By Paul
February 12 2005

Another week, another landmark and most importantly another victory for Wales. Ten Thousand traveling supporters painted the Stadio Flamino red, as they witnessed a much improved Welsh performance.

Italy 8 Wales 38

Any doubts that lingered following Wales's opening day scrap with England were dispensed, as Mike Ruddock's' side more than comfortably out classed an ever improving Italian outfit.

However comfortable it turned out, it was not easy as the expected physical challenge came and more. The Welsh eight were battered blue and black as they met the Italians up front. Unsurprisingly Ruddock opted to rest his charges in the final quarter, "blooding" two excellent prospects in John Yapp and Robin Sowden- Taylor.

Shane Williams typified Wales's opening vigor, jinking his way past several Italian would-be tacklers, and despite a horrendously forward pass, the resulting move allowed late stand in blind side Jonathan Thomas to receive a well telegraphed looping pass from Michael Owen, and dive over.

If anything a desire to play too much rugby was hampering Wales as they looked to make up for what last weeks relatively cautious approach. Henson paid for his willingness to flirt with danger, an attempted chip through resulted in Orquera scoring, but De Marigny failed to convert. The Italian ten struggled to find his range all afternoon, missing two consecutive penalty attempts.

Henson was nearly guilty of trying to overplay once more, this time however after ignoring a two man overlap inside the opposition twenty-two, Henson picked out centre partner Tom Shanklin with a cross field kick

After initially struggling at the lineout, the set piece began to settle down, and after several wasted opportunities and periods of being on the back, a decisive break from Hal Luscombe allowed Martyn Williams to highlight his Lions credentials with a masterful piece of opportunism and raw determination to ram himself and more importantly the ball into the bottom of the post, the video referee was hesitant in awarding a try that was very much within the laws, to give Wales a 19-5 lead at the interval.

Luscombe in one of his better games was however to limp out with a hamstring strain, and judging by his despairing looks, is likely to be a major doubt for the rest of the championship.

After riding out an initial Italian fight back, resulting in a scored penalty, the match began to open at the seems, and Wales in turn reveled.

First Brent Cockbain ran a superb angle, for first international score on fifty five minutes, then Gareth Thomas countered leaving defenders in his wake and then superb link player from Martyn Williams and Kevin Morgan saw Shane Williams finish. Robert Sidoli marked his return to form, with the sixth and final try against the land of his fathers.

All seven replacements were used as Wales relaxed safe in the knowledge of their first back to back Six Nations opening weekends since 1994, and first away win in eight matches.

With two potentially even tougher away ties in Paris and Edinburgh, even the vaguest though of a grand slam decider with Ireland on the final Saturday should not even be contemplated.

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Italy: De Marigny, M. Bergamasco, Pozzebon, Masi, Nitoglia, Orquera, Troncon, Lo Cicero, Ongaro, Castrogiovanni, Dellape, Bortolami, Persico, M. Bergamasco, Parisse.

Replacements: Barbini for De Marigny (74), Robertson for Pozzebon (54), Griffen for Troncon (57), Intoppa for Ongaro (68), Perugini for Castrogiovanni (58), Del Fava for Dellape (58), Dal Maso for M. Bergamasco (23).

Tries: Orquera. Pens: De Marigny.

Wales: G. Thomas, Luscombe, Shanklin, Henson, S. Williams, S. Jones, Peel, Jenkins, Davies, A. Jones, Cockbain, Sidoli, J. Thomas, M. Williams, Owen.

Replacements: Morgan for Luscombe (54), Sweeney for S. Jones (61), Cooper for Peel (57), McBryde for Davies (62), Yapp for A. Jones (62), Gough for Cockbain (62), Sowden-Taylor for M. Williams (75).