Wales' Six Nations Struggles Continue Despite Signs of Competitiveness
Wales have not secured a victory in the Six Nations since their 2023 win over Italy in Rome. Their recent defeat to Scotland on Saturday, while adding to a challenging record, was met with unexpected optimism.
This loss marked Wales' 24th defeat in 26 Tests and their 14th consecutive Six Nations loss. However, following a series of demoralising and often record-breaking defeats, the closely contested match against Scotland demonstrated that Wales remains competitive.
"I've been worried for Welsh rugby," former captain Sam Warburton told . "I was thinking if we carry on, interest is going to plummet, 57,000 at the France game, interest was going down and it felt like Welsh rugby was in a little bit of freefall.
"Loads of record defeats recently and it needed something to recover it, and I felt a bit emotional in the stadium hearing the noise in there. Fair play to the fans, even after all the defeats, they have all put their hands in their pockets, turned up and cheered them on.
"It was loud in there and I thought: 'Brilliant, there's life in Welsh rugby.' Those fans will walk away, look forward to Italy [on the final weekend] and I think that will be a 70,000 game."
Wales have a weekend off before facing a challenging away match against Ireland. They will then return to the Principality Stadium to conclude their campaign against Italy on 14 March.
As Warburton indicated, the Scotland game provided Welsh supporters with renewed hope for a long-awaited win. While some statistics suggest improvement, others highlight ongoing concerns.
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The recent Scotland loss has brought a mix of disappointment and cautious optimism for Wales.
James and Wainwright Lead Improvement in Ball-Carrying
One notable weakness for Wales during their three-year Six Nations losing streak has been a shortage of effective ball-carriers. However, the match against Scotland showed signs of progress.
Number eight Aaron Wainwright has made 48 carries in the first three rounds of this campaign, a figure surpassed only by England's Ben Earl. The Leicester-bound Dragons back-rower ranks second to Earl in metres gained after contact, with 70.
Wainwright, captain Dewi Lake, and prop Rhys Carre all made significant inroads into the Scottish defence on Saturday. Particularly impressive was centre Eddie James.
The tall and powerful 23-year-old Scarlets centre, who excelled in both defence and attack, has achieved the highest metres per carry in this Six Nations.
"Eddie James put his hand up and said: 'I'm a centre for the future,'" Warburton remarked. "He is what an international centre looks like. He was great. There was lots in the game Wales could build on."
Discipline Shows Improvement but Late Penalties Hurt
Questions remain about whether Scotland's winning try against Wales should have stood.
Poor discipline has recently cost Wales dearly. They conceded 16 penalties—their highest total in a Test since 2009—during their opening heavy defeat by England, and received four yellow cards, the joint-most any team has been shown in a Six Nations match.
Against Scotland, Wales gave away 10 penalties, with five occurring in the final 15 minutes. One notable penalty was awarded against Tomos Williams for a so-called croc roll on Rory Darge. At that moment, Wales led 23-19 and had a penalty advantage, but the penalty was reversed, allowing Scotland to regain momentum and secure a late victory.
"Wales will be gutted. They had that game," said former Scotland captain John Barclay. "In Test-match rugby the margins are tiny. In the last 15 minutes they gave away five penalties, and a huge one was the croc roll.
"You might think that has to be grabbing someone around the head and neck and twisting them, but it's also about lateral movement. It's something they are trying to get out of the game."
Morgan's Absence Highlights Breakdown Weaknesses
The openside flanker position is one where a player can stand out even in defeat. Jac Morgan has excelled in this role for Wales, earning multiple man-of-the-match awards and selection for last year's British and Irish Lions team, despite the team's poor form.
However, Morgan is currently injured, and his absence is keenly felt. No Welsh players rank in the top 10 for turnovers in this Six Nations, and the team has struggled to slow the pace of opponents' ball.
Alex Mann and Josh Macleod have both filled the number seven jersey that Morgan typically wears, with Mann also playing on the blindside. Head coach Steve Tandy's decision not to include Leicester's Tommy Reffell in the Six Nations squad has sparked debate, particularly as Wales face challenges at the breakdown.
Evaluating Rees-Zammit's Role at Full-Back
Louis Rees-Zammit is arguably Wales' most dangerous player, which explains head coach Steve Tandy's decision to move him from wing to full-back for this campaign. The intention is to give Rees-Zammit more ball time and space to exploit.
Rees-Zammit has made 292 metres, the most of any player in this Six Nations. However, this statistic is often dominated by full-backs who have open field ahead.
Defensively, concerns exist as Rees-Zammit has missed 12 tackles in three games, the highest in the competition. His positional play was also questioned during some of France and Scotland's tries.
Rees-Zammit will face another test when Wales visit Ireland, fresh from their comprehensive win over England. The coaching staff must determine whether his deployment at full-back maximises his impact.
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