Williams believes Wales can turn their Six Nations campaign around

Defeat against France and Italy's win over Scotland leaves pointless Wales alone at the bottom of the pile.

"We've just got to blank all that Wooden Spoon stuff out," said flanker Williams after the 32-21 loss in Paris.

"We will probably go into the match in Rome as underdogs but we have two games left and we know we can win both."

He added: "We took a lot of flak after the Scotland game and rightly so, but we are a young side and we felt there was a big improvement against France.

"We outscored them three tries to two and our defence has been the big plus in the last two games. We put the pride back in the shirt.

I doubt the overall performance will ease the pressure on us Wales flanker Martyn Williams

"Italy are a top side and they were outstanding in beating Scotland, which we weren't able to do two weeks ago."

Wales stunned Grand Slam hopefuls France with two tries in the first 15 minutes to take a 14-3 lead at the Stade de France on Saturday.

But France's monopoly of possession eventually took its toll as the home side eventually ran out 32-21 winners.

Winger Shane Williams made his first start of the campaign after injury, and he believes Wales proved a point to the critics who had hit the squad hard after the Murrayfield defeat.

He said: "We could easily have given up when France starting putting us under pressure but the guys poured their heart out on the field and there was a lot of blood spilled.

"It just goes to show we are a proud bunch and we want to win more than anyone."

Despite the improved display, flanker Williams knows the press criticism will continue as Wales face the prospect of a second Six Nations whitewash in four years.

"I doubt the overall performance will ease the pressure on us," said the 31-year-old.

"We would have settled for a 3-0 win over France by dogging it out because wins are what it is all about.

"The result will be everything in Rome but if we perform like we did here then I'm sure we'll do well.