Alun Wyn Jones believes Wales are on an upward curve after finishing second in the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations.
Wales downed Scotland, Italy and France to finish behind Grand Slam champions Ireland in a successful campaign in the Championship.
Despite the two defeats, Jones is confident Wales are looking in good shape with the Rugby World Cup, due to take place in Japan in 2019, just over a year away.
The 32-year-old said: “It’s now an upward curve to the World Cup.
“We weren’t the complete package by any means. Going into the NatWest 6 Nations we said we wanted to create opportunities and take them, but the opportunities we didn’t take were costly with regards the Championship as a whole.
“Credit to Ireland – they came into the Championship with the form book favouring them and the momentum they had at the start helped them go on to finish top.”
Wales will face South Africa in Washington, USA, before two Tests away to Argentina in June.
Warren Gatland’s men will also come up against Scotland this autumn and Jones is confident this year’s Championship was a positive one for his country.
He said: “The competition on the whole was good and pleasing from a Welsh point of view. There’s definitely room for improvement but that improvement really will make a difference.
“We are developing strength in depth. There will be a summer tour with people getting opportunities while there will also be another autumn international and NatWest 6 Nations campaign before the World Cup.”
Jones’s priority for the time being is to help guide Ospreys into next season’s European Champions Cup.
He added: “The target for us is Champions Cup rugby and we can still achieve that as we have a game in hand over other sides.
“It could go down to Judgement Day (when the Ospreys face Cardiff Blues at Principality Stadium) and we could still have to play in a play-off.
“It’s massive for us to be in the top echelon of European rugby.”
