WALES’ players have been warned by forwards coach Robin McBryde that they must up their game to earn a summer call from Lions boss Warren Gatland.

Gatland, on a sabbatical from his Wales job, has been back at the Vale Resort running the rule over his charges ahead of the April announcement of his squad to tour New Zealand.

He has been observing a team smarting from back-to-back defeats to England and Scotland, costly losses that have effectively ended their Six Nations title hopes ahead of dates with Ireland and France.

Gatland named 15 Welsh players in his party for Australia four years ago and McBryde believes the next fortnight is key for the hopes of a number of leading candidates.

“It is good to catch up with Warren,” McBryde said. “It is good to hear his thoughts on the game and good for us to have another set of eyes and just being able to discuss things.

“It is also a gentle reminder to the players that there are Lions eyes upon us as well.

“There is a Lions tour, and I am sure that will be at the back of the minds of the players. If there is to be any chance of them going on that tour, they have to raise their game.”

McBryde, however, is keen to stress that it will take a team performance to catch the eye of the Lions management and admitted the debrief after the 29-13 Murrayfield mauling was a painful one.

“The one thing we have to do is play as a team,” he added. “I hate to say it, but perhaps Scotland played more as a team than what we did.

“It has been said time and time again, it is a team game. And unless you play like a team, you are not going to succeed.

“Hopefully, we will do that. We are feeling the pain together, so hopefully that will bring us a bit tighter.

“We don’t want to go through another debrief like the one we’ve had after both England and Scotland.

“Hopefully, that will focus everyone on the task in hand - Ireland, the fourth-best side in the world.”

Wales’ error-strewn display in Edinburgh meant they lost the second half 20-0.

They are now sweating on retaining a top-eight spot in the ranking ahead of the draw for the 2019 World Cup, thereby standing a better chance of avoiding another group of death.

McBryde said: “What you don’t want is the players who go out there worrying too much about making mistakes, and then they just go into their shell and play safety-first.

“That’s not us. We are better when we go out there full of confidence, trying things.”

He continued: “Ireland are going to bring something different to Scotland, and we must be prepared. There is no magic remedy, no magic pill, you have just to roll your sleeves up and work harder until you get the next result.

“They (Ireland) did what they had to do against France. They have got a strong set-piece, a strong maul and they are very clinical when they get opportunities. They have had a great run of results and back things up.

“They are consistent, have a number of experienced players and a game-plan everybody understands, so it’s going to be a challenge.”

Wales start preparations in full for the Irish on Sunday and are confident that lock Jake Ball will shake off a knee problem.