Six Nations: Warburton calls on Wales to show ruthless side against Italy

The overwhelming majority of Welsh rugby supporters already have one eye on a potential title decider when Les Bleus arrive in Cardiff later this month.

From the Wales squad’s perspective, skipper Warburton knows that is a dangerous game to play. But he will also press home the point in training this week that Wales can make a real statement of intent by hitting top form and emphatically putting Millennium Stadium visitors Italy away.

“It is about being ruthless next weekend,” Warburton said. “It’s a great opportunity to send a message out to France that we are not messing around.

“A good impressive win over the Italians and trying to get some negative thoughts in their [France’s] mind coming to Cardiff means a ruthless performance against the Italians would be good.”

Wales have put themselves in the box seat regarding this season’s championship, courtesy of away wins against Ireland and England and a comfortable home victory over Scotland.

If they brush off Italy and then beat France, the second Six Nations title and Grand Slam of coach Warren Gatland’s four-year reign will be secured, arriving just five months after Wales reached the World Cup semi-finals.

Warburton, though, is cautious about being swept along on a tide of expect-ancy and the general assumption that Italy will provide little threat to an expansive, try-hungry Welsh outfit.

“I can understand how people are getting ahead of themselves,” he added. “But from a player’s point of view it is always a really tough game against Italy, and the players know that, which is why we are really going to knuckle down at training.

“I have stopped myself from saying it [Grand Slam]. I am not superstitious, but I can say hand on heart that no one has spoken about the French game once.

“It is just being professional. At the moment, it is about getting your body right for next weekend, topping up some fitness, doing some skill work and then focusing on Italy. We can’t afford to think of anything else, really, and the players won’t be looking any further ahead than Italy. First things first. Things, at the moment, seem to be going our way. Everyone is positive and confident, which makes a massive difference to when you are training. If anything, you train even harder because you want to succeed even more.”