Warburton lauds confident Wales showing

British & Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton insists Wales have progressed over the past year after running riot against Italy on Saturday. [more]

Warburton lauds confident Wales showing

British & Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton insists Wales have progressed over the past year after running riot against Italy on Saturday.

Warburton was among the try-scorers as Wales humbled the Azzurri 61-20 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Fellow Lions wing George North raced in for a hat-trick of tries, while Lions centre Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams, Scott Williams and Rhys Webb also dotted down.

And 26-year-old Warburton claims Wales have improved heading into the World Cup later this year.

"I think we're a lot more confident as a side now than we were 12 months or 24 months ago,” said Warburton. "It does give us a nice little bit of momentum going into the World Cup.

"The one thing I am is really proud of the boys. I think we always thought we were capable of having an attacking performance like that.

"And to be fair to Warren [Gatland] and Rob [Howley], the coaches, they always do tell us to play – and that's not recently; that's been over the last few years.

"We stuck to the game plan, we were patient and things unfolded like we thought they would. I think we showed a lot of experience and composure."

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