DAN Biggar knows Wales are in for a “completely different challenge” in Dublin on Saturday after they brushed aside Italy in a one-sided Six Nations opener at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

A Josh Adams hat-trick inspired the hosts to a 42-0 hammering of Franco Smith’s perennial strugglers to make the perfect start to their title defence.

It was the first time in 46 years Wales had stopped an opponent scoring in a championship game, and the first treble by a Welsh player in a home Six Nations match since Maurice Richards in 1969.

But it isn’t going to be so comfortable for fly-half Biggar and his team-mates against Ireland, something the Northampton star is most certainly aware of.

“We are fully aware that going out to Ireland is going to be a little bit more of a challenge,” he said.

“That is not taking anything away from Italy, they came with a lot of physicality, we just managed to start really well which helped us.

“Next weekend is going to be a completely different challenge.

“We know how aggressive their defence is going to be in terms of their line speed and competing at pretty much every ruck, the same as we do.

“As much as we probably want to play as much rugby as possible, next weekend is probably when you have to roll your sleeves up away from home, especially when your two away games are in Dublin and at Twickenham.

“You have to put the hard yards in first before looking to do anything too fancy.”

Speaking of fancy, it was an outrageous pass between his legs that set Adams up for the second try of the afternoon against the Italians.

He added: “The boys have given me a bit of stick, I think I could have just passed it normally!

“It was slightly behind me, so I thought I would just flick it and hope for the best. Josh did what he does so well.

“It was nice to get that, and I'm really pleased with probably the first 40 minutes, a pretty solid, complete performance from us, but we left a couple of points out there.

“There was a little bit of work to do in that second half, it went to very much a set-piece game and we couldn't get momentum, and some errors crept into our game.

“But, all in all, five points and to keep them to zero is really pleasing, obviously with Byron (Hayward, defence coach) coming in and with massive shoes to fill after Shaun (Edwards).”

On life under new head coach Wayne Pivac, Biggar said: “The environment has been great, really relaxed around the hotel.

“When we came in here, getting off the bus and putting your boots on, it feels very familiar, a lot of the boys have been here many times before.

“We are looking to play a little bit more, we tried to shift the ball a bit and did that pretty well in the first half.

“We’re a bit disappointed we couldn't quite open up in the second half, but overall it’s pretty pleasing to come away with five points.”