By Paul French
February 5 2006

Feeling sorry for yourself is easy after defeats like the one administered out to Wales at Twickenham. Whilst basking in the glory of a long overdue Grand Slam is all good and well, it is how this Wales team reacts to such negativity that will truly define them. Luck is not a friend of ours, that is an understatement. Gareth Delve is so afflicted by the curse of injury, that only he could have torn a hamstring in yesterdays warm up, as if destiny is determined that such a prodigious talent will never pull on the red of Wales in a full international. Your heart really does go out to the lad.

Injuries played a big part in Wales's downfall, the trio of Tom Shanklin, Ryan Jones and Brent Cockbain were sorely missed, especially against a side of England's brute physical ability. But international rugby is a game of strength in depth, and Wales have to put their hands up say they simply aren't producing good enough professional rugby players, let alone international ones.

Domestically Wales are a shambles at the moment, and logic told yesterday, now that Andy Robinson has succeeded in getting England to play to their physical strengths. The difference in upper body strength between either side was quite telling in the contact area. The aforementioned Welsh players contributed so much in that department last season.

A referee who cared little for the intricacies of the match, that culminated to finish an already battered Wales off. When you are down in the doldrums you need at least the odd fifty-fifty decision to go your way, but Mr.Honiss could not realistically have done any better.

Above all what disappointed me the most was how Wales responded, we needed level heads, but all we got were distinctly dropped ones. Alfie Thomas faces his toughest test as captain, it's all very well when your winning, but the final quarter yesterday showed a distinct lack of leadership in the Welsh ranks.

Rest assured on bad defeat does not suddenly make this side a bad one, but continuing in a similar vein will undo eighteen months of hard work. International rugby is indeed a fickle game.