Dyddgu Hywel says Wales’ women are ready to face England after seeing off Italy 20-8 in their opening Six Nations game.
Hywel bagged one of the three Welsh tries with Caryl Thomas and skipper Carys Phillips also crossing the line in Jesi.
The win was a fifth in a row for new coach Rowland Phillips and sets up Saturday’s clash with world champions England in Cardiff.
Scarlets full-back Hywel said: “First half, the Italians were putting quite a lot of pressure on us, maybe we lost our shape at some points.
“But we kept our composure and came back stronger in the second half.
“I feel in the second half we really showed what we can do on the pitch.
“It’s always nice to score but it came off a good drive by the forwards and simple work to finish it off from the backs.
Hywel, speaking to BBC Radio Wales, added: ”We’ve got a lot of analysis to do and then head into training on Tuesday to concentrate on the England game.
“It’s a great environment with new management – we’ve had the perfect build-up with four warm-ups and beating Ireland two weeks ago.
“It’s all about confidence and thankfully we’ve got that massive win and are ready for England.”
The win ended a run of three straight defeats against Italy and will give them squad confidence for the game with England who started with a 26-13 victory over France.
Thomas’ score from close range had helped Wales in to a 10-0 lead with Elinor Snowsill kicking a penalty and conversion.
But that advantage was cut to two points by the break after Manuela Furlan’s try.
But Hywel and hooker Phillips crossed for Wales in the second period after they had soaked up Italian pressure.
Skipper Phillips said: “Our commitment in defence, particularly in our 22, probably won us the game.
“Italy kept on coming at us so we had to empty the tank trying to keep them out. Our backs had to defend just as hard as the forwards at times, which shows how much of a threat Italy can be,” said Phillips.
Coach Phillips, father of Carys and the ex-Wales flanker, said: ”It was an excellent result for us.
“The game was everything we expected, but although we were prepared for what the opposition would throw at us, you have to actually go through it to really understand how a team like Italy can frustrate you>”
Wales Women: Dyddgu Hywel (Scarlets); Elen Evans (Scarlets), Kerin Lake (Ospreys), Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys), Adi Taviner (Ospreys); Elinor Snowsill (Newport Gwent Dragons), Keira Bevan (Ospreys); Caryl Thomas (Scarlets), Carys Phillips (Ospreys, capt), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Rebecca Rowe (Dragons), Mel Clay (Ospreys), Sioned Harries (Scarlets), Rachel Taylor (Scarlets), Shona Powell-Hughes (Ospreys).
Replacements: Lowri Harries (Scarlets), Cerys Hale (Dragons), Gwenllian Pyrs (Scarlets), Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys), Alisha Butchers (Scarlets), Sian Moore (Dragons), Gemma Rowland (Dragons), Jessica Kavanagh-Williams (Scarlets).
