Wales 47 Italy 8:WITH THREE down, two to go and the Triple Crown on offer at Croke Park in a fortnight, who knows what happens then? The whole of Wales believes its heroes are destined for a second grand slam in four years but the more realistic know that for aspiration to become reality the team's learning curve must continue to keep pace with its increasing lustre and mystique.

Long after Wales had sent Italy packing with 34 unanswered, second-half points Warren Gatland was still batting away questions from those seeking knowledge of the elixir he and Shaun Edwards have carried to Wales.

"Secret" said the head coach in a playful way that will do nothing to diminish expectations before Wales travel to meet a reinvigorated Ireland.

Rob Howley, the only Welshman among the new "Big Three", asked if he was surprised at the turn-around in Wales's fortunes since they were bundled out of the World Cup, simply said: "No."

Only when elaboration was demanded did the attack coach add: "Because I know what these two do."

Thankfully those listening to the players will have received more rational explanations for Wales leading the Six Nations table: it is not magic but hard work and the kind of iron discipline that previous coaches like Mike Ruddock and Gareth Jenkins would have died for. Or "bloody hard work" as Ryan Jones put it.

"We're getting what we deserve," said the captain before the fullback Lee Byrne, man of the match, explained the new pragmatism that underpinned Saturday's performance and the transformation of Wales from a side fortunate to lead at the interval - they would not have if Gonzalo Canale had not butchered the easiest of chances - into one which again ripped the opposition apart in the second half.

"There's been a lot of talk about this magic team talk. There is no magic team talk," said Byrne, scorer of two tries and rock solid in defence.

"We've got a game plan and we're sticking to it, which perhaps we haven't been before.

"We wanted to keep (the ball) on the park. Italy have a strong driving lineout game and I think we gave them only eight lineouts all game which is an achievement. When we went next door to swap jerseys that's what they were on about - how little lineout we gave them."

Such discipline makes Fiji, Nantes and the World Cup seem a distant bad dream but it must be said that, when Wales upped the tempo, Italy committed suicide.

Within 90 seconds of the restart Andrea Masi, an experiment at out-half which has run its course, threw a left-handed pass into the arms of Tom Shanklin and the centre, celebrating his 50th cap, cruised home.

Two Stephen Jones penalties made the lead 23 points and a yellow card for Mirco Bergamasco left Italian chins on their chests before two Shane Williams tries - one either side of Byrne's second - completed a rout that seemed improbable at half-time.

Even allowing for Canale's fumble, Italy then trailed by only five points - precisely the penalty and attempted conversion the new boy Andrea Marcato drilled against the left-hand post - and the momentum was with them.

"Everybody gets excited in Wales," said Byrne, trying but no doubt failing to keep the lid on, "but we've only won three games. Now we'll just put it to the back of our minds and build on it."

WALES: Byrne; M Jones, Shanklin, Henson, S Williams; S Jones (Hook 71), Peel (Phillips 43); Jenkins, Rees (Bennett 57), R Thomas (Duncan Jones 71), Gough, Evans (Deiniol Jones 71), J Thomas, M Williams (Delve 73), R Jones (capt).

ITALY: Marcato; Sgarbi, Canale, Mirco Bergamasco, Galon; Masi (Buso 55), Picone Travagli 61); Perugini (Lo Cicero 60), Ghiraldini (Festuccia73), Castrogiovanni (Perugini 75), Dellape (Bortolami 51), Del Fava, Sole (Zanni 63), Mauro Bergamasco, Parisse (capt). Sinbinned: Mirco Bergamasco, 50.

Referee: D Pearson (England).

Attendance: 74,305.

PHASES OF PLAY

6 Scrums Won 6

0 Scrums Lost 1

15 Lineouts Won 7

4 Lineouts Lost 1

8 Pens Conceded 10

1 Freekicks Conceded 1

3 Mauls Won 1

58 Ruck and Drive 22

47 Ruck and Pass 24

BALL WON

108 In Open Play 47

14 In Opponents' 22 14

31 At Set-pieces 21

4 Turnovers 6

TEAM STATISTICS

140 Passes Completed 71

12 Line Breaks 4

30 Possession Kicked 31

10 Errors from Kicks 7

1 Kicks to Touch 9

17% Kicks /Passes 30%

56 Tackles 135

3 Missed 20

94% Tackles Completed 87%

19 Offloads in Tackle 5

14% Offloads/Tackled 8%

24 Total Errors Made 17

17% Errors/Ball Won 25%

Details supplied by SAS Software