Wednesday 1 March 2017 17:22, UK
Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny says he has taken responsibility for a strategic error during Saturday's disappointing 29-13 loss to Scotland at Murrayfield.
Halfpenny admits he was not "decisive enough" when the opportunity arose to kick a penalty and make it 16-16 just over 10 minutes into the second-half.
Skipper Alun Wyn Jones had already indicated to referee John Lacey that Wales would go for the three points, but Halfpenny had missed a first-half penalty in the swirling Murrayfield wind, and outside-half Dan Biggar ended up kicking into the corner instead.
Wales failed to score from the resulting set-piece, handing the Scots crucial momentum, and the hosts went on to claim a first win over Wales for 10 years.
Halfpenny told the Welsh Rugby Union website: "For me, I need to hold my hand up. I made a mistake and I wasn't decisive enough
"Alun Wyn wanted to go for the three points, and I've allowed errors in my game before and the conditions to influence me and turn down the kick.
"I should have parked those mistakes and moved on. In the past I have made errors but not allowed those to effect me and moved onto the next job.
"It's probably the first time it has happened, but it's the last time it will. I don't think I've ever played at Murrayfield when it's not been difficult conditions.
"The wind really picks up and it is up there with one of the most difficult stadiums to kick in, but that shouldn't have an influence on decisions, if a kick is in range.
"For me it's a privileged position to backed to be the kicker. I'm excited to get back out there, get the tee in my hand, and go from there."
Biggar found himself in the firing line after the match, the suggestion having been mooted that he ignored Jones' wish to go for goal in favour of the kick into touch.
The stand-off said: "The bottom line is Leigh has held his hands up and said he didn't fancy the kick. It was a tough day and a tough kick.
"If if it was on the 22 and bang in front, I wouldn't have asked Al.
"As it was on the touchline, I've asked the question about whether to go for the corner.
"It was a very amicable chat and for me it was never about overruling the captain.
"It's been a pretty hurtful couple of days. It's not nice being questioned about whether you've overruled the captain, let alone it being someone like Alun Wyn, who I've huge respect for."
Halfpenny has 594 career points for Wales and kicking coach Jenkins, who is Wales' record points scorer, says there is no question of a change in kicker.
"Leigh is still our number one kicker," he added. "He was a bit off in the autumn against Australia, after being out for a year through injury.
"I think he's in the top three kickers in the world and I've no doubt that he'll be ready to go against Ireland a week on Friday."
Skipper Jones feels Halfpenny's decision not to take the penalty has been over-exaggerated, saying a "lot of things could have gone right to influence the game, not just that kick."
Regarding the incident itself, he added: "I think I was decisive, I motioned to the posts and the ref agreed.
"Leigh felt the conditions weren't right, I back the decision of my world-class kicker. We had the option of the line-out, but it didn't work out."
