But he has also urged an emphasis on the positive elements to emerge from Englands RBS 6 Nations campaign, which saw them record three wins for the first time since 2004 and blood an exciting generation of young players such as Toby Flood, Shane Geraghty and David Strettle.

Ultimately though, it was Wales new kid on the block - 21-year-old Ospreys fly-half James Hook - who brilliantly inspired his team to a face-saving victory that staved off an embarrassing tournament whitewash and handed Scotland the wooden spoon.

England once again experienced an attack of away-day blues, suffering a sixth successive defeat on the road, yet it could have been so much worse after Wales raced 15-0 ahead inside 14 minutes.

Wales, playing like champions rather than chumps, dazzled through early tries by Hook and prop Chris Horsman.

But England, albeit too fleetingly, served further notice of significant strides they are making under head coach Brian Ashtons direction by hauling themselves level at 18-18 before Hook reeled in the visitors with two clinching penalties and a drop-goal.

His 22-point haul left England - and a capacity Millennium Stadium crowd - gasping. It might also have ended Stephen Jones World Cup hopes, at least in the number 10 shirt.

Stand-in skipper Catt and his troops were left to reflect on a failed Cardiff mission, primarily because of Hooks heroics, but also through an inconsistent set-piece game and tactical naivety at crucial moments.

Catt admitted: We made a lot of mistakes during the first 15 minutes, and against a fired-up Wales side you cannot do that.

Wales pretty much dominated every breakdown early in the game. They put us on the rack, and we did exceptionally well to come back like we did before half-time.

I didnt particularly want the interval to come. We had gained the upper hand, but then in the second-half we made a lot of mistakes again and played in the wrong parts of the pitch.

There are no excuses. This is international rugby, and it is a massive learning curve for a lot of the guys.

Catts second Test in charge had a premature conclusion - he limped off after just 41 minutes - while number eight Joe Worsley, concussed following a collision with team-mate Jason Robinson, departed midway through a frenzied opening quarter.

But 35-year-old Catt still left a mark on the 115th meeting between two of Test rugbys fiercest rivals, creating an opening try for scrum-half Harry Ellis after he tore apart a bewildered Welsh defence.

Once Catt departed though, so England lost a talismanic presence, and hopes of backing up the previous weekends victory over eventual RBS 6 Nations champions France evaporated.