Saturday’s third win completed the “Gat-trick” and should he conjure up another in Dublin a week on Saturday to seal the Triple Crown then all of Wales will be under his spell.

From the doom and gloom following the World Cup disaster, Wales are now one step from silverware and two steps from rugby heaven and the Grand Slam.

Even if a repeat of the 2005 clean sweep proves beyond them - Ireland at Croke Park and France at home is a tough end to the championship - Wales’ healthy points difference means the Six Nations title is very much in their own hands.

Whatever happens in Ireland, Wales will be playing for the title on the final weekend of the championship which, by his own admission, is not something Gatland could have expected when he took over a squad demoralised by their World Cup elimination.

“I am a little bit surprised,” said the New Zealander. “We wanted to make sure we won the two games at home against Scotland and Italy. We have done that and on the way we have got a win against England as well.

“Going to Twickenham was all about the performance. The result was a massive bonus.

“We have an opportunity now to win the Triple Crown and set ourselves up for a championship too.

“We are in a nice position at the moment and things are in our control. Our destiny is in our own hands.”

Gatland has learned from experience the value of a healthy bank of points and Saturday’s plan was to win the game, and win the game well.

Wales were ruthless in the second-half, scoring 34 unanswered points and running in a total of five tries with Lee Byrne and Shane Williams claiming two apiece.

Tom Shanklin sparked the rout with an interception score just after the interval and fly-half Stephen Jones supplemented it all with 18 points from a faultless kicking display.

Between them, Jones and James Hook have not missed a kick at goal all tournament.

Wales have only conceded two tries in three games - from a cross-kick at Twickenham and a lineout error punished on Saturday by Martin Castrogiovanni - and their points difference of plus 61 is 40 better than Ireland, 46 more than France and 53 up on England.

“The second half became really important for us yesterday because this competition could come down to points different,” said Gatland.

“I experienced it twice with Ireland. Two years in a row we finished on the same points with the winners of the championship but didn’t win it because our points difference wasn’t as good as England one year and France another.”