\n<\/p>\n
Wales captain Dewi Lake agreed with Tandy’s assessment that his side had delivered an improved performance against France.<\/p>\n
“It’s weird to say looking at the scoreline but we were much better than we were last week for large parts of that game,” claimed Lake.<\/p>\n
“France are a team near the top of the world and can create things out of absolutely nothing. <\/p>\n
“They scored some world-class tries and have some world-class individuals. <\/p>\n
“We know there’s things to mop up but we won’t hide away from that fact, or that we’re disappointed with the scoreboard. <\/p>\n
“But, all in all, we were much more positive.”<\/p>\n
Lake says the character of his squad cannot be questioned.<\/p>\n
“The boys are never going to give up on a result or a Test match or a ball on the floor, anything like that,” said Lake.<\/p>\n
“As captain, I don’t need to say anything. Those boys are ready to go anyway.”<\/p>\n
Welsh fans will not doubt the players’ heart. <\/p>\n
They are, though, right to question the quality of the national squad and the WRU’s stewardship of the game in Wales.<\/p>\n
Record defeats are being normalised and the world rugby public are pitying this once proud nation.<\/p>\n
That is where Welsh rugby currently stands. It is hard to be optimistic about that.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n