MATTHEW Rees has pledged Wales will fix the ''un- acceptable'' line- out weaknesses that Ireland expo- sed so ruthlessly at Croke Park.

The Lions Test hooker was involved in a set-piece that had six throws picked off by Paul O'Connell, Jamie Heaslip and the rest of the Emerald Isle's spring-heeled jumping team.

Italy will pose nowhere near the same threat.

Indeed, the Azzurri and Wales are competing at the moment for the worst line-out in the Six Nations, both having seen 17 throws picked in four games.

Encounter

But with Italy having won nine more line-outs, the stats suggest that Nick Mallett's men will encounter that rarity this weekend, a side with an inferior set-piece to them.

Wales are acutely aware that things have to get better, with Rees saying what happened in Dublin was a horror too far for an international side.

''The line-out definitely needs to improve,'' he said. ''It's important we have an honesty call throughout the team, because what happened against Ireland isn't acceptable for this level of rugby.

''Ireland are a good side who pride themselves on their line-out. But we've lost six line-outs and that isn't good enough for an international side.

''And as much as Ireland have a very good defence rate in the line-out, we felt four of the line-outs that went to them were down to us.

''We need to address whatever issues there are and make sure everything is in place for Italy.

"It is fixable."

Issues

Wales seems to have had the same issues since the days when Noah was building his ark.

Certainly in the professional era the line-out is an area that has defied countless attempts by successive coaching teams to put it right.

Even when Wales won their Grand Slams in 2005 and 2008 the set-piece was still vulnerable.

Yet at regional level the thrower-jumper link at a number of the Welsh sides functions well, notably the Scarlets, Rees's own region.

''It does, but you are under more pressure at international level,'' he said.

''Ireland's defensive success rate is over 30 per cent, so we knew they were going to compete very hard last weekend.

''But I go back to the point: four out of the six line-outs lost were down to us, with the other two being good competes by them.

''I suppose when your line-out starts creaking there's more pressure on you and things do not happen for you.

''Italy are not going to be mugs in that area, either.

''I was speaking to Gareth Delve and he was saying that Marco Bortolami reads the systems well and will be key for them.

''We just have to knuckle down as a pack and make sure we put everything right for Saturday.''

Aside from the line-out woes, Rees performed well against Ireland, giving the Welsh pack presence. But he says he and the rest of the side need to improve ahead of the tour to New Zealand this summer.

''The boys were saying on the way home from Ireland and yesterday morning that we have to do exactly that,'' he added.

''We have to up our performance levels as a team and as individuals.

''As players we need to have a look at ourselves personally.

''And if there's finger-pointing that has to be done, then it has to be done.

''In this environment we can't go on the way we are.

''We have to look to the future. We have a big tour to NZ, with a World Cup around the corner — that's the biggest thing for us.''