Wales captain Michael Owen has hit back at critics who claimed his side were not up for the challenge in Sunday's defeat to Ireland in Dublin.

Wales were beaten 31-5 in a performance former fly-half Jonathan Davies described as "inept".

Davies also suggested Gavin Henson, who has taken the defeat hard after coming on in the first-half for the injured Stephen Jones, looked "uninterested".

But Owen was riled by the suggestion Wales lacked passion or pride in their work.

"I don't really want to dignify those comments with an answer," said the Newport Gwent Dragons number eight, who assumed the captaincy from injured Gareth Thomas.

"It is never a question of effort when you are playing for your country. We were giving it everything but some things we got wrong."

Owen insisted Wales had not taken a major step backwards after their victory over Scotland, despite many of the traits that soured the defeat to England returning at Lansdowne Road.

"It was not that much of a step back. Against Scotland we got a win and played reasonably well. We are still improving," he said.

"The first 20 minutes was the best rugby we have played in the championship. We have just got to keep it going. We now go back to Cardiff and want to finish on a high."

Stephen Jones, who had been inspirational in the opening 20 minutes before limping off with a dead leg, explained that Wales had lost their timing in attack.

It was exactly that problem Mike Ruddock bemoaned after the opening day defeat at Twickenham.

"It is frustrating that our timing was off in attack again because we had got back to good habits against Scotland," said Jones.

"Because of the way we play there is a fine line between things working for us and not. That is the style we play and we have to work hard now over the next fortnight."

Jones suffered a dead leg and faces a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of the Italy game.

And his role as a senior player will be vital as Wales attempt to bounce back.

"Everybody wanted success against Ireland and we are bitterly disappointed with the way the game went, he said.

"We have a big fortnight ahead of us. It is our responsibility."