Shaun Edwards believes "the real Wales" surfaced in their final game of this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Wales concluded a disappointing campaign by beating Italy 33-10 - and far tougher tests now await in June with world champions South Africa and current world number one team New Zealand on the agenda.

But the return of fit-again British and Irish Lions trio Mike Phillips, Gethin Jenkins and skipper Ryan Jones made a huge difference, offering glimpses of how good Wales can be when everyone is available for selection.

"We had our marquee and world-class players back," said Wales defence coach Edwards.

"The difference they made was there for all to see. Gethin, Mike and Ryan coming back gave us an impetus, and I think you saw the real Wales.

"The one thing we have learned, and we have probably always known this, is that we have a very good first XV.

"What we need to build is pressure from outside that XV. In a small way, we have taken steps in the right direction in addressing that in this tournament.

"We have given some new guys experience, but as soon as we get our marquee players back we are the Wales of 2008 (when Wales won the Six Nations title and Grand Slam)."

Captain Jones praised his players after second-half tries from centre James Hook (2) and wing Shane Williams - his 51st for Wales - confirmed a comfortable win.

But Wales also had to settle for a fourth-place finish - the ninth time in 11 seasons of Six Nations rugby they have finished outside the tournament's top three.

"We played to our potential and certainly gave everything for the cause," said Jones.

"It's when we go away and reflect on the tournament that we have to deal with the disappointments of this Six Nations.

"The frustrating thing is that two of those defeats - England and France - are games we could, and should, have won. But it doesn't matter now because there is nothing we can do about it.

"We just have to make sure we start like we have finished this campaign.

"I got the reaction I wanted from the players, and the manner in which they performed was superb.

"We were professional and went 3-0, 6-0, 9-0 and 12-0 up. We were pretty clinical at the way we went about things.

"We had a few periods when we failed to score when we should have done. There was a frustration towards the end of the first half.

"We felt we weren't getting the speed of ball we would have liked, but we overcame that, kept exerting pressure and we got our just rewards in the end."