Having ended a run of eight straight defeats against France last time out, Wales chalked up their second win of the competition with Leigh Halfpenny again excelling at full-back, notching 14 points.

Where the Welsh scrum came under pressure in Paris, it was rampant in Rome and that gave Wales the platform to set up the victory - Halfpenny taking advantage whenever the Azzurri were penalised at the set-piece.

Despite Wales' superiority in the first half, Italy were very much still in the game at 9-6 down at the break but Davies and Cuthbert both scored clinical efforts to wrap up victory as the Welsh road show now gears up for a trip to Scotland.

Buoyed by their victory over France a fortnight ago, it was Wales who made the brighter start, setting up camp in the Italian half in the opening stages of the match.

The Italian defensive line rarely looked threatened by Wales did make their territory count on seven minutes, winning the first penalty of the match which Halfpenny duly converted.

The visitors allowed Italy swiftly back into the match however and the Azzurri levelled up the scores with their first foray into the Wales 22 - prop Gethin Jenkins pinged for bringing the scrum down and Kristopher Burton slotting the three points.

Italy briefly threatened - Giovanbattista Venditti bursting down the left - but the greasy ball ensured attacking rugby came at a premium for both sides.

Instead, it was the set-piece which dictated matters and in that regard, Wales were on top. Another brutal scrum on 15 minutes gave Halfpenny his second penalty of the game and just three minutes later it was the same story - the full-back converted from 45 metres.

Dan Biggar was then called up on the halfway line for not releasing but Burton decided to go for the corner, only to misjudge his kick and find Cuthbert.

Cuthbert spilled the ball however and from the resulting scrum, Burton attempted a drop goal, only to drag his effort wide.

On the half hour mark, Italy rediscovered their form at the scrum and secured the penalty, Burton on target to trim to gap to just three before Cuthbert finally found some space on the right.

Biggar fielded a kick and found his winger inside and Cuthbert looked to be clear only for a last ditch tap tackle from Gonzalo Canale to avert the danger for Italy.

Wales' impressive forwards then won another penalty - their pressure on Italy forcing mistakes following a chargedown by Jenkins but this time Halfpenny missed from the tee, ensuring Wales took a 9-6 lead in at the break.

Italy came out of the blocks in the second half and almost grabbed the first try of the match after a kick ahead by Burton wreaked havoc in the Wales defence but Tommaso Benvenuti failed to gather the ball cleanly with the try line beckoning.

Undeterred Italy stepped onto the front foot again but Burton missed his second drop goal effort before Davies struck with the decisive try on 44 minutes.

Mike Phillips chipped over the top and the bounce of the ball evaded both Burton and Italy scrum-half Edoardo Gori - but not Davies, who kicked ahead and dotted down, Halfpenny adding the extras.

Burton brought Italy back to within a score with his third penalty of the match but Halfpenny responded in kind with a superb kick from out on the left.

On 59 minutes, Italy then found themselves down to 14 with captain Martin Castrogiovanni sent to the sin bin after for repeated infringement at the scrum and Wales made it count.

A fine drive from the forwards resulted in Biggar picking out the on-rushing Cuthbert who was not to be denied this time, streaking over in the left-hand corner with Halfpenny again on target with the conversion.

With breathing space on the scoreboard, Wales set out closing the match out but Italy wasted a good chance to hit back - Alessandro Zanni knocking on when on the overlap to sum up the Azzurri's day as the visitors eased to a sixth straight RBS 6 Nations victory over their hosts.