Italy ..................... 8 Wales ................... 38

WALES' second match of the 2005 Six Nations campaign against Italy in Rome had promised, before the competition started, to be their easiest as it was against the new boys on the block, and chopping block at that.

But in the back of everyone's minds was the fact Wales had suffered a shock defeat there two years earlier, when whitewashed in the championship, and had not won their opening two championship games in eleven years.

And then there had been Italy's performance just a week earlier, when they had given Ireland all the problems they could handle before clinching a 28-17 victory.

It was felt the Italian pack would present Wales with a strong, physical test and that the first 15 minutes or so would be a trying time.

But the Italians reckoned without Wales coach Mike Ruddock who determined to give the Italians a dose of their own medicine.

The result was that Wales were ahead with a try within four minutes, never relaxed their grip and sailed on serenely to a 38-8 triumph.

For the second week running, Newport Gwent Dragons lock Michael Owen boomed out a long pass moving left and Jonathan Thomas scored in the corner.

Italy responded when Henson's attempted chip from a Welsh counter-attack was charged down by Italy outside half Luciano Orquero who scored and for a moment we wondered would Wales fail through over-confidence. But Henson, this time wearing golden boots, made amends when his crossfield kick was gathered by wing Tom Shanklin who merely put the ball to ground for a try. And the third owed much to the cleverness of the increasingly influential Martyn Williams who took a pass from Hal Luscombe, who had cut inside and through the Italian back line, and grounded the ball against an upright for a perfectly valid score, confirmed by the video referee.

Two Stephen Jones conversions made it 19-5 at the interval and in the second half two tries midway through secured victory before a large contingent of Welsh supporters. First lock Brent Cockbain powered over after taking a short pass from Jonathan Thomas for his first try for Wales and before Italy could recover, Shane Williams danced over for one of the tries of the championship.

Skipper Gareth Thomas crashed through the centre, Martyn Williams carried the ball on before popping up a pass to replacement wing Kevin Morgan and he in turn superbly released the ball in the tackle for Shane Williams to roar over.

There was still time for lock Robert Sidoli to score his first try for Wales amid a whole rush of replacements, again following a sweeping move instigated by Newport Gwent Dragons scrum half Gareth Cooper.

Italy had added another penalty, but Wales were full value for their biggest win at the Stadio Flaminio and it was on to Paris.