Italy came back down to earth with a bump against Scotland the following weekend, losing 34-10 at Murrayfield.

But they remain a different proposition in Italy having won three of their last four Six Nations home games and Wales fly-half Dan Biggar insists stopping Parisse will be key when the two sides lock horns next weekend.

“They’ve got one of the greats in Sergio Parisse. He’s a real talisman for them,” Biggar, who helped Wales to a 16-6 win in France on the second weekend of the Championship, having lost at home to Ireland in their opening fixture, told the Daily Post.

“Gone are the days when you turn up there, put your kit on and get the result. It’s a hugely difficult place to go. You can tell that by Italian club rugby.

“I know they’re not quite up there at the top of the RaboDirect Pro12 but the amount they have improved, especially Treviso and even Zebre’s play is improving, so we have to be wary.

“There’s a lot of pressure on us going there to keep this run, this momentum going because they’re a great side.”