Wales’ first defeat for almost 18 months last Sunday was accompanied by another rare event – lock Adam Beard losing a Test match.
The Six Nations champions’ four-Test World Cup warm-up schedule began with a 33-19 reversal against England at Twickenham.
It was also the first time in 14 games for his country that Ospreys forward Beard had finished on the losing side since being handed a Wales debut against Samoa in Apia more than two years ago.
“We would have liked to keep the winning streak going, but we know what we have got to work on now going into this weekend,” Beard said, ahead of Saturday’s return fixture against England in Cardiff.
“As disappointing as it was, we’ve just got to respond.
“The main target is what is coming in six weeks (Wales’ World Cup opener against Georgia) so we will work on the negatives from Twickenham and right those wrongs at home.
“You can do all the training in the world, the fitness and the physical work in the gym, but there is nothing like getting out there on the field.
“You need those carries and big tackles to prepare for what is to come. The physicality was right up there and will stand us in good stead.
“Everybody is on their toes, and that is making everybody work so hard in every session and every game.”
Wales coach Warren Gatland fielded 13 of the starting line-up at Twickenham that delivered a Six Nations title and Grand Slam-winning victory over Ireland in March.
He has indicated it will be a similar team at the Principality Stadium – his starting line-up is announced on Thursday – although at least one change is guaranteed after fly-half Gareth Anscombe suffered a World Cup-ending knee injury three days ago.
Centre Hadleigh Parkes added: “It was good to get a hit-out. It is not every day that you play an opposition and then you get to play them again next week as well, so we will look forward to that back at the Principality.
“It’s building to what is going to be an exciting couple of months for those that are lucky enough to go to Japan.
“There is disappointment (after Twickenham), but there is a bigger goal, a bigger picture.
“It is about building towards the Georgia Test in six weeks for the lucky 31 that will go, and then you are building from there when you are at the tournament.”
