IT'S almost too good to be true - a first victory over England in Cardiff for 12 years followed by a six-try romp against Italy where they lost two years ago.

There can be no denying Wales are on a roll, but how long can this go on? Can it extend to France, to Scotland then a Grand Slam decider against Ireland in Cardiff?

Those are the questions on everyone's lips as the reality of this Welsh revival dawns, and the clamour for tickets to watch this exciting, adventurous team grows.

I'm going to give the rather tame answer of wait and see, or if you like that old cliche of let's take it one game at a time.

After years of failure, some of it pretty dismal, it's going to take a super optimist to put his neck on the line and say Wales will win in France, do the same in Scotland and then beat title favourites Ireland for the Grand Slam. Confidence and self belief are big factors, and it has to be said this Welsh team possesses an abundance of both.

They've ended their bogey of seven successive championship defeats on opposition territory and they are playing with a style and panache which marks them out as the danger team of the Six Nations.

Two weeks ago this column carried the headline Wales are dark horses for the title, and so it's proving as they send out the alarm bells to all their rival nations.

They played with real style in one of Europe's style capitals on Saturday when Italy were confined to something more resembling the ruins of the Rome Forum surrounding the breathtaking spectacle of the Colosseum and the nearby Victoria Mounument.

This team goes out to play from the first whistle, they'll try to take the game away from the opposition at the outset and they're not afraid to run the ball from anywhere.

At the heart of it all is the daring, darting Shane Williams, ducking and diving, stepping and delighting the fans. Gavin Henson, quieter against Italy which was just as well for his own good, is emerging as the game's new superstar and Gareth Thomas' leadership is infectious.

The pack are no slouches either, especially with Colin Charvis, Dafydd Jones and Duncan Jones all missing, as well as centre Sonny Parker.

Michael Owen's vision is extraordinary, Gethin Jenkins is becoming a real powerhouse prop and Martyn Williams is the ever present openside who attracts the ball like a magnet and is the essential link in the team. The man who puts it all in place is Mike Ruddock, the coach who simply grows in stature. He dictated the grand plan of taking the game away from the Italians early and it worked like a dream.

And to think Ruddock was never offered a contract by Newport Gwent Dragons when he was in charge last season, as he reminded me by text message near midnight on Saturday in different establishments miles apart in Rome.

One thing we might all consider after successive trips to Europe either side of Christmas is summer rugby, something many players advocate anyway.

Perpignan and surrounding resorts with the Dragons a fortnight before Christmas proved a delight, beautifully sunny and warm while Rome last weekend, especially Friday and Sunday, was resplendent with blue skies and shirt sleeved temperatures.

Surprise, surprise it was back to the Arctic here, bitterly cold or drenching rain, miserable and depressing. No wonder rugby here is a problem while the French are capable - even if they are not producing it yet - of champagne rugby.

At least it took something in the region of 10 hours door to door to get home on Sunday as our plane first developed a problem with a door, then the the truck carrying the engineers collided with the front wheel of the plane meaning everyone had to get off.

An agonising wait followed when the 'hardship' of another night in Rome was a possibility only for hopes to be dashed when we all got back on - to be told that we had to fly to Lyon in south-east France of all places for refuelling! And the pilot was a woman making her maiden flight!

But the time passed quickly with Max Boyce directly across the aisle. He's the guest speaker at Rod Snow's testimonial dinner at the Celtic Manor Hotel on Saturday night, and I can promise guests dark deeds are afoot with plenty of mischief in the offing.

As for that Grand Slam I'm going for a cop-out of maybe, maybe not. I'm still wary of France if the mood takes them, but at least it's all on for Wales.