SO you think Wales have got problems? Just look across the border at the 'old enemy' England and the sorry mess they've got themselves into.

Before you say, so what, we're not interested in England's wounds, their situation is relevant and it ought to provide us in Wales with a sense of perspective which is often sadly lacking in the mad world which is Welsh rugby, where everyone is either through the roof or under the floorboards.

England are the world champions, yet they've lost many of the players who carried them to glory nearly three years ago and they've just suffered their worst defeat in modern times on the back of losing to Scotland, last season's whipping boys.

For on Sunday England's 31-6 beating against France was their worst in the championship for 20 years, it equalled their worst against France, suffered back in 1972, it was their seventh Six Nations defeat in 14 since winning the World Cup and it was their eighth defeat in their last nine away from home.

Now there's a really damning set of statistics. Just imagine the heartache, the wailing, the gnashing of teeth there would be in Wales with that kind of record.

The coach would have to go, the captain would have to fall on his sword, half the team would have to be sacked and there would be calls for an EGM to inquire into the sad state of the national team's affairs. Even worse than Wales, England have no other cards left to play.

There is no-one else to bring in, there are no players due to return from major injuries.

And their domestic league, the Guinness Premiership, which has been so vaunted and plays to big five figure crowds, is now being condemned as one dimensional and sterile, just like the national team.

Compare England's woes with Wales who are so badly hit by injuries that they have been starting Six Nations games with only six, yes just six, of the team which won the Grand Slam last season.

Wales is a small country with little real depth and certainly with none of the advantages in money and player numbers that England possess.

Yet we are in a far better position than the world champions, but critics and fans are so unforgiving, they just take no notice of the evidence and blindly lash out at everything and everyone.

Obviously it was disappointing, desperately disappointing, to become the first team to surrender a point playing at home to Italy in the Six Nations.

But there has been worse, far worse. When Jonathan Davies - now notably less voluble in his criticism than some of the other armchair 'experts' among former players and media - was in his prime Wales lost at home to Romania, I repeat Wales lost at home to Romania.

And that was with a full team. Wales are currently not even at half strength and everyone recognises how much Italy are improving.

Wales have been without Ryan Jones, Brent Cockbain, Tom Shanklin and Kevin Morgan for the entire Six Nations while Gavin Henson has only just returned and is nowhere near the required standard after a long lay-off.

Even during the tournament Wales have lost Gareth Thomas, Stephen Jones, Shane Williams, Mark Jones and now top scrum half Dwayne Peel along with number two Gareth Cooper.

In addition, other more fringe players like Ceri Sweeney and Luke Charteris plus Chris Horsman, who made an outstanding debut during the Autumn series, have been ruled out as well.

That is an horrific casualty list by any standards. So, for goodness sake, let's keep a sense of proportion about all this and not get so ridiculously wound up.

Yes, we've got problems but they can be sorted, the damage is repairable - and in 12 months time with the return of so many players we could be in a much healthier position and wondering what all the fuss was about. And if you want evidence of a country where the situation is far worse and goes much deeper just take a look at the mess England are in.