Lee Byrne has demanded that Wales keep their momentum alive © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Lee Byrne

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations

Teams: Italy | Wales

Wales fullback Lee Byrne has demanded total focus from his team-mates as they prepare to take on Italy at the Stadio Flaminio on Saturday.

The Azzurri were routed 59-13 by England at Twickenham in the last round of Six Nations action but the Clermont Auvergne-bound Byrne does not believe that will have a bearing this time around.

Wales have tasted defeat in Rome in 2003 and 2007 and must follow up a huge win over Scotland if they are to keep their new-found momentum alive.

"That victory in Scotland won't mean anything if we don't go on and get another win in Rome," Byrne said. "We have come unstuck against Italy before, and we must definitely have our game heads on. It's all about learning the lessons of the past and realising that Italy are improving year on year.

"They are a force at home. It's like a club ground the way the spectators are very close to you. It is smaller than most other international arenas, and the atmosphere is quite intimidating.

"They do raise their game and get the most out of their players. Yes, they had a heavy defeat against England, but on the back of that defeat they will be looking to put things right. I don't think the beating they suffered at Twickenham will help us. Their match with Ireland in Rome, when they lost by two points, was more of a reflection."

Wales will parade six survivors - James Hook, Shane Williams, Stephen Jones, Matthew Rees, Alun-Wyn Jones and Ryan Jones - from four years ago when Italy triumphed 23-20. Byrne claims the effect of that 24-6 Edinburgh success cannot be underestimated and believes that Wales could do some damage this weekend.

"It reminded me of two years ago up there when we dominated the first-half. We now know we are still capable of playing that type of rugby," he said. "If we can repeat that sort of performance in Rome then Italy will find it difficult to live with us.

"There is more of a spring in the step now we've got the win we had been searching for. We had been trying so hard to get it and put things right, and now we have, everybody is more relaxed."

Byrne's Wales team-mate, flanker Sam Warburton, has highlighted the importance of stopping Italy's talismanic skipper, Sergio Parisse, from influencing proceedings.

"We've got to try to keep him quiet," Warburton said. "He is not a 'crasher' type of player, he's got nice hands and brings a lot of players into the game. He's a great all-round player, one of the best in the world in my opinion.

"If we stop Parisse, it will be a big factor in stopping Italy. When he does something exceptional in a game it lifts the Italians. They all look up to him, so if you stop him playing you can stop Italy from getting any momentum."