Jamie Roberts slammed Wales for a 'schoolboy' kicking performance in their defeat against Italy. A means Warren Gatland's side have now lost their last 14 matches and are on course for a wooden spoon in this year's Six Nations.

Wales fans were expecting a strong response to last weekend's 43-0 thumping by France in Paris. However, it was that their players closed the deficit during a comfortable Italy victory.

Gatland's players trailed 19-3 before rallying in the closing stages of the match, with Italy receiving two late sin-bins. Former centre Roberts was particularly disappointed with Wales' kicking game.

The 38-year-old told ITV: "I thought that was one of Wales' poorest performances down the last 12 to 18 months. I think everyone in Wales is expecting a kick-back from the disappointing night in Paris last weekend.

"Our kicking game tonight was schoolboy. Our kick-and-chase quality and accuracy was schoolboy-level stuff. You just can't win Test matches, especially in the rain, against a quality Italian outfit who were far better...

"You watched the hustle from Monty Ioane. Time after time, quality kick, chase, even competing for the ball and hitting players on the deck. Pinning Wales back and applying pressure.

"We just couldn't get our pressure game going today. Really, really poor performance, really disappointed."

Roberts agreed with Dan Biggar, a strong critic of the current Wales team. The 112-cap former international believes Wales are a level below the top teams around the world.

He said: "You look at the games they've lost over the last 12 months - your South Africas, your Irelands, your Frances. Results are results and you can take away that this team is not quite competing with those teams at the minute.

"But I thought today, today was probably the poorest performance in and around that run. It's hard to say because there's a lot of good people and a lot of good players in that squad.

"But at the minute, it just isn't working. Whatever is going on Monday to Friday, it isn't being transferred to the pitch, is it?"

Biggar suggested that boss Gatland could face the sack before the Six Nations even ends. The 61-year-old coach faces enormous pressure to turn around Wales' form. Wales still have to play Ireland, Scotland and England.