The need for that long overdue success is borne out by the staggering statistics of recent years.
Wales have suffered 25 losses in 27 internationals since the 2023 World Cup with the only two victories in that time coming against Japan.
It has been 1,491 days since Wales won a home Six Nations match, against Scotland in February 2022. Since then, there have been 11 consecutive tournament defeats in Cardiff.
Wales’ only win in their last 14 Tests in Cardiff was that narrow success versus Japan in November.
It has been 1,099 days since Wales won a Six Nations game anywhere, when they beat Italy in Rome in March 2023. Fifteen losses have followed in the various rugby capital cities across Europe.
Wales face the prospect of a third successive Six Nations clean sweep of defeats and, even if they end their losing streak, they are destined to claim the Wooden Spoon – for finishing bottom of the table – as they lie five points adrift of fifth-place England.
This can only be avoided if there is a 100-point swing in the game in Cardiff and England’s visit to France.
Wales have not finished bottom of the table for three years running since 1989-1991, although points difference only came into the competition in 1994.
These startling statistics show why Wales will be desperate to claim a victory, but Tandy is trying to shield his squad from pressure.
“I don’t think it’s pressure on the win, it’s pressure on performance,” said Tandy. “It’s actually probably not pressure, it’s challenge.
“We don’t want the Wooden Spoon, we want to win games and every time we go on the field we believe we can win. That is the same on Saturday.
“If we go crazy on pressure about winning this weekend, that can add burden and all of a sudden you start tightening up.
“I believe if we put our best performance together, we’d be close to getting what we want.”
