BACK to reality. Wales came crashing down to earth after the heights of their seven-try romp against Fiji with this lack lustre, unsatisfactory performance with a 32-21 win against World Cup opponents Canada.

Better on Saturday at a disappointed Millennium Stadium than against the All Blacks in five days time because now coach Steve Hansen and his team know they do have problems.

Despite the incredible refereeing of Italian Giulio De Santis, who hardly stopped whistling throughout the 80+ minutes, Wales revealed frailties which the All Blacks will expose ruthlessly.

For a start Wales were turned over no fewer than 11 times, unacceptable at this level.

And the throwing in of hooker Robin McBryde was so erratic that Wales were in trouble winning even their own ball. Surprisingly, McBryde wasn't substituted.

Canada also provided far more physical opposition than Fiji, and bearing in mind that New Zealand will be a big step-up again then Wales really have got a lot to do this week in preparation for the big one.

Given the problems in the line-out and maintaining possession, it was little surprise Wales lacked any flow against Canada.

The fluency of the Fijian match was largely forgotten as Wales struggled, and the two tries they did score were fairly scrappy affairs.

Canada coach David Clark reckoned both Welsh tries contained infringements missed by the referee.

The first scored by McBryde after Dwayne Peel, Stephen Jones, Gareth Thomas, Ben Evans and Jones again handled, should not have been allowed because of obstruction, claimed Clark.

And he felt the second by Jamie Robinson after approach work by the Jones boys, Stephen and Mark, contained a forward pass.

But the merit of the Welsh victory could not be denied all the same, for they did score those two tries compared with none by the Canadians and they did enjoy territorial supremacy.

The scrums were a complete lottery and the line-outs often confused, but in Martyn Williams Wales possessed the best forward on the field.

He was everywhere, trying his best to maintain continuity and winning a lot of ball on the floor.

The Welsh backs could not take much advantage largely because of the infuriating inconsistency and non-stop whistle of the referee, but also because of stubborn Canadian resistance.

They are an experienced side, with so many of their players involved in Europe and a solid nucleus right through the ranks.

Though Rod Snow was sinbinned after a series of scrums went down, he did, with Cardiff's John Tait and French-based pair Mike James and Philip Murphy, provide a formidable obstacle for Wales.

Not just that, but John Cannon, who plays for Rotherham, was a particularly strong centre for Canada and outside half Jared Barker, also based in France, a kicker right out of the Jones-Neil Jenkins mould.

He fired over six penalties, missing the target just once while scrum half Morgan Williams dropped a goal.

The Canadians had plenty of structure, they were combative in everything they did, and Wales struggled to make their presence felt.

But Jones fared even better than Barker, his 22 points from six penalties and two conversions also one more than he kicked against Fiji.

One Welsh player who had no problem making an impression was Scott Quinnell, who went on for the final 25 minutes to a rapturous reception on his last international appearance.

The pity was that it was in front of a less than half full stadium of 31,000, but when it was all over they made enough noise for double that number as Quinnell saluted them, welcomed his three young children on to the pitch and walked off to a guard of honour from both sides.

As Wales team manager Alan Phillips quipped afterwards, "It was the only thing we got right!"

Reality now dictates that there must be life after Scott Quinnell, and one thing for sure - unless Wales cut out the mistakes and play with some more confidence they will be like lambs to the slsughter against the All Blacks.

Wales: R Williams, M Jones, J Robinson, S Parker, G Thomas, S Jones (I Harris 72), D Peel (R Powell 72), I Thomas, R McBryde, B Evans, V Cooper (M Owen 52), G Llewellyn, D Jones (S Quinnell 64), C Charvis (captain), M Williams. Scorers -- tries: R McBryde, J Robinson; conversions: S Jones (2); penalties: Jones (6). Canada: W Stanley, S Fauth, N Witkowski, J Cannon M di Girolamo 71), F Asselin, J Barker, M Williams (E Fairhurst 74), R Snow, P Dunkley (captain), J Thiel, J Tait (L Carlson 70), M James, R Banks, P Murphy (J Cudmore 63), A van Staveren (K Tkachuk 28-34). Scorer -- penalties (6): J Barker; dropped goal: M Williams.