Wales captain Devi Lake says victory is just around the corner after an encouraging performance in the tournament Six Nations lost to Ireland 27-17 In Dublin.
Wales’ losing streak in the Six Nations has been extended to 15 games, with their last victory coming against Italy in March 2023.
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But this Dublin defeat was the best performance of the Steve Tandy era so far, with Wales falling behind again.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said Wales “were very good and Ireland put in a proper, tenacious Test match”.
Wales face Italy in this match after narrowly beating Scotland 26-23 at home on the final weekend in Cardiff two weeks ago.
Wales will be seeking to avoid a third consecutive Six Nations slump and bid to win the tournament for the first time in nearly 1,100 days.
“The victory is coming, I can feel it, it’s right in front of me,” Lake said.
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Lake said he was disappointed to lose another game but appreciated the turnaround in performance.
“The development of the team over the past four weeks has been tremendous,” Lake said.
“We’re always disappointed with losses, but the positives and the way we played are always something to be proud of.”
Lake said Wales will regret missing some chances against Ireland.
“Ultimately, we couldn’t cross the line,” Lake said.
“We had chances in the first half but we probably didn’t have as many chances in the second half.
“I know I talk about the negatives, but we need to learn from that and going into next week we need to try to take advantage of those opportunities.”
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It’s hard to get nothing
Tandy said it was cruel to hold Ireland scoreless, with Jack Crawley’s late penalty costing Wales even a lost bonus point.
“I’m very proud of the kids and the transformation they’ve made,” Tandy said.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t get anything out of the game for the team because I felt we deserved something.
“They showed a lot of fight and a lot of great skills.”
Tandy agreed it could be considered the best performance of his era so far, despite it being a seventh defeat in eight games.
“I think so, probably for different reasons,” Tandy said.
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“It’s been unbelievable to work with this group. I know it’s tough for people and everyone wants us to win, but the way the team develops and a performance like this tells you a lot about these guys.”
Dynamic Welsh defense
Wales’ dynamic defense made 240 tackles and held Ireland’s attack at bay for long periods with some thunderous strikes.
Wing Alex Mann led the way with over 30 tackles, while locks Dafydd Jenkins and James Botham were not far behind with over 20 each, while Lake also made over 20 tackles in less than an hour before being substituted.
Tandy and Dan Lydiate made the effort as they tried to implement a new defensive system.
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“The physicality they showed on the field was outstanding,” Tandy said. “Carry [Lydiate] Great job on contact areas.
“When we came in in the fall, there were a lot of new systems coming in, a lot of different languages, and the way they were adapted and developed was great.
“The mentality of the team is very good, but even though you’re going to see a lot of toughness, there’s also a lot of skill on the defensive side.”
Keep calm, Carre and move on
Rhys Carre’s superb individual finish in the first half against Ireland was undoubtedly the highlight of the game.
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Carre became the first Welsh player to score in three consecutive international matches and only the fifth starter in international rugby history.
It marked a remarkable return to international rugby for a player deemed not fit enough by former Wales coaches Wayne Pivac and Warren Gatland.
Tandy brought Saracens back into the fold and the manager was rewarded.
“He made a huge contribution and all the plaudits should go to Reece,” Tandy said.
“The way he came back into the environment and the way he trained was impressive.
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“You can see Reece in terms of scoring, but you can also see the effort he puts in in training.
“I think Reese has a bigger ceiling. He’s playing well right now, but I’m sure there’s more to come, which is exciting.”
