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Wales' problem is concentration and discipline

Article Published: Monday 15 March 2010

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Shane Williams says that there will be no let up in searching for a solution to Wales defence that has been opened up by their opposition.

Ireland's three-try blitz at Croke Park meant that in this season's Six Nations championship Wales have let 10 tries in which is eight more that when they were Grand Slam champions in 2008.

In November Australia also found holes in the defence and scored four tries.

"Teams are causing us problems, although we are working hard at finding a fix," said the Wales wing.

"If I’m honest, Ireland deserved the victory," said Wales’ record try scorer.

"But we’re a lot better than our results are suggesting at the moment.

"We will have to sit back, look at the footage and see where we are going wrong." he told Wales on Sunday.

"Our discipline and kicking at times was quite poor and you can’t afford to do that, especially when you are up against such a quality outfit.

"We’re giving yellow cards away and it meant, again, that we were playing catch-up rugby."

Ireland scored two tries through Keith Earls and Tomas O’Leary while Lee Byrne was in the sin-bin for committing a professional foul in the 25th minute.

"It didn’t help matters but I’m not going to blame Lee at all.

"It’s a team effort," pointed out Williams.

"We need to work on our weaknesses when we are down to 14 men.

"Conceding 13 points while Lee was off wasn’t good enough.

"Ireland were very clever during that period and took us by surprise a little bit. We were losing the ball."

Having conceded 10 tries Williams is at a loss to find the reason for the porous defence.

But he said: "Teams are causing us problems, though we’re working hard at finding a fix. Our defence was bad, we made mistakes in key areas and left a few holes which Ireland utilised.

"Our lack of concentration at times cost us.

"We did not get in the right areas often and you often get punished at international level when you make a mistake.

"Ireland took advantage. I thought they were very clinical," he added.

"They are a very good attacking side, but they also defended very well.

"We have not learnt from our previous three games.

"We came in with a mind-set that we were going to work Ireland across the park.

"I would love to have the answer to our problems because it’s very frustrating."

 
 
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