Wales' 2023 Six Nations Victory Remains Their Sole Success
Wales' triumph in Italy stands as their only victory in the 2023 Six Nations Championship. The fact that none of the players who scored in that last Six Nations win will feature in the upcoming match against Italy this Saturday highlights the significant changes since their win in Rome on this date in 2023.
Steve Tandy's squad endured their 15th consecutive defeat in the tournament last weekend, despite a determined and physical performance against Ireland in Dublin.
Due to points difference, Wales are very unlikely to avoid a third consecutive wooden spoon, even if they secure a bonus-point win against Italy on Saturday and England fail to earn points in Paris.
However, Wales are eager to end their losing streak before the 2027 championship, which will begin with away matches in France and Scotland.
Since the 29-17 victory at the Stadio Olimpico three years ago, Welsh rugby has experienced considerable difficulties and many changes.
A Wealth of Experience Has Departed
During the 2023 win in Rome, full-back Liam Williams, wing Rio Dyer, and number eight Taulupe Faletau scored tries, complemented by a penalty try and eight points from fly-half Owen Williams.
The team included captain and hooker Ken Owens, flanker Justin Tipuric, and hooker Scott Baldwin, all of whom have since retired from professional rugby.
Full-back Liam Williams, George North, and Rhys Webb are no longer active at the Test level; Webb retired from Test rugby before the 2023 World Cup and was subsequently banned for four years due to a doping violation in France.
Nine players from the matchday squad in Rome remain in the current squad: full-back Louis Rees-Zammit, wing Josh Adams, centres Mason Grady and Joe Hawkins, scrum-half Tomas Williams, loose-head prop Gareth Thomas, tight-head Tomas Francis, and locks Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard.
Flanker Jac Morgan and number eight Faletau are sidelined with injuries, while wing Dyer and open-side Tommy Reffell were not selected.
Notably, Welsh legends Alun Wyn Jones and Leigh Halfpenny were dropped for the 2023 fixture, and fly-half Dan Biggar missed out due to a back injury.
The 2023 squad contained a core of seasoned international players, whereas only six of Steve Tandy's matchday 23 in Dublin have reached 50 Test caps.
Wales v Italy 2023 lineup: L Williams; Adams, Grady, Hawkins, Dyer; O Williams, Webb; Wyn Jones, Owens (capt), Francis, Jenkins, Beard, Morgan, Tipuric, Faletau.
Replacements: Baldwin, Thomas, Lewis, R Davies, Reffell, T Williams, North, Rees-Zammit.
Saturday, 14 March at 16:40 GMT
All Change in Coaching Staff
Warren Gatland returned for a second tenure as head coach of the Welsh national team in December 2022 following the dismissal of Wayne Pivac.
During the 2023 Six Nations, Gatland was assisted by coaches Alex King, Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw, Neil Jenkins, and Jonathan Thomas. None remain involved with the national team.
At that time, current head coach Steve Tandy was Scotland's defence coach, while his assistants were engaged in club rugby: Danny Wilson at Leicester before moving to Harlequins, and Matt Sherratt with Cardiff.
Currently, the coaching team includes Rhys Patchell, a member of the 2023 Six Nations squad, and Dan Lydiate, who was selected for the 2023 World Cup.
Welsh Rugby Faces Ongoing Challenges
Despite changes over the past three years, Welsh rugby continues to be affected by off-field turmoil.
Gatland's team traveled to Rome after defeats to Ireland, Scotland, and England, with the Principality Stadium fixture against England only taking place after strike action was averted.
There was division within the squad regarding participation in the lucrative match amid financial uncertainty within Welsh rugby.
"Welsh rugby can't keep going on this merry-go-round of crisis after crisis, because it is affecting everyone in the game," said captain Ken Owens during a press conference following last-minute negotiations. "We need to pull together now and find the best way forward, and do it together to put Welsh rugby at the top end of world rugby, and not the laughing stock, which I think we are at the moment."
Few would dispute that Welsh rugby has retained that negative reputation.
The 2026 Six Nations will take place amid the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) plan to reduce the number of men's clubs from four to three due to financial pressures.
Swansea Council is pursuing legal action over the potential threat to the Ospreys, an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) is anticipated, and politicians have criticized the governing body.
Three years ago, Nigel Walker served as interim chief executive following Steve Phillips' resignation in January 2023, which came after a BBC Wales program exposed allegations of misogyny, sexism, and racism within the WRU.
Abi Tierney has been the chief executive since January 2024, and Richard Collier-Keywood has served as chairman since summer 2023, on a three-year term.
The WRU has deferred major decisions since the 2023 crisis, but significant choices are imminent.
Wales have won just twice since the 2023 World Cup.
Decline in Rankings and Consecutive Wooden Spoons
Three years ago, Wales traveled to Italy facing the risk of dropping outside the world rugby top 10 for the first time, following a period when they briefly held the number one spot under Gatland before the 2019 World Cup.
The squad had suffered 12 defeats in their previous 15 matches but climbed to ninth in the rankings with the victory in Rome.
They were ranked 10th ahead of the 2023 World Cup, a position that offered considerably higher hopes than those for the upcoming year.
"This group is in a good place and I promise you now we will surprise a few people,"Gatland said before a tournament that ended with a disappointing quarter-final loss to Argentina.
Since that defeat to the Pumas, Wales have only beaten Japan twice and currently sit 12th in the world rankings, having fallen as low as 14th following a first Test loss to Japan last summer.
There have been signs of progress under Steve Tandy throughout the championship, with the coach emphasizing that there are no shortcuts, but a significant gap remains between Wales and the top rugby nations.
Three years ago, Wales were at risk of finishing with the wooden spoon for the first time since 2003 but avoided a complete sweep of defeats and finished fifth.
They are now poised to finish bottom of the table for a third consecutive season, though there will be significant celebrations if they secure a win on Saturday to end their losing streak.
