Rob Howley bemoans Wales performance against Samoa

Interim head coach Rob Howley has said Wales' 26-19 defeat to Samoa was "not up to international standard".

It was the Six Nations champions' fifth successive defeat and their second loss of the autumn series.

Lions head coach Warren Gatland will return to take the reins for next Saturday's game against New Zealand.

"I have spoken to the players and we are obviously disappointed as a coaching team and group of players," Howley said.

"We were outperformed by a Samoa side whose ability to keep the ball better than us was the most disappointing aspect of the performance.

"We did not have control of possession or in terms of the contact area and that [performance] is obviously not international standard."

Wales face World Cup holders New Zealand next Saturday before hosting Australia in the final game of the four Test series on 1 December.

"We have two good games against New Zealand and Australia to come and it is something to look forward to," Howley added.

"Over the last 12 months we have been to the World Cup semi-finals and won a Grand Slam. We have had the highs and now we are going through a low.

"We have to bounce back and rugby gives you an opportunity.

"This group of players have been outstanding in training, but when we cross that white line our skills are not up to scratch of international rugby at this moment in time.

"But we will keep working hard and keep working smart and we will stick together."

Samoa's victory was their fourth over Wales and their third win in Cardiff following famous World Cup victories in 1991 and 1999.

Captain David Lemi hailed his side's win but also accused Wales of being predictable in attack.

"This was a big opportunity for us to have a good ranking before the World Cup draw and credit to the boys today, we came out on top," said the Worcester wing.

"We have been watching Wales since the World Cup. They did the same thing they used in the Six Nations and against Argentina.

"We knew if you stop their go-forward men, you stop their game. If you dominate the scrum and line-out the other side cannot play rugby."

Wales squad for autumn Tests

Backs: L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Liam Williams (Scarlets); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), G North (Scarlets), H Robinson (Cardiff Blues); A Beck (Ospreys), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), J Hook (Perpignan), R Priestland (Scarlets); T Knoyle (Scarlets), M Phillips (Bayonne), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues).

Forwards: S Andrews (Cardiff Blues), R Bevington (Ospreys), P James (Bath), A Jarvis (Ospreys), G Jenkins (Toulon), S Lee (Scarlets); R Hibbard (Ospreys), K Owens (Scarlets), M Rees (Scarlets); B Davies (Cardiff Blues), L Charteris (Perpignan), I Evans (Ospreys); T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), R Jones (Ospreys), R McCusker (Scarlets), A Shingler (Scarlets), J Tipuric (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt).