Michael Owen leads a dispirited Wales from Lansdowne Road's pitch

The BBC pundit says the heavy 31-5 loss in Ireland can be attributed to the off-field politics surrounding Ruddock.

"Their performance suggests a little bit of a divide in the camp," he said.

"If it is the senior players that have got rid of Ruddock, it is the younger players that need to be led. I think there is a bit of a faction there."

Wales caretaker coach Scott Johnson maintains that Wales were "out-skilled" in the RBS Six Nations loss at Lansdowne Road, but that there was nothing wrong with their heart.

Wales looked disinterested, slow, sluggish Ex-Ireland captain Keith Wood

But Guscott and fellow pundit Keith Wood, the former Ireland captain, both suggested that Wales did not play like a unified unit.

The absence of captain Gareth Thomas, ruled out of the championship with a damaged neck artery, was also pointed to.

"They weren't working for one other, they weren't working as a team," Guscott added.

"So there is a little bit of friction there... the whole thing is a mess - worse than I thought.

"I think it (the off-field stuff) has affected them. They have not performed and I think they are definitely missing Mike Ruddock and Gareth Thomas, their captain.

"Michael Owen and the forwards didn't really front up too much."

I thought most of Wales' performance was inept Ex-Wales fly-half Jonathan Davies More Welsh pundit reaction

Wood echoed Guscott that Wales were crying out for a leader on the pitch.

"You were looking for someone to take the lead. Dwayne Peel tried but you can't expect your scrum-half to do it all by himself," Wood said.

"I think the whole mess has knocked them back. It was always going to be a difficult season anyway after the Grand Slam and all their injuries.

"If you add in everything else that has happened in the last two weeks, they just didn't look like they wanted to be there.

"They looked disinterested, slow, sluggish. They just didn't get over the gain line."