Shanklin is consoled after Wales' World Cup defeat to Fiji on Sunday

"We didn't perform and made a lot of individual mistakes," said Shanklin of Sunday's 38-34 defeat to Fiji.

"It was a poor display by the team. Gareth Jenkins can't do anything once the game starts from a coaching perspective, it's down to the players.

"The players have got to take a lot of responsibility for the performance."

Shanklin, who played at centre in three of Wales' four pool games at the World Cup, said he was "devastated" after failing to deliver the "bare minimum" requirement of reaching the quarter-finals.

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The defeat to Fiji on Sunday cost Jenkins his job after just 17 months in charge, and Shanklin said he has sympathy for his plight.

"He gave everything for Wales but it wasn't to be and I can't do anything about that. I feel for Gareth a lot," said Shanklin in his column for the BBC Sport website.

He added: "Obviously the public are going to be disappointed but the players are equally, if not more disappointed, because this is our job.

"We didn't perform, we came home way too early. The public needs to know the players are hurting just as much.

"We just have to see what happens now with the WRU finding a new coach and try to get on with it the best we can."

Shanklin paid tribute to Wales and Cardiff Blues team-mate Martyn Williams following the flanker's decided to retire from the international stage - and expects other senior players to follow suit.

"I've been lucky to play with Martyn for six years and he has been a great player for Wales and a great ambassador for the sport," said Shanklin.

"Who knows whether Gareth Thomas or Colin Charvis will play again either, and for them to go out on a bad performance is probably going to hurt them as much as it hurts me."