Performance or result? What do Wales want?
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Performance or result? What is more important for Welsh rugby players, coaches and fans when they face Italy in Saturday's Six Nations finale?
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Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada was in no doubt when he stated Wales "must win".
In contrast, when asked directly about what was more important, Wales coach Steve Tandy and captain Dewi Lake both said performance.
Lock Dafydd Jenkins, meanwhile, was asked whether winning or performing was more important at international level. He went for winning.
There were heavy caveats with Tandy's reaction. The Wales boss wants both elements and insisted the result will follow if the performance comes.
"Even if we got the result on Saturday it doesn't change what I believe in, we've got to get better in terms of performances," said Tandy.
Sceptics of the performance-first theory point to the fact Wales could improve on encouraging displays during losses against Scotland and Ireland, but still conceivably suffer defeat at the hands of the Italians.
Conversely, even if Wales' performance levels were to drop slightly, they could still triumph if Italy suffer an off-day.
With Welsh rugby in turmoil on and off the field, given the choice, what is going to satisfy the home fans in the expected 70,000 crowd at the Principality Stadium?
An improved display in defeat or a positive result after a more underwhelming performance?
Tandy's point is that a top-class showing should provide the outcome the squad and the fans desire, while Lake was asked whether he would take a 6-3 victory.
“Yes, absolutely but if we were poor offensively, if we were not performing the way we wanted to, even with a 6-3 result, we'd be disappointed in ourselves with how we played and represented ourselves on the field," he said.
Repeating history as Welsh rugby rewinds 23 years
Steve Hansen won the 2015 World Cup as New Zealand head coach [Huw Evans Picture Agency]For Welsh rugby fans who know their recent history, this week has been like stepping back in time.
Rewind 23 years to 2003, when Steve Hansen was in charge of a Welsh team that was continually losing.
His side suffered a then record run of 10 straight defeats in 2002 and 2003, which pales in comparison to the 18-Test losing sequence Wales endured between 2023 and 2025.
During his losing streak, Hansen would regularly highlight the merits of the performance outweighing the results, which failed to convince his media doubters.
Eventually the New Zealander exploded with an expletive-laden outburst towards a BBC journalist before a World Cup warm-up match against Scotland in August 2003, following a question whether the result was more important than performance for that particular weekend.
Ironically, Wales then triumphed to break the losing streak in a game Hansen needed to win to keep his job.
More than two decades on, there is no suggestion the current head coach needs a victory to stay in post.
There is also no indication Tandy will react in the same way as Hansen to the questioning about performances or results, despite having to flat bat a variety of queries on the subject this week.
There might have been seven defeats in Tandy's first eight games in charge, with the solitary win a one-point success against Japan, but the narrative has changed recently, thanks to encouraging performances against the Scots and Irish.
Wales conceded 102 points in opening losses to England and France, but there has been significant progress against two sides chasing the Triple Crown at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Scotland were five minutes from losing in Cardiff before winning 26-23.
Wales then lost 27-17 to Ireland in Dublin but were within one score until four minutes from time. Victory is the next natural step.
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The stats do not lie in woeful losing streak
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."
Italy favourites to triumph
Italy are no longer the soft touches they were when they suffered 36 successive defeats in the Six Nations between 2015 and 2022.
The Azzurri are seeking two unique trebles at the Principality - a third successive triumph on Welsh soil and a first hat-trick of wins in a single Six Nations.
Quesada has masterminded five Six Nations victories during his three years in charge, with the historic first win against England last weekend arguably the highlight.
It took Italy 12 years, and four different head coaches, to amass their previous five wins in this tournament.
The Italians are 10th in the world rankings, two places above Wales, who could remain in 12th or rise or fall one place this weekend depending on their result and Georgia's in the Rugby Europe Championship against Portugal.
"They've done an amazing job and become consistent with their team," said Tandy.
"They've backed up a young group for many years and gone through probably tough periods like ourselves.
"They're coming out the other end. That's where I believe our team can get to, becoming an outstanding rugby team. We know Italy are fantastic and beating England tells you everything."
Italy have not lost against Wales in Cardiff since 2020 and are favourites this weekend, but that will not stop some home fans believing this game can provide the desired victory.
"I don't think we're as far down the track as to go and start targeting what we want," added Tandy.
"Ultimately to get to win games, you have to build a performance, which I believe we are doing.
“We've got the utmost respect for Italy and know we need a better performance than against Ireland to get what we want from the game."
That is a performance and a result. Not one or the other, but preferably both.