Warren Gatland was looking to the future with encouragement after Wales ended their Six Nations on a record-breaking high.
There was never a hint of a dropped head as Gatland's side recovered from the upset of last week's defeat to England by thumping Italy 67-14.
The scoreline represented Wales' highest score and biggest winning margin in Six Nations games, leaving the head coach positive about this summer's tour to New Zealand.
"We are all disappointed with what happened last week," Gatland said. "As coaches and players, we had an in-house meeting about what we could have done differently.
"The players were incredibly honest, and we spoke about how important it was to go out and deliver a performance, and in fairness to the players they did that.
"I was hugely impressed by the way they responded to the disappointment of last week and putting it behind us to focus on finishing second.
"We have spoken about trying to change our game in this competition, and it doesn't happen overnight. It takes a bit of time when you are trying to change things.
"We haven't quite clicked during this campaign, but there are times when we have clicked - the last part of the second half against England, and today, and in parts of other games where we have started to show something that looks like it is a game we can develop."
Wales play three Tests against the world champions in June and Gatland, a native New Zealander, said: "I don't think you would ever underestimate New Zealand with the quality of players they've got.
"With any team, you have got to go and believe in your own ability. We are wasting our time getting on the plane if we don't think we can go down there and push New Zealand hard."
And Gatland singled out George North as a key man for the tour after the winger got on the scoresheet for the fourth straight game.
"George has started to play in this campaign with a smile on his face and with real confidence, and he is probably getting back to where he was in 2013. Hopefully, we can build on that, and I am pretty excited about the summer."
Justin Tipuric was taken to hospital for a check-up after hitting his head on the turf, while beaten Italy captain Sergio Parisse afterwards took issue with the suggestion his side could be relegated as part of a new-look tournament including some of Europe's second-tier teams.
"When you lose matches, it is normal that everyone talks about relegation. I understand that," Parisse said. "But I think there is no way to have relegation in this tournament because can you imagine next year if someone like Ireland or Scotland are last and got relegated?
"Do you think the federations are going to accept that? Imagine France have a really, really poor campaign.
"I really respect all the other nations - Georgia and Romania have really progressed a lot - but we have been involved in this tournament because we have had some great results."