BLITZ the blitz defence - that is what the Welsh backs have been told to do against Italy, chasing their first major scalp away, in Saturday's Six Nations clash at the Millennium Stadium.

Hal Luscombe, the Newport Gwent Dragons centre playing his fourth consecutive game in his favourite position after winning his first ten caps on the wing, admits most international teams now employ the blitz defence.

Italy, he says, are no exception and under caretaker coach Scott Johnson the Welsh backs have been advised how best to combat it.

"You have less time at 13 playing at international level than you do at regional level and you've got to be on your mettle the whole time," said Luscombe.

"If you make any slip in defence the attacking side will come right through you. We have been trying in training to buy more time to try to get the ball earlier.

"A lot of sides this year have been using the blitz defence and you do have less time on the ball.

"Scott says the best way is to go straight at the blitz defence, you'd find it difficult if a player goes straight on a charging run at you. When it's one on one more times than not you end up winning, the worst thing you can do is stay deeper and deeper or get tackled behind the gain line because that puts the team on to the defensive."

Luscombe admits he is settling into the outside centre role where he had always played until initially selected for Wales on the wing. And he says it's completely different.

"I feel more comfortable playing at 13," he said. "I've played only three times there for Wales so I wouldn't go so far as to say that I have established myself there. With the competition we have you never feel that settled as there's such depth there.

"I feel it's gone all right, it could be better, a couple of moves have come off and a couple haven't. But it's completely different from being on the wing where you've got to be under the high ball, it's a different type of game, but as I say I'm feeling more comfortable there.

"I'm also comfortable in attack with Matthew (Watkins) and with Stephen (Jones) back we should have a good link there.

"It's been pretty hard in training since the Ireland game. The guys have had to front up and have had a good long stare in the mirror, we've been honest with one another which should pay dividends because you need honesty."

Luscombe says the scoreline in Ireland flattered the hosts and they are facing up to the Italian job well aware that they are being targeted.

He said: "Our defence paid dividends against Ireland and they didn't break us. Brian O'Driscoll had a pretty quiet game and the score was flattering to them, but occasionally it happens in rugby.

"Italy seem to progress every year which is good, but it makes us raise our game in order to get a result. "They've been very solid in defence and they've been right up there, leading against England and France so they've got to see us as a target. We must make sure that everything we do comes off or we'll be struggling.

"It's a credit to the rugby we played last year what people expect of us now. It's going to be a tough game and we've got to play well if we're going to beat them."