Ken Owens says Wales must 'tidy up' discipline against Italy

Ken Owens has lamented poor discipline from Wales that effectively saw the whistle blown on their NatWest 6 Nations title hopes.

A 37-27 defeat against championship favourites and leaders Ireland in Dublin means Wales' wait for a first Six Nations crown since 2013 is set to continue.

Ireland's bonus-point victory mirrored overwhelming domination of possession and territory, while Wales' nine penalties conceded equalled the total in their previous two games - against Scotland and England - combined.

Despite tries from Gareth Davies, Aaron Shingler and Steff Evans, Wales slipped to a second successive loss on the road, leaving next month's Cardiff appointments with Italy and France very much a case of after the Lord Mayor's Show.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland looks set to make changes for the Azzurri's visit on March 11 - wing George North moving to centre could be one of them - and Owens says there must be no let-up: