Wales’ 0-40 defeat against France on Sunday was the latest in seven successive Six Nations defeats and their fourth of this years’ Six Nations Championship.

That run came on the back of finishing third in the Six Nations both in 2022 and 2023, along with a first ever win over USA last summer.

Former Wales three quarter Elen Evans won 73 caps for her country before retiring after the 2017 World Cup and believes complacency has played it’s part in Wales’ recent struggles.

“From how positive we were last year, in the best six teams in the world and now we can’t score points,” said Evans.

“There’s not as much oomph, energy or excitement it’s almost as if they proved a point last year and are now relaxing this year. They’re carrying the ball and going down too easily.

“The questions are going to flip because now there have to be questions to the coaches and players. If we get the wooden spoon this week against Italy then it’ll be awful.

“Ioan Cunningham would be the first person to answer the question as to what’s gone wrong but I’m not sure that he and his coaching staff know.

“It’s easy to point fingers but there wasn’t much of an improvement against France compared to Ireland.”

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Head coach Cunningham has often referred to this campaign as a transitional campaign following the retirements of experienced players in Elinor Snowsill, Sioned Harries and Caryl Thomas.

Evans believes despite those players no longer being in the dressing room there still should be plenty of experience to help the next crop of youngsters.

“You look at the players they’ve lost, the three experienced heads, I’m not sure what they brought to the dressing room exactly as I’m not there but since that we’ve struggled,” said Evans.

“There are still some experienced players in camp there with Keira Bevan, Carys Phillips and Hannah Jones.

“If I’m honest I think it’s the experienced players who are not performing to the level they should.”

Wales have only scored four tries in the Six Nations so far and failed to cross the whitewash against France despite dominating both territory and possession.

During this campaign Wales have tried to get the ball wider but as yet passes haven’t stuck and the attack hasn’t clicked, particularly against Ireland.

Evans is surprised that the midfield combination from Wales’ first three games haven’t been able to convert their club form with Gloucester Hartpury, who currently sit top of the Premiership Women’s Rugby competition, onto the international scene.

“You see with Lleucu George, Kerin Lake and Hannah Jones are at the same club Gloucester and scoring tries for fun,” said Evans.

“These girls can do it for their club with a different coach, so why can’t they do it in the red for Wales as they do in the red and white of Gloucester.

“The question needs to be asked how they can perform so well for their club but not internationally.

“Lleucu doesn’t look confident on the pitch, I don’t know if it’s because Mo Hunt [scrum-half at Gloucester] isn’t there who is such a clever player, but someone needs to sit these girls down and understand why they can’t replicate their club form for their country.

“Jaz Joyce is another who scores tries for fun but for whatever reason she’s not finding the room on the wing for Wales, she’s standing still when she catches the ball when you want her coming onto the ball at pace.”

This has been the first bump in the road for Ioan Cunningham and his players since the first professional contracts were awarded in 2021.

Since then, it has been a case of progression, but in Evans’ eyes, with the professional contracts there has to be more scrutiny.

“These girls are professional and on contracts, it’s not as easy to just drop them and move to the next player as it’s money coming from the union,” said Evans.

“The girls get so many opportunities now. I hate the phrase ‘back in my day’ but then I’d be playing for Caernarfon with five or six competitive games and then going straight in to the Six Nations.

“There was never the competition at local levels that these girls have with their clubs and now the Celtic Challenge.

“I thought that competition was really positive for Wales although it was difficult to judge at times with squads changing from one week to the next but we did see some players really put their hands up.”

One of the positives this tournament has been the arrival to the international scene of a number of young talents who have come through the Celtic Challenge.

Scrum-half Sian Jones was coached by Evans at Rygbi Gogledd Cymru under-18s and Evans tips her as one who has the “right attitude” to reach the top of the game.

“It’s an honour to now see her on the international scene, she doesn’t talk a lot and just does her talking on the pitch,” said Evans.

“She’s going to improve rapidly having had that exposure after playing for Sale and the Celtic Challenge.

“It’s a great experience for the young players but they need the more experienced heads to show the way.”