Gatland shows professional side

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Gatland and company have based themselves several miles away from a city centre engulfed by Wales fans who began arriving in droves from early on Thursday morning. And Gatland's mission in the Eternal City is a simple one - get the job done, then think about Ireland.

Victory over Italy at Stadio Flaminio on Saturday - preferably by a 20-point margin or more - would set Wales up to successfully defend their RBS 6 Nations title.

It would then boil down to a winner-takes-all Millennium Stadium showdown with Grand Slam-chasing Ireland next week, unless France beat England on Sunday and follow up by smashing Italy in eight days' time.

But with shirt-sleeved Welsh supporters out in force and the bookmakers rendering Saturday's encounter effectively a no-contest, wily Gatland knows his team must be mentally switched-on.

"For us, you have got to be careful you don't get caught in that carnival atmosphere," he said.

"It is easy to come here, and think the 'sun is out, it's nice' and then you arrive at the ground and see the Italians waving their flags.

"You can very easily get caught up in that, and we've got to be mindful of it. Two years ago, Wales came here and lost.

"We are here for the rugby, we are not here for the sightseeing. We will leave that to other people. We are here to do a job, that is the important thing."