What can fans expect from Steve Tandy’s Wales?

While Steve Borthwick has allowed himself to dream of an England Grand Slam bid in Paris, Wales boss Steve Tandy tellingly talks of performance rather than outcome.

There have not been Welsh celebrations after a Six Nations match since Rome in 2023 and they have won just twice in their last 23 internationals, both against Japan.

England, Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa all passed half-centuries when winning in Cardiff last year.

“There is realism, but still huge expectation,” Tandy told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast. “We want to close that gap to give the fans more to shout about.”

Home fixtures against Scotland and Italy present the best opportunities to change the record and avoid a third wooden spoon on the bounce.

Crucially, given well-documented off-field uncertainty, man management has been a big feature to the start of the Tandy era.

The national coaches are frequent visitors at all four regions and made a point of contacting those who narrowly missed out on selection.

Those who have made the cut frequently talk about “connection”.

“I haven’t really felt it as much as I have coming into this campaign, how tight the boys are, how connected the boys are,” said flanker Josh Macleod, who missed the autumn series through injury.

“Man for man we’re ready to stand up for each other and fight. It’s purely down to Steve and his coaching group, the values they’ve set – care and connection being the main ones – and the boys have really bought into that.”

Former Wales hooker Scott Baldwin, who played under Tandy at Ospreys, believes a tight bond gives hope of progress.

“Steve will know how to get the best out of this group,” he told the Scrum V podcast.

“He will make these players feel like a million dollars going into the game and believing they can win.

Wales continued to have a tough time in the autumn though the attack, shaped by Matt Sherratt, offered a glimmer of optimism.

They scored four tries against both Argentina and New Zealand, making seven line breaks against the Pumas and eight versus the All Blacks.

They have settled half-backs in scrum-half Tomos Williams and fly-half Dan Edwards while there is a fourth midfield partnership in five games at Twickenham.

Ben Thomas and Eddie James, who have been in good form for Cardiff and Scarlets, get first crack.

“There is a good mix of a bit of punch and ball playing as well,” former Wales and British & Irish Lions centre Jonathan Davies told Scrum V: The Warm Up.

Tandy left his role as Scotland defence coach to become Wales boss but the autumn was too soon to plug the gaps.

Wales conceded half-centuries in three of four games in the autumn on the back of a Six Nations in which they were fourth for both missed tackles (107) and dominant tackles (37).

Wales’ tackle success of 79.8% compared to 82.6% of Tandy’s Scots who topped the list. Only Italy made more tackles than Wales’ 792.

“You have to go after them defensively. Try to contain England and they are too good,” said Baldwin.

“You have to force players to have world-class moments. If you sit off and let them play at the line and they will make the right decisions.”

Macleod starts at open-side and will lead the effort to stop England’s power runners getting momentum.

“Josh is excellent at putting pressure on the opposition in defence,” said Davies.

“He will lead the line, get set, talk to the players around him so that there will be clarity.

“You’ve got to take time away from the opposition and he will do that from the off. He will want to impose himself on the game.”

England kicked more than any other team in last year’s tournament (183) and also led kick metres by averaging just shy of 1,000 per game.

However, Borthwick is predicting a Welsh barrage of box-kicks in the opener.

“I reckon they’re probably going to kick maybe 50 contestable kicks. We’re going to be prepared for that,” he said.

Wales suffered in the air in the autumn and it is telling that Louis Rees-Zammit has been shifted to full-back to replace the diminutive Blair Murray.

Rees-Zammit, who is 6ft 2ins, last played Test rugby with 15 on his back in 2023, but his last five starts have been there for Bristol.

“He can cause carnage when he runs it back, but he can also kick,” said Bears director of rugby Pat Lam in December.

Knowing when and where to play will be key for Wales if they are to avoid England’s power game.

Tandy’s side will look to the New Zealand game, when they trailed 24-21 on 50 minutes, for hope.

“If moments don’t go your way, that’s rugby, but the big thing is being in those moments in as many games as possible,” said loose-head prop Nicky Smith.

But Wales must dramatically improve their discipline if they are to stay in touch.

They conceded 49 penalties and received six yellow cards as well as a 20-minute red in November but it was the needless offences that gifted opponents easy field position and frustrated Tandy.

“We have had refs come in from the WRU to train with us in the week to make sure we are on top of everything,” said tight-head prop Archie Griffin.

Wales need to be on their best behaviour if they are to cause a huge upset, or at least have plenty of good to review on Monday.