It is difficult to judge the results of Welsh rugby these days after Steve Tandy’s team suffered a 54-12 thrashing by France in Cardiff. It’s the same old story as they now turn their attention to the visit to Scotland next Saturday.
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Wales suffered further misery as Les Bleus claimed an eight-try victory and the hosts were again weakened by their 13th consecutive Six Nations defeat.
France turned a test match into a carefree display of rugby as the visitors achieved their biggest Six Nations triumph in the Welsh capital.
Home blows have become the norm as Wales have conceded 50 points on more than five occasions in less than a year at the Principality Stadium.
Argentina, South Africa, England and France have all achieved record victories in Cardiff in the last 11 months, while Wales have suffered 10 consecutive home defeats in the Six Nations in a sequence stretching back four years.
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Tandy’s optimism despite tough defeat
Welsh rugby is in continued disarray and has suffered a new lower crowd at the Six Nations in Cardiff, as fans begin to vote with their feet.
French fans took over the Principality Stadium and Welsh rugby bosses should be grateful they turned out in such numbers.
Given all this, it was to be expected to see a dejected Welsh response after the match. Watching the players in another losing meeting after more heartbreak is hard to watch.
Wales coach Tandy tried to remain positive, calling it an improvement on the opening 48-7 loss to England – fair, but coming from a very low bar.
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There shouldn’t be much reason for optimism, but Wales are desperately trying to find it as they cite better discipline and set pieces.
“We’re disappointed with the score, but we could have done more in some parts of the game,” Tandy said.
“I know everyone looks at me like I’m stupid, with the path we’re taking, but there were flashes of the set piece and the intention of how we wanted to go after the game.
“There was enough material to come back on Tuesday and work on things.
“It’s not the result we want, but it’s part of the journey we’re on. Every nation is at different stages.
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“We have to focus on the things we did best, like discipline, and recognize that there are areas where we need to grow.”
How do Wales justify their progress to the fans?
This was the fifth time in six games under Tandy that Wales have scored more than 40 points.
There have been 302 points and 42 tries conceded during Tandy’s tenure, an average of 50 points and seven tries per game.
Wales have lost 23 of their previous 25 Test matches since the 2023 World Cup.
Tandy was then asked how he could justify any positive attitude to the fans who had seen Wales suffer another tough defeat.
“I’m a coach, I get it too,” Tandy said.
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“Most people see the result and comment on things without always seeing the data.
“I understand where we are. We have young players and combinations coming, we have to go through and experience it.”
Tandy insists his vision is optimistic.
“I knew what a challenge it was to get to Wales,” he added.
“I’m excited to see where we can go. Hopefully we can look back in 18 months or whenever, and this was part of it.
“We can’t snap our fingers and be one of the best in the world. It’s a process.”
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“We have played against the best teams in the world”
Tandy also pointed out that Wales have faced the four highest-ranked teams in the world in their last four games, with losses against New Zealand, South Africa, England and France.
“There’s also the context of the six games we’ve played,” said Tandy, whose only victory came against Japan with the last shot of the game.
“If you look at the teams we play against, it’s not that it’s an excuse for the amount of points we concede, we’re playing against ruthless teams.
“So there has to be an understanding of who we are playing. We know where we want to be as a team, but we also know where we are.
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“We are ranked 11th in the world and we have won two in more than 20 games.”
The former Ospreys coach insists patience is required and emphasizes that improvements “won’t come overnight.”
“For me as a coach, it’s seeing where we’re growing,” Tandy noted.
“You may not see the parts adding up, but I believe it when I see the week of training, with the mentality of the boys and how they keep coming back.
“We have some young children and it will take time.”
Giving 50 points is demoralizing
Tandy accepted that it was demoralizing to concede more than 50 points at home again.
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“That’s where we are right now,” Tandy said.
“We have conceded a lot of yellow cards and points.
“It’s not a question based on effort. There are things we have to put in order.”
“It’s something we’re working hard to address.”
The former Scotland and Lions defense coach insisted there is a balance to doing everything right as a team.
“It’s at the forefront of what we’re trying to do, but with the game going right now, more points are being scored than before.
“With the way it’s being officiated, you get on the wrong side and it can pile up pretty easily.
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“It’s something we’re working hard to fix. We’re not going to win games by conceding 50 points.
“We’re interested in addressing and building confidence in what we’re trying to do.”
Wales was much more positive – Lake
Wales captain Dewi Lake to leave Ospreys and join Gloucester next season (Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Wales captain Dewi Lake agreed with Tandy’s assessment that his team had performed better.
“It’s weird to say it looking at the scoreboard, but we were a lot better than last week for a lot of that game,” Lake said.
“France is a team that is near the top of the world and can create things from absolutely nothing.
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“They scored some world-class tries and they’ve got some world-class individuals.
“We know there are things to clean up, but we won’t hide that fact or that we are disappointed with the score.
“But overall we were much more positive.”
Lake says the character of his team cannot be questioned.
“Guys are never going to give up on a result or a test match or a ball in the ground, any of that,” Lake said.
“As captain, I don’t need to say anything. Those guys are ready to go anyway.”
Welsh fans will not doubt the players’ hearts.
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However, they are right to question the quality of the national team and the WRU’s management of the game in Wales.
Record defeats are becoming normalized and the global rugby public is feeling sorry for this once proud nation.
That is the current situation of Welsh rugby. It’s hard to be optimistic about it.
