The Exiles were put to the sword in the first half by a clinical Bath side at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, and trailed 30-0 at the interval.
An improved Welsh performance after the break was capped by Nick Scott’s try in the corner, but the home side still won the second half 17-7 thanks to two late tries. For Smith, it’s no way near enough if the Exiles are to have a chance of breaking their duck.
“We don’t go out thinking let’s try not to concede this amount or damage limitation, we very much go out each week with the confidence that if we can do some of the things we’ve worked on and we’ve shown in parts of games over the course of a 60-70 minute performance then we’re going to be there or thereabouts come the end,” said Smith.
“Unfortunately ten minutes in the second half isn’t good enough – there’s another 70 minutes in the game. That’s the realism of it. So for us as a coaching team and as a playing group it’s working together to try and get that ten to 20, 30, 40.
“Suddenly if we’re doing it for 60-70 minutes you’re hoping the scoreline is far closer or in your favour, and it’s a very different story. When Bath come out at half-time 30 points up there’s no pressure on them, the game’s pretty much won barring a complete disaster.
“For us it’s getting to that 60-70 minute moment of the game and still being in the game, and at the moment we’re not doing that well enough.”
Welsh put in an improved display after the break and were rewarded with a well worked try for Scott in the corner.
“The 10-15 minute spell in the second half where we played with some fluency to our attack, we got over the gain line and we actually put Bath under a little bit of pressure. But when you concede 30 points in the first half it’s always going to be pretty tough,” added Smith.
Welsh have also confirmed Rowland Phillips has joined the club as defence coach.
Formally defence coach for Wales, Phillips was part of Gareth Jenkins’ coaching team for the 2007 World Cup, while he also fulfilled the same role at the Ospreys, Ebbw Vale and at Aironi Rugby in the Pro 12.
Phillips, 49, will strengthen the Club’s existing coaching set up of head coach Justin Burnell and assistant coaches Gordon Ross, Ollie Smith and Matthew Ferguson.
