Saturday 11 November 2017 15:26, UK
Wales will be out to salvage some pride when they wrap up their World Cup campaign against Ireland in Perth on Sunday (kick-off 7.30am GMT).
John Kear's men have conceded 122 points in their first two matches and back-row forward Morgan Knowles, one of Wales' shining lights, admits the players have been embarrassed by the results so far.
"I'm pretty pleased with how I've gone but it's been disappointing with the results," said the St Helens player, who scored Wales' only try and was their man of the match in the 72-6 rout by Fiji. "All the boys are disappointed and embarrassed to a point.
"We've had a look at the video. A few things have been said and they needed to be said. But team spirit has stayed strong and we've had a good week in training.
"It was always going to be tough and we've been on the wrong side of some heavy defeats. But we're playing Ireland, a northern hemisphere team, and we'll be looking to put everything into that last game to try and get a result and finish the tournament on a high."
Knowles, who was short-listed for Super League's young player of the year in 2017, has taken his impressive club form into the World Cup and impressed Fiji stand-off Jarryd Hayne enough for him to seek him out after the game to swap shirts.
Kear believes a host of NRL clubs would have been clamouring to sign Knowles, who celebrated his 21st birthday the day after the Fiji game, had he not just extended his contract with his club.
"Saints are very intelligent signing him for four years before he came here because, to a man, every one of the Fijian players mentioned Morgan Knowles," Kear said.
"He's been absolutely fantastic. For a lad who's just turned 21, his two performances have been monumental."
Knowles is looking forward to going up against two of his Saints pack colleagues, Kyle Amor and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, as well as a former team-mate Shannon McDonnell.
"I used to live with Shannon," Knowles said. "I keep in touch with him and, of course, I see Kyle and Louie every day.
"I know them inside out really, training with them every day and playing with them week in, week out, so it will be a strange one playing against them but I'm really looking forward to it."
