Score to settle

Then the Italians humiliated them with their first victory over Wales in ten attempts, winning comfortably 30-22 in the opening game. Wales never recovered and were further humbled by being whitewashed.

Welsh fans inside and outside the ground were so disgusted that they hurled their jerseys to the ground and threw their match programmes away.

Feelings were running high, and they escalated further when the TV cameras showed Colin Charvis appearing to smile or sneer when he was on the touchline having been hauled off by coach Steve Hansen, unprecedented for a Wales captain.

Anger reached a peak as Charvis was voted the most hated man in Wales, and he was forced into a denial that he was in any way treating his substitution lightly.

Considering there are seven survivors in the Welsh team today from that debacle - skipper Gareth Thomas, Tom Shanklin, Dwayne Peel, Mefin Davies, Robert Sidoli, Michael Owen and Martyn Williams - there is a lot of baggage left over.

That could go one of two ways - either it could inspire them all to play a leading role in a revenge mission or it could prove a stumbling block, especially after the way Italy gave title favourites Ireland such a scare last week and even got the better of a supposedly superior pack.

But times have changed, and there is every reason to believe Wales are now on an upward slope again after years of being in the doldrums.

The improvement began back in the World Cup 16 months ago and while it stalled a bit in last year's championship at least two victories were achieved and, under new coach Mike Ruddock, it got back into gear in the autmn internationals.

But the real crescendo arrived but a week ago when Wales at last brought England down as they roared to their first victory over the biggest 'enemies' in Cardiff for 12 years even if it was courtesy of a heartstopping late penalty by player-of-the-moment Gavin Henson.

That ought to have equipped Wales with some much needed self confidence and the belief that they really can beat one of the big boys. Not since 2001 have Wales got the better of a front ranked nation when they won in France.

Now Wales have got to do it on the road as they embark on the first of three successive away games, starting in Rome today and then on to France and Scotland before a finale against Ireland back in the Millennium Stadium.

They will take on the Italians, themselves confident after pushing the Irish all the way, armed with a whole series of positive statistics from the England game.

Wales kept their line intact for the first time for 26 games and for the first occasion for 48 Five and Six Nations games since 1994, it was five years and 24 championship matches since England failed to score a try in a Six Nations game and it was the first time for 12 years England were unable to score a try against Wales.

Now Wales take on Italy aiming to win their first two championship games for the first time for eleven years.

Their chances have to be high whatever the standard of the Italian pack's performance against Ireland.

If Wales can hold their own, and in some areas even get the better of the English pack which destroyed South Africa in the Autumn then surely then can do likewise against the Italians.

It won't be easy against an Italian eight led by hard man prop Leandro Castrogiovanni. They smashed the vaunted Irish eight backwards to score their try last week while back row trio Aaron Persico, Sergio Parisse and Mauro Bergamasco, now restored to his favourite flanker position after a period on the wing, will be a real handful.

But the Welsh pack won new admirers last week and former All Black great Zinzan Brooke is now tipping loose head Gethin Jenkins to be in the Lions Test team Down Under next season.

If there was a weakness against England it was in the line-out, which went missing for some reason in the middle part of the game. It will need to be back on an even keel, for Italian skipper Marco Bortolami is a major presence there.

But where Wales can really score is among the backs. For the Italians looked pretty ordinary there against Ireland whereas Wales have much more potential with players of the calibre of Shane Williams and Gavin Henson.

Provided Wales get the right platform up front Williams can dazzle them, Henson can glide through gaps and half backs Dwayne Peel and Stephen Jones can exploit the gaps.

It's not going to be easy, for Italy will be fired up ready to repeat their victory in the corresponding match two years ago.

They believe, as do many others, that they are on the point of breaking through big time into the Six Nations frame instead of being cannon fodder all the time.

It's great for the championship that it's so wide open this year, even Scotland improving out of all recognition to go within a whisker of beating France in their own back yard last week.

Italy and Scotland are supposed to be the chopping blocks of the championship, but both will fancy their chances today, the Scots this time aiming to get the better of Ireland.

Italy may well give Wales a bit of a scare and will go flat out from the start. But Wales are prepared for an early onslaught, they are well aware of what's coming and they ought to be able to deal with it.

From there they have the backs who can inflict plenty of damage on the Italians. I expect them to do just that.