WHEN Warren Gatland said that the Six Nations was a vital piece of Wales' World Cup preparations he probably didn't expect it to be for the Uruguay game.

The most remarkable, points-filled day in the competition's history was sparked by Wales hammering hapless Italy in a game in which the visitors were exceptional for 40 minutes and the hosts were rancid.

It was remarkable fare at the Stadio Olimpico and punters who put a few quid on there being red ribbons put on the silverware at half-time would have been feeling very smug at 2.30pm.

The madcap game rocketed from 14-13 to 61-20 with Wales doing all that could have been asked of them to heap the pressure on the Irish and England. That both responded means that all three teams will be heading to the World Cup with a spring in the step.

The trio in blue, though...

The Azzurri were super for 40 minutes but then imploded and the post-match press conference for coach Jacques Brunel was brutal.

The former Perpignan boss sat there as Italian journalists forthrightly asked if he was drafting his resignation letter. It was a surprise that Paul Gascoigne, the former Lazio midfielder, didn't turn up at his old stomping ground with a bucket of KFC, a fishing rod and a can of lager to provide some comfort.

And the game was certainly as daft as a brush.

Wales made errors galore in the first half and frankly it's hard to accept their post-match claims that they softened up the Italians.

It wasn't a fast-paced game that tired out the hosts and Warren Gatland's men were hammered in the tight game with props Rob Evans and Aaron Jarvis given a rough ride. It is to their credit that they improved after the break, albeit aided by Brunel's baffling decision to change his front row with half an hour left.

As they headed to their changing room it looked likely that they would need Scottish and French wins to be in with a shot of the title.

It was 14-13 with Jamie Roberts' try, from a cute Leigh Halfpenny grubber kick, cancelled out by wing Giovanbattista Venditti's smart finish.

But Wales, with Liam Williams in majestic form after moving to full-back when Halfpenny once again was harmed by his poor tackle technique that saw his bring down the rampaging Samuela Vunisa with his face, went bonkers after the break.

Scrum-half Rhys Webb's quick tap allowed Liam Williams to go under the sticks and he then turned provider for wing George North after fielding a woeful Italian chip over the top just inside his own half.

Centre Andrea Masi was yellow-carded and the visitors made their numbers count.

North again after Alun Wyn Jones, a candidate for player of the tournament, stole a lineout ball then North yet again for his hat-trick.

Another yellow card – Quintin Geldenhuys. Webb try, peeling off the back of a driving lineout. Sam Warburton try, a stunning effort after wing Scott Williams and rapid replacement flanker Justin Tipuric went on the charge.

Scott Williams try, an Italian five-metre driving lineout turned over and ran back the length of the field.

Biggar's boot made it 61-13 but there was one last cruel moment with wing Leonardo Sarto's brilliant effort and Luciano Orquera's touchline conversion denting the points difference at the death.

Still, Wales had done an incredible job and surely it was enough? If you had said at the start of February that Ireland would need to beat Scotland at Murrayfield by 21 points and England would need to thrash France by 17 then you would have said no chance.

Sadly for Warburton & Co the madness was contagious.

It was a freak day and those talking about it being a watershed for the tournament are probably still high on the excitement. Don't expect such flowing fare when Wales head to Dublin on February 7, 2016.

But they have once again proved their quality as the tournament has progressed and banished the demons of their opening night loss to England.

That doesn't mean we have learnt a great deal through the Six Nations in World Cup year that we didn't already know.

There have been a few small changes – Luke Charteris moving back above Jake Ball in the lock standings, Scott Baldwin cementing himself as one of the three hookers – but Wales are a settled side and we know what the blueprint will be come September.

There will no doubt be the odd bit of tinkering a few subtle tweaks but don't expect a repeat of Saturday's approach against fellow contenders.

When Wales lost to England I wrote that it didn't change the fact that their fixture at Twickenham will be a 50/50 game and I stand by that. The same goes for the pair's meetings with Australia.

Did Saturday's fare reveal some key pointers ahead of the World Cup? No, but it was fun to watch.

Italy: L McLean, L Sarton, L Morisi (E Bacchin 73), A Masi, G Venditti, K Haimona (L Orquera 4), E Gori (G Palazzani 73), M Rizzo (A De Marchi 50), L Ghiraldini (captain, A Manici 50), M Castrogiovanni (D Chistolini 50), G Biagi (Q Geldenhuys 50), J Furno, F Minto, M Bergamasco, S Vunisa (R Barbieri 69).

Scorers: tries – G Venditti, L Sarto; conversions – L Orquera (2); penalties – K Haimona, L Orquera

Wales: L Halfpenny (S Williams 33), G North, J Davies, J Roberts, L Williams (R Priestland 70), D Biggar, R Webb (G Davies 70), R Evans (R Gill 52), S Baldwin (K Owens 55), A Jarvis (S Andrews 73), L Charteris (J Ball 73), A W Jones, D Lydiate (J Tipuric 55), S Warburton (captain), T Faletau.

Scorers: tries – J Roberts, L Williams, G North (3), R Webb, S Warburton, S Williams; conversions – D Biggar (6); penalties – L Halfpenny (2), D Biggar

Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)