Wales caretaker coach Rob Howley admitted that the Six Nations champions could only blame themselves after Friday's 26-19 loss to Samoa in Cardiff.
Wales were outplayed in most facets and showed no improvement after last weekend's defeat to Argentina.
"I have spoken to the players and we are obviously disappointed as a coaching team and group of players," said Howley
"International rugby is about discipline and when we created opportunities in the game, although we did not have many, we were disappointed in terms of our top-three inches at times.
"We were outperformed by a Samoa side whose ability to keep the ball better than us was the most disappointing aspect of the performance.
"We did not have control of possession or in terms of the contact area and that is obviously not international standard."
There were more injury woes for the Dragons with hooker Richard Hibbard, fly-half Dan Biggar (both shoulder) and lock Ian Evans (knee) all doubtful for next weekend's clash against New Zealand in Cardiff.
Meanwhile, Wales blindside flanker Ryan Jones, who captained his country for a record 29th time, said the defeat was difficult to accept.
"What could have been the greatest day of my career has turned into one of the worst," he remarked.
"We came second best in quite a few facets of that game. It was a game that slowly slipped away from us and we didn't have enough in the end.
"But that's not taking anything away from Samoa, who turned up with a physical edge and a game-plan that stopped us playing again."
Comments
Bones7 says...
jontheref, Warburton has been run into the ground by Wales and the Blues and then everyone gets on his back when Tipuric, who has been managed a whole lot better, outplays him. He is the best option long term, not by a long way, but when he is fully fit and not carrying knocks he is a world class openside. As a Wales fan I predicted this months ago. The ebb and flow of Welsh rugby is as regular as the tide these days, with the wheels falling off a side looking at the peak of it's powers usually somewhere between the last 6N game and the first Autumn test. The most alarming thing about this situation is that it is usually down to large numbers of injuries to key players and a lack of depth, whereas this time the only key players injured were Adam Jones, Dan Lydiate and Jonathan Davies, with Wyn-Jones following shortly after. Very good and important players obviously, but with the likes of Scott Williams, Bradley Davies and a whole host of back row options only Adam Jones should have hurt them. They were less creative than Argentina and less organised and dominant in the set piece than Samoa, places were those sides usually struggle. They look a very jaded bunch at the moment which will take some turning round.
Posted 12:17 19th November 2012
jontheref says...
Sorry jimbo, if ther captain cannot be worth his place, he should not play.
This is not u11 rugby where you have time to develope a captain.
Player selection has a lot to do with it.
Howley is so like Gareth jenkins, had made his mind up before the season started, and had picked priestland as 10.
Priestland last had a good game for wales in Ireland during the 6N.
has not performed since.
To keep persevering, "hoping" he will come good is fools dream.
For so many palyers to be playing poorly, speaks of the set up and coaching, not chosing a different captan.
Will be an uncomfortable two weeks, and a worse 6N with howley in charge.
Posted 21:58 17th November 2012
jimbosim says...
Sadly this was always going to be the case, what a mess Wales is in?
The biggest mistake was to drop Sam and give the captains job to Ryan, that is bad management and bad for the team. This performance was worst than Argentina,punishing the players and disrespecting the Captain that won us a Grandslam and took us to the semi final in the World cup is not acceptable -Regardslesss of any form :(
Posted 10:47 17th November 2012
jontheref says...
Pretty obvious, Wales do not function without Gatlan.
It could be a long cold season.......
Bright hope, maybe howlers will resign?
:-)
Posted 10:20 17th November 2012
passtheball says...
Bring Back Warren!
Posted 10:17 17th November 2012