Not since the golden era of the 70s has a Wales side boasted such an abundance of talent in every area.

Individual brilliance coupled with a burning desire to play free-style open rugby has resulted in performances to leave rugby fans open-mouthed and drooling in admiration.

At Murrayfield, Wales' scintillating first half display destroyed the opposition and drew applause even from the Scottish fans.

Wales have been threatening a new ascendancy for a season or two, now the dream has been realised.

At the heart of this new - or born again - rugby philosophy are inspirational new coach Mike Ruddock and the princes of flair, Gavin Henson and Shane Williams.

Inside centre Henson and wing Williams have been dazzling Neath Swansea Osprey fans for the past two seasons and now their amazing skills are the talk of world rugby. Henson, the ice cool playmaker and thumping tackler, turned young Mathew Tait's England debut into a nightmare. The Newcastle three-quarter will surely never forget being driven back in the tackle and quite literally carried along by his spikey-haired opposite number. The debut from hell - especially as it all happened at the Millennium Stadium in front of 74,000 ecstatic Welsh fans.

But perhaps Henson's most impressive quality is his calmness under fire. Even on the back foot he is capable of spotting attacking opportunities or, with the greatest of ease, putting in 50-metre clearance kicks to relieve the danger. Surely he's a British Lion in waiting.

Joining him on the plane to New Zealand is likely to be wizard on the wing Shane Williams. The diminutive Osprey, so reminiscent of Wales' 70s superstar winger Gerald Davies, can tear defences to shreds. Most amazing of all is that he does it even with defences knowing what to expect.

Like Davies before him, Williams has dancing feet, a devastating side-step which leaves defenders for dead, and blistering acceleration.

When he takes a high ball and looks to counter-attack the sense of anticipation in the crowd and almost be tasted.

Of all the great players in coach Mike Ruddock's team, Williams, more than any other, symbolises the free spirit of Welsh rugby.

Surely a certainty for Sir Clive Woodward's Lions is outside half Stephen Jones. The former Scarlet, now with French club Clermont Auvergne, is playing the rugby of his life.

Jones, always reliable during his long career, is now playing with added confidence and decision-making is rarely wayward. His goalkicking is consistent and when he has an off day - well there's always Henson!

Jones is the catalyst and this Wales team without him is almost unthinkable. But for the likes of Henson, Williams and Jones to rip into the opposition they need the ball, and there's no player in this Six Nations better at getting it than Martyn Williams. The open-side flanker was given a chance against England and seized it with both hands.

Many pundits have named him the player of the tournament and it's difficult to disagree with them.

Whether it's racing to the breakdown or putting in a momentum-halting tackle, Williams displays the kind of commitment only seen in world class combatants.

Not the biggest of open sides, he makes up for it in dynamism - surely Sir Clive must have his name on the list.

Individual skill and team flair can only prosper under the right leadership and Newport Gwent Dragon Michael Owen Wales have a stand-in skipper to be proud of.

With their backs against the wall in Paris, Captain Fantastic Owen, replacing injured skipper Gareth Thomas, oversaw one of the most sensational fightbacks in recent Six Nations history.

How many really gave Wales a chance at half time? Not many. But Owen's team talk and leadership from the front saw them home and still on track for the Grand Slam. If he's not charging into Kiwis this summer, he damn well ought to be!