By Gareth Thomas Wales captain

Saturday's performance against France was great and exactly what we needed.

We had one last chance to prove to the nation, the fans and the rest of the world that we are still a force in international rugby.

Yes, we lost, but I think we won back a few fans.

The World Cup will probably be my swansong. We've got the likes of Lee Byrne and Barry Davies knocking on the door

I wish I'd have been at the game. It was terrible to watch, I just couldn't get the feeling for it.

I really wanted to be there but I was advised against it because of my injury.

I was well proud of the boys. I thought they fronted up and answered a lot of critics.

There's no hiding from the fact that it's been a disappointing campaign.

We know we haven't reached the highs of last year or the heights we think we're capable of.

It's the second season in a row I've missed most of the campaign with injury, but this season has been particularly devastating for me.

With the broken thumb last year, I was able to be bubbly around the players. I felt I was doing something.

But it's been completely different with this injury. I needed a lot of rest and needed to get away from the stress.

Thomas rejects retirement talk

But I've been feeling well this week and I haven't had any headaches when I wake up.

I can start training on Monday if I want, but the doctors have told me to wait another week.

That's why I was so surprised to read reports this week that I was going to retire. I've never said such a thing!

I'll keep playing for Wales as long as people think I'm good enough.

The only issue I've got is my family, but they've given me the confidence to know they support me when I play.

I'd love to go on the Wales tour to Argentina at the end of the season, but I've been advised to give it a miss and concentrate on having a proper pre-season. I'll just play it by ear and see how things go.

Next year's World Cup is definitely a goal, though. It'll be my fourth World Cup and that would be quite an achievement.

Realistically, it'll probably be my swansong because we've got the likes of Lee Byrne and Barry Davies knocking on the door.

We've been caught up by the other nations this season, but I don't think we've gone too far backwards

And I think that's one of the positives we can take out of all the injuries we've had this season.

We had no choice but to blood a lot of new players, and there's no better place to do that than in the Six Nations. It's the hot-bed of international rugby.

We've been tested hard this season, but we've come through it together and we'll be better for it.

Of course the off-field turmoil has had an effect - it's the only thing people have been talking about.

Hopefully, questions have now been answered and we're moving on.

It's up to the Welsh Rugby Union now to appoint a new coach and the players will respect whatever they want to do.

Wales need a Braveheart - Johnson

I would love Scott Johnson to stay. Everyone in the squad would. He's an amazing coach and person.

He's had some unfair criticism lately because he's helped us a lot over the past seasons.

For him to leave would be a huge loss, but we'll respect his decision if he goes.

Whatever happens, we've got to make sure we keep progressing with the style of rugby we've developed.

We've been caught up by the other nations this season, but I don't think we've gone too far backwards.

We've just got to knuckle down and start moving forward again.