rogers, who has added stability to the scrum, and flanker Brett Sinkinson, whose reading of the game is vital to the continuity advocated by Henry. But 12 of Saturday's side played for Wales last season when they suffered three record defeats.
But there is no danger of Welsh hubris in the run-up to the match against England at Wembley next month. Due deference is already being paid to England's power, although Italy prop Massimo Cuttitta said: "I could not believe how much stronger Wales were compared to a year ago."
Italy's attempts to play at a reduced tempo were undermined by the refusal of referee Rob Dickson to connive at their indiscretions. Wales's first three tries came directly from penalties and they were able to develop play through several phases. The backs had space and time and wing Gareth Thomas celebrated his return after a shoulder injury with four tries to equal the Wales record.
Out-half Neil Jenkins personifies the change overseen by Henry. Jenkins felt himself a captive in his own home after last year's defeat at Twickenham. A haunted figure then, he has been given his head by Henry and is now playing for Wales as he has for Pontypridd: creative, enterprising and slick.
After Wales's rampant displays in France and Italy, England will have something to think about.
ITALY: Pertile; Roselli (Roma), Stoica (Narbonne), Martin (Begles-Bordeaux), Dallan (Treviso); Dominguez (Stade Francais), Troncon (Treviso); Cuttitta (Calvisano), Moscardi, Properzi (Treviso), Giacheri (West Hartlepool), Cristofoletto (Treviso), Giovanelli (Narbonne capt), Sgorlon (Treviso), Scaglia (Treviso). Replacements: Baroni (Simac-Padua) for Stoica (22 mins), Castellani (Treviso) for Properzi (55 mins), Arancio (Treviso) for Cristofoletto, Saviozzi (Treviso) for Sgorlon (68 mins).
WALES: Howarth (Sale); Thomas (Cardiff), Taylor (Swansea), Gibbs (Swansea), James (Pontypridd); N Jenkins (Pontypridd), Howley (Cardiff, capt); Rogers (London Irish), G Jenkins (Swansea), Evans (Swansea), C Quinnell (Richmond), Wyatt (Llanelli), Charvis (Swansea), Sinkinson (Neath), S Quinnell (Llanelli). Replacements: Boobyer (Llanelli) for Taylor (76 mins), Walne (Richmond) for Gibbs (72 mins), Llewellyn (Ebbw Vale) for Howley (76 mins); Morris (Swansea) for Rogers (59 mins), Williams (Richmond) for G Jenkins (76 mins), Voyle (Llanelli) for C Quinnell (70 mins), Lewis (Pontypridd) for Charvis (76 mins).
Referee: R Dickson (Scotland).
