Anticipating the Scotland game, the most important thing for me was to see Wales restore some credibility after the Ireland hammering - other than winning, of course, which is a statement of the obvious.
In the end, we didn't achieve either, and the same old flaws were there again.
The new-look pack went well in the first 50-odd minutes and we spent a lot of that time with territory advantage, yet were undone by indiscipline, turnovers, or a lack of execution. In fact, the Scottish defence appeared confident whenever our backs had possession; there was very little evidence we looked capable of creating much.
Conversely, through Finn Russell, Scotland seemed dangerous when they did have the ball and didn't cough up silly penalties or turnovers. Okay, the first 15 minutes were a little dodgy, but after that it was the Finn Russell show. Directly, or indirectly, he had a hand in their four second-half tries.
Russell is described as a maverick because he does the unexpected, but it's not as if he's attempting things no fly-half has tried before. He's just showing invention and playmaking skills at No.10. In any case, his team-mates aren't thrown because they are ready to expect the unexpected and go with Russell, whatever he chooses to do.
To be fair to Warren Gatland, he has only been in situ for a short time. However, he's had these players in camp for close on three weeks and at the very least I was hoping to see some tangible differences, but where were they?
Gatland would be the first to admit the penalty count is poor - we conceded almost double the number compared to Scotland. Referees tend to favour the team going forward, yet even when we had first-half ascendancy indiscipline cost us. Scotland, when they were on top after half-time and fired by Russell, didn't make those errors, showed greater vision, and we weren't able to slow down the ball like they did.
So two games, two bad defeats, where do we go from here is the big question? England head to Cardiff next and they'll come here with greater confidence after seeing the two hidings we've just been given and a pragmatic win over Italy behind them.
Wales are more than capable of winning that one at home, but Gatland has a lot of thinking to do to get his team selection right. He made a start by leaving out some of the old guard from the pack against Scotland, but some big calls can also be made among the backs. From what I'm seeing, it's more a case of them playing themselves out of the team through poor form, rather than keeping their spots by performing well.
Where will Wales finish in the Six Nations? Cast your vote here
Take Liam Williams, for starters. I've always talked him up, but he's had two yellow cards in consecutive matches and hasn't particularly hit the heights previously achieved. Leigh Halfpenny is the obvious alternative, but he's had to pull out through injury the last two times he was selected, which disrupts your preparation.
So I'd like to see Louis Rees-Zammit, who Gatland says will be fit for England, start at full-back. He had reasonable success when playing there in the autumn and while I'd prefer to see him on the wing, it's got to the point of what we need to do, not what we'd ideally like to do.
Rees-Zammit is clearly more instinctive as a wing, with pace to burn and an ability to shred defences, but he's capable of doing that from 15 too, where he'd had even more space to run into.
I'd have Josh Adams and Alex Cuthbert on the wings. Rio Dyer's handling hasn't been great, he dropped an interception chance against Ireland and squandered a rare potential try-scoring opportunity versus the Scots. But he's young, his time will come again.
Can we say the same for George North at 13, another of the big names I'd leave out in pairing Nick Tompkins with young Joe Hawkins? Tompkins deserves his chance, he's always busy and he plays week in, week out against these English players for Saracens, invariably shining whilst doing so. North appeared to rise to the challenge of a new position of outside centre last year, but I don't think he's done enough in these two Six Nations matches to justify Tompkins not being picked.
Half-back? At nine I feel it's time to give Rhys Webb a go. Tomos Williams hasn't exactly had a steady stream of possession, but he's looked a little indecisive and I feel Webb can impose his game more on England and get Wales on the front foot.
Outside him, personally I wouldn't let Dan Biggar anywhere near the matchday 23 at the moment, let alone the starting XV. That's my opinion. He isn't playing well enough, just compare him to Russell on Saturday, but I also wasn't enamoured by the pre-match comments he made about Scotland being over-hyped.
You're only good as your last game and the facts are Scotland had beaten England at Twickenham, while Wales were heavily outclassed at home to Ireland. You can't shout the odds in a situation like that.
As the great football manager Brian Clough used to say, say nothing until you've done it - then shout your head off.
But your 10 also needs to be your playmaker, Wales are not creating enough, and for me a change is required. Ideally Owen Williams would be eased in from the bench, which probably means Rhys Patchell, with his greater experience, starting this one. But there will come a time when I'd like to see Williams get the chance to stamp his own authority on the No.10 jersey.
As for the pack, just one change for me - a return for Taulupe Faletau at No.8 in place of Jac Morgan. That's a little harsh on Morgan you might well feel, but really he's an instinctive openside, who has been moved to six and then the base of the scrum. He needs to have a chance in his number seven position, but Gatland prefers Tommy Reffell and, to be fair, the Leicester man has done well there.
I'm a great believer in players being chosen in their proper positions. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule, hence my choice of Rees-Zammit at 15, but when you have a ready-made player for a set position, pick him. Faletau is a world-class performer, he was never going to have two bad matches on the trot, and when he came on against Scotland I thought he showed well.
The kick up the backside from Gatland appears to have worked. Faletau is too good a player to leave out. And he plays well against England, rises to the challenge.
The other area of the pack I'm edging towards a change in is at five, but Adam Beard's experience wins the day for me, although i would like to see young Rhys Davies brought on early from the bench if things are not going well.
Pricey's Wales team to play England; Louis Rees-Zammit, Alex Cuthbert, Nick Tompkins, Joe Hawkins, Josh Adams; Rhys Patchell, Rhys Webb; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens (c), Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard, Christ Tshiunza, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.
What Wales team would you pick? Have your say in our comments section below
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