Six Nations: Wales’ Nick Tompkins calls for consistency ahead of France Test
Wales Nick Tompkins goes through to score his sides third try during the Guinness Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff.
Nick Tompkins believes that Wales need to find a way to be “consistently relentless” as they approach the closing stages of the 2022 Six Nations.
Wales’ title defence is in pieces after losing to England 23-19 on Saturday at Twickenham.
The Welsh will need to bounce back quickly as they welcome a rampaging French side that is the only team on course to claim the Grand Slam.
Despite having beaten France four of the last five times in Wales, it will be a difficult task considering the red-hot form Les Bleus are in.
Poor discipline
Despite losing to England, Wales scored two more tries than their rivals but a high penalty count and a sound kicking performance from Marcus Smith buried them.
“Our discipline can’t let us down like that,” Tompkins said.
“Against any good side, they are going to put points on you, and that’s the way international rugby is. Everyone knows it.
“We need to be more consistent. It can’t just be a 10-minute spell, you can’t just be a flash in the pan, you need to be consistently relentless on teams.
“Whatever that is – looking after the ball, decision-making, work-rate – I think we have those, but we need to be relentless with it, I think.
“I can’t say I am not disappointed, frustrated or feeling hurt because I truly thought we were going to come back at the end.
“The fight these boys show is fantastic, but you can’t have a first half like that where we give away that many points.”
France are averaging 34 points and four tries a game in this season’s Six Nations, and victory over Wales next week and then England eight days later would complete a clean sweep.
And if Wales repeat the slow starts of defeats against Ireland and England over the past three weeks, then it could be a long night.
“We’ve got to keep working hard, and we’ve got to click pretty quick,” Tompkins added.
“We all know the job we need to do, and we’ve got to work hard to do it.
“We have got to come out fighting, show what it means to us and what we’ve learnt from the England game.
“The discipline is the thing we really need to sort out, and that comes from how we work. We will keep working on that.
“I think it is going to be absolutely buzzing (for the France game). It is going to be really good, and I am excited about it.”
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