Wales prop Adam Jones is confident his side can reverse their horrific run of losses and beat France in Paris on Saturday.
The defending champions suffered a 30-22 defeat to Ireland in their opener at the Millennium last Saturday but Jones feels their current predicament is "definitely fixable".
He admits though that he expects a difficult task against les Bleus in Paris.
Wales have won only three times in the French capital since 1975 and have lost their eight Tests.
"It's about playing more sensibly," said Jones.
"Things are definitely fixable.
"People have been coming out after the past eight games and saying we do this in training and we do that in training, but you can be the best trainers in the world.
If you don't do it on the field, you are are going to come off second-best.
"France? In Paris? It's not going to be easy, is it?
"I wouldn't say we are lacking confidence going out there, though you guys (the media) probably think we will be.
The Grand Slam and Triple Crown are out of reach for us now, so we may as well go out there and try to play as much rugby as we can.
"Everyone is disappointed, but what's good about this group is there are a lot of young boys in it and everyone is keen to improve and do well in the next game. That's all you can ask for.
"There is no point crying over this now. We have to work hard in training and go out to Paris without fear.
"We know how hard it is going to be out there. We just have to play a bit smarter and play to our strengths a bit more."
Comments
jmehrtens says...
@ArmchairGeneral they would call it a prediction if Wales already had the wooden spoon.
Posted 15:03 05th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Grand slam and triple crown are gone but there's this thing called the 6 nations championship they could still win. As could France. Should be a cracker. Jamietheprop: its ridiculous to predict wooden spoon for Wales right now when they could still even win the tournament. May as well say Italy for the Grand Slam. It's just the next game. Jones is fronting up to give Warburton a break. I thought Sam was trying too hard, carrying from off 9 and 10 when he should have let the backs run. France Ireland and Wales should change captains this week.
Posted 10:09 05th February 2013
chinstan says...
Not sure how they can just relax and play rugby? The Grand slam should have been the last thing on their minds. they have now lost 8 in a row and slipped to their lowest ever ranking. How is the pressure off? Surely there's even more now? And with France out for blood I can easily see them getting destroyed in Paris.
Posted 08:51 05th February 2013
HG_Paris says...
Wales were totally clueless in the first-half against Ireland. Warburton should be fired & replaced with Tipuric who had a real impact when he came on. Biggar was dreadful & the outside half who should have been playing came on in 73rd minute!
Howley is a really nice bloke but totally lost. Wales will ship >40 points in Paris & I I know cos' I will be there!
Posted 08:17 05th February 2013
melkdave says...
@Rugbybutten, i can understand your frustration ect,as i too am frustrated by Wales performances at the moment..But i do feel AJ was allurding to the fact that the pressure is off now,with no slam or TC to play for.Hopefully Wales now can relax ,and just play rugby,and what a boost to morale and self belief a win in Paris could do .I also think it wont be easy and France will want to whallop Wales at home after losing against Italy ,as @Headhunter99 says.They will feel they have something to prove now.
Posted 22:51 04th February 2013
JamieTheProp says...
France by 14 - especially with Howley running the show!
Wales for the wooden spoon? They are currently in the running...
Posted 22:35 04th February 2013
Headhunter99 says...
Serious sign of a sides lack of confidence when you let a prop be your "talking head" Adam's not quite got the delivery right has he ?
"France? In Paris? It's not going to be easy, is it?
"It's about playing more sensibly,"
If you don't do it on the field, you are are going to come off second-best.
Adam Jones... stating the Bl**ding obvious... France are going to want to wallop Wales into the next star system after being embarrassed and out classed by Italy.
Allez les Bleus !!!!
Posted 17:00 04th February 2013
rugbybutten says...
"the GS and triple crown are out of our reach now, so we may as well go out there and play as much rugby as we can"
That is what I paid £70 to watch on Saturday, so the original plan was not to play rugby !!??
" so we may as well...." unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 14:24 04th February 2013