Well, it's always nice to go out on a high isn't it? After weeks of playing like a group of men who'd won a drinking competition on St Mary's Street to play rugby for Wales one minute, and looking like world beaters the next, we had that mythical balance of pragmatism and creativity. Pity it was four games too late, but better late than never eh?

That's not to say it was plain sailing, and that in itself was pleasing to see. In the first 10 minutes, when Italy came out of the blocks with intent and were looking to impose themselves, I was a bit concerned that it was going to be another unconvincing performance - and truth told, Wales played like a team who were rock bottom on confidence, lacking the conviction in their own abilities. And yet even playing a cagey, conservative game against an Italian team that was fired up and defending heroically, they patiently waited for mistakes, took the easy points, and waited for the game to break up in the second half before cutting loose.

It's pretty refreshing to not have to reel off the negatives really, so you'll forgive me if I put a bit too much stock in a convincing win at home over the Wooden Spoon winners. It's just that playing like that, we'd have run any team close - it was a blend of sound tactical kicking, organised defence (finally), excellent work at the breakdown and some good old fashioned Welsh flair.

A lot of that was to do with the welcome return of Lions Gethin Jenkins and Mike Phillips. The difference was so profound as to be equal parts rapturous and terrifying for Wales fans. As Gatland pointed out afterward, those pair return and all of a sudden Wales are playing like the Grand Slam team again. Phillips was at his dynamic, adversarial best, and was unlucky not to score, while Jenkins put on the sort of all-action performance that sets him apart from every other front row player in the world. The flipside of that is how massively screwed we seem to be without the best prop in the world and the Northern Hemisphere's best scrum half - here's hoping we don't have to do without them again...

Other plus points, well, I suppose we should start with the week's headline grabber - Wales' youngest ever player, Tom Prydie. I must admit I was slightly worried when Gatland pulled the shock of the tournament on us - three games for the Ospreys is hardly an ideal preparation for the Six Nations, but it seems I was worrying about nothing. All the talk from the Wales camp was about how this young starlet was as cool as a cucumber - and so it was on his debut. He defended well, he came off his wing to look for work, and generally appeared very composed. Not to disparage him, as he's a great player, but Leigh Halfpenny still has the look of someone who's a little overawed at playing for Wales at times - he's supposed to be the next Shane Williams after all, who can blame him. But Prydie, well he's just got to be the next Mark Jones, and he already seems like he's pretty happy with that tag - good news for us.

The other big find of the day, was one that was in many ways quite difficult to take, and that was Sam Warburton, who basically put his hand up and said 'Martyn Williams is going to have to fight to get this jersey back'. It hurt a bit, because Martyn is one of my favourite Wales players ever, but he's started to look his age over the past two months. Against Italy, Warburton was everywhere. Where Martyn is all finesse, deftness and guile, the new guy is power, physicality, speed - it was a shock to the system, and Italy just couldn't cope with him at the breakdown. It pains me to say this, but Wales might be better off in the long term letting Warburton have a run in the side up to the World Cup.

The other big performers were all old faces - James Hook looks like an international centre at last, Luke Charteris had his best game for Wales, Stephen Jones was his masterful best and Shane, well, he was Shane.

Wales have been saying all tournament that they're a good side, they've just not been playing to their potential, and they proved that to an extent today. That said there are still issues - we're wasting chances by being selfish at times; the lineout, while it functioned today, was still far from solid; and one good performance does not a revival make. But it's a welcome high for Wales to go out on, and there'll be a lot fewer glum faces in Cardiff tonight than there will be in Dublin.

Before I sign off, I want to share some disturbing news with you. Wales have announced that from the Autumn, they'll be switching their main shirt sponsor from Brains to Admiral Insurance. I'm pretty upset about this - Brains and Wales have always seemed a perfect fit for each other and the relationship has presided over two Grand Slams and a new Golden Age for Welsh rugby - it feels like the end of an era. Never again will Wales sport some clever play on words when they play in France - who can forget 'Brawn', 'Brawn Again' and 'Try Essai'? It's a real shame. Plus there's the fact that Wales' will now be sporting a picture of a man in a silly hat, with a telescope, on their shirts... Give me strength.

Well, thanks for accompanying me over this rollercoaster ride of a Six Nations, I'm sure I've gained a few grey hairs and probably shaved a few years off my life, but it's never boring being a Wales fan is it? Congratulations to France, who are worthy winners of the tournament, and let's all start counting down to South Africa in June!

Josh Gardner