Guinness Six Nations Player of the Match Justin Tipuric insisted there was plenty more to come from Wales, after the defending champions cruised past Italy 42-0 in Round 1.
Dan Biggar kicked nine points to put the hosts in the driving seat, before Josh Adams notched a first-half double to earn Wales a healthy 21-0 advantage at the break.
The 2019 Grand Slam champions maintained their dominance in the second period, and scores from debutant Nick Tompkins and George North – before Adams’ hat-trick try – added gloss to Wayne Pivac’s first Test victory in charge.
While Wales’ win was largely the result of a collective team effort, Tipuric was effective throughout and made 21 tackles with a 100 per cent success rate, and the back-rower was encouraged by his team’s start to the fresh campaign.
“It was a great team performance,” he said. “And I think we’ll just keep getting better and better.
“It was really important to get the bonus point and to win well, but it’s extra special to have kept them to zero as well. To not concede any points in the first game is a great start.
“But I do think this is just a snapshot of what we’re capable of and the longer we’re together the stronger we’ll get. I’m confident we can grow as the tournament goes on.”
With a trip to Dublin next up for Wales, Tipuric hinted that his team are likely to be tested further by a side who are similarly adapting to new stewardship, with Andy Farrell in the Ireland hotseat for the first time during this year’s Guinness Six Nations.
But following the impressive introductions of the likes of Tompkins and Cory Hill from the bench in Wales’ Championship opener, the 30-year-old believes their strength-in-depth is forcing the best out of the whole squad.
He said: “The quality throughout the team – including in the back row – is crazy really. Whoever takes to the field now knows they have to take one for the team.
“We’ve got so much talent now that even if we had lots of injuries, I’m confident whoever it is that would step in would do a great job. Hopefully we can continue playing so well next week.”
