Jamie Roberts hopes Wales coaching team stays in place

Jamie Roberts (left) made his Wales debut in the 2008 Six Nations against Scotland

Jamie Roberts hopes Warren Gatland retains his Wales coaching team following the World Cup.

Defence coach Shaun Edwards' contract expired on 31 October, while Rob Howley (attack) and Robin McBryde (forwards) have deals with run out in June 2016.

Gatland has asked them all to stay on, and centre Roberts hopes he succeeds.

"They complement each other really well and all the players enjoy playing under those guys, and hopefully they'll all stay," he said.

"It's no secret the players [have] admiration for the coaching set-up."

The fifth member of the coaching set-up is Neil Jenkins, who looks after the kickers. He is a Welsh Rugby Union employee with additional responsibilities beyond the national team.

"I suppose Warren, Rob, Shaun, Robin and Neil are all I've really known at international level since 2008 and I've really enjoyed my time under those coaches.

Jamie Roberts is studying a two-year masters degree in medical science at Cambridge University

"They're a good mix of character, a good mix of styles."

Room for improvement

The 28-year-old centre has made 74 appearances for Wales and toured twice with the British and Irish Lions.

He made his debut for Cambridge University against Worcester Cavaliers in a 29-7 defeat on 4 November, his first game since Wales' 23-19 loss to South Africa in the World Cup quarter-final.

Roberts believes the current coaching team will be key in helping Wales rectify their failings.

"Personally, and I can speak for the team collectively as well, they keep pushing the players and that's what you want," he added.

Jamie Roberts toured with the 2013 British and Irish Lions and is now studying at Cambridge University

"You need to be told what to improve on and as a group we need to improve.

"Looking back over the World Cup there were disappointing elements, and those are things we have to learn from and move forward and improve in our game if we're going to beat the best."

Harsh lessons

Wales won three of their five matches in the tournament, qualifying along with Australia as England failed to make it out of Pool A.

But the defeats were tough to take, he said.

Australia beat Wales 15-6 in a pool match, despite being reduced to 13 men for seven minutes in the second half.

And Wales led going in to the last 10 minutes of the quarter-final with the Springboks before Fourie de Preez scored the winning try.

"It was disappointing to go out in the South Africa game having switched off just in the crucial time in the 75th minute," added Roberts.

"We defended admirably in that game and just switched off for a second and that's all it takes.

"Also against Australia, looking how we didn't convert a two man-advantage into some form of points was disappointing and that's something we are unfortunately going to have to take harsh lessons from.

"We lost that game and it was probably a game we should have won.

"But that's rugby, you learn from it. We perform better as a side and make sure the next time that picture is painted on the field you make the right call and do the right thing."