ROME - Wing George North scored a hat-trick of tries as Wales recorded their biggest ever win over Italy to give themselves a real chance of winning the Six Nations title with a 61-20 win on Saturday.
Wales centre Scott Williams scores a try (L) during the Six Nations international rugby union match between Italy and Wales on March 21, 2015 at the Olympic Stadium in Rome
Warren Gatland's men travelled to the Stadio Olimpico knowing only a win with a massive points difference would give them a chance of overhauling title rivals England and Ireland.
And after a shaky first-half performance that saw the visitors go in for the break 14-13 to the good, Wales turned on the style to score seven tries in a stunningly one-sided second-half with North touching down three times in the space of 10 minutes and ending a four test try drought.
The result has fired Wales to the top of the Six Nations table to heap pressure on England and Ireland, who are in action later, respectively, at home to France and away to Scotland.
Wales will have to wait until the end of England's home game against France before discovering their Six Nations destiny, and Gatland admitted: "We'll just have to wait and see."
But the New Zealander was buoyed by his side's second-half turnaround.
"It doesn't mater who you're playing against, it's difficult to put away a team in the first half," he added.
"At half-time we spoke about being a bit more accurate and raising the tempo. They played with a little bit more freedom in the second half, it was outstanding."
Wales' previous biggest wins over Italy was a 47-8 victory in 2008 and a 60-21 win in 1999.
After their spectacular collapse, Italy coach Jacques Brunel sidestepped questions about his possible resignation.
"That is for management and for the president (of the Italian rugby federation) to decide," said the Frenchman, who nonetheless admitted the reverse was humiliating.
"I accept my part of responsibility for this defeat. It was humiliating for the guys, but also for me.
"At half time we looked to be in contention to push Italy all the way, but we conceded two tries immediately after the restart and went on to make a series of individual errors that we will have to look at closely.
Italy responded to Jamie Roberts's 18th minute try minutes later with Giovanbattista Venditti touching down and only a penalty on the stroke of half-time from fly-half Dan Biggar restored the visitors lead.
Wales, however, emerged a different team after the interval after scrum-half Rhys Webb took a tap penalty it set Liam Williams free to break through the defence and touch down -- for only his first try in his last 11 tests -- with Biggar slotting over an easy conversion.
Two minutes later North touched down after powering through unhindered from Liam Williams's pass on the left flank -- Biggar converted for 28-13.
Italy suffered a blow when centre Andrea Masi was sinbinned for an off-the-ball tackle, and Wales capitalised immediately.
After some great work by Liam Williams again, North bundled over the try line with Biggar again on target with the boot for a 35-13 lead.
North rounded off his hat-trick on 59 minutes when he danced through the Italian defence after some great work by the Welsh forward line.
Biggar took the score to 42-13 with an easy conversion in front of the posts.
Italy's woes deepened when Quintin Geldenhuys was sent to the sinbin for dragging down the Welsh maul, and Wales punished the hosts.
Italy's defence was nowhere when Webb picked up from the maul near the tryline and sold a dummy before holding off Leonardo Sarto to bundle over.
Biggar's conversion attempt drifted just wide, but Wales were soon back on the rampage, with flanker Sam Warburton and then Scott Williams touching down, the latter scoring a stunning try on 72 minutes after a move which began when Italy gave up possession from the lineout at the Welsh tryline.
Biggar took the lead to 61-13 with the conversion, and it looked likely to stay that way until Sarto finished off a great run down the left flank to touch over, with Orquera hitting a difficult conversion from the lefthand touchline.