RUGBY UNION: Wooden spoon looming for us

WALES are heading for the wooden spoon unless they can find a killer instinct and some meaner men to play up front.

Scotland are not exactly the greatest team around and yesterday's game was of a low standards - light years behind the stuff even Ireland are now achieving.

I know there are deep problems in the structures of Welsh and Scottish rugby, but we should expect better than we saw yesterday.

Scotland won because they got the basics right and at the moment it seems Wales cannot even do that. Scott Murray wrecked the Welsh line-out and Ian McGeechan pulled another masterstroke by dropping Murray from his original squad.

Even so, Wales got their hands on more ball after the break but just couldn't break down the Scottish defence until it was too late.

The two tries at the end were the last drops of a bottle than had long been guzzled by the eager Scots. The front five forwards lay the foundations. They give you a platform and without it you can't operate.

But Wales have no lasting platform at present. It seems as though even modest teams like Italy and Scotland can disrupt us.

I don't think there are that many players outside the squad who could come in - other than those who are currently injured.

The cupboard is pretty bare, although it has to be said that yet again we look very healthy at U21 level and our team at that age- group is heading for another Grand Slam. Why those boys don't come through the system is not a mystery. The system is flawed.

The sooner we cut the number of clubs at the top level, the better.

In the meantime, Steve Hansen has a major job on his hands. Not only must he try to find another full-back after the awful injury to Kevin Morgan, but there is bound to be more flak flying about.

Wales need a miraculous improvement if they are going to beat either Ireland or France.

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