This may be a lame excuse for a lame performance, but they do say that colours can affect your mood and I am perfectly prepared to speculate that the shocking fluorescent yellow kit that Wales donned to play a full international match in Cardiff on Friday night could well have been a contributory factor.

You could blame the need to make money from the replica jersey market, were it not for the fact that no self-respecting fan or his son or daughter would want to be seen dead in that particular jersey. But it is time that Wales and all other nations start to remain true to two colours only, both directly from their national flags or emblems.

England’s clown garb that they wore last weekend against the Pacific Islands was another low.

But assuming that Wales were not bilious at the way they looked in the mirror, it has to be said that their display against the willing Canadians was dreadfully disappointing.

It was clear that Wales expected to score easily and so they were not mentally tuned in to the idea of carrying the ball through a few phases. Canada were unlucky to concede two penalty tries and were thoroughly good value for their consolation try.

So, as a leading official of the Welsh Rugby Union said yesterday, the only saving grace is that there is no sense of euphoria going into the match against New Zealand at Cardiff on Saturday.

It is also germane to point out that few of Friday night’s team will be engaged again, but there is the sense that one or two aspects of this Wales side are unravelling. It is nobody’s fault, it is just that some players’ form is clearly wavering.

Nobody who frequents these pages will be in doubt about my admiration for Gavin Henson and Tom Shanklin as a partnership in the Wales midfield. They have been the engine of both the recent Welsh Grand Slams and it is a dreadful shame that Henson continues to have injury problems. At least it was good to hear last week that the medical profession now agrees with Henson’s assessment of his leg injury. I was beginning to suspect that Gavin’s leg was actually a head problem.

Shanklin is another matter. At his best he is one of the hardest centres in the world, still under-rated by so many. But he is not looking sharp at present and all of Wales should hope and pray that this is a temporary dip, not a slide due to the accumulation of injuries and miles on the clock.

A few more key men are also in strife. Mike Phillips is still injured, Dwayne Peel has not yet rediscovered his true form and James Hook is in one of those difficult periods. You sense that a man of his ability will re-emerge but just at the moment he is surprisingly diffident and unwilling to back his range of skills. You would hope that a combination of Warren Gatland, Shaun Edwards and Robert Howley will be performing a pastoral as well as a technical role with Hook.

Stephen Jones is a splendid player in many circumstances but to turn tight games, the genius of Hook is a slightly better bet.

However, with Hook awaiting news of a scan on his right knee, which he injured against Canada, Jones is likely to get the nod against New Zealand, with the Ospreys’ Dan Biggar, 19, on the bench.