Six Nations 2026: Wales fans experience agony and hope after Scotland defeat

The Principality Stadium crowd of 57,744 against France, the lowest in Cardiff in the Six Nations era was criticised. Rightly so.

Six days later, the Cardiff cauldron was completely different as 70,000 witnessed a scintillating spectacle on and off the field.

Some of that was down to Wales’ marked improvement, with the home fans starved of any success or expectation during the past couple of years.

After all, Wales have now suffered 11 successive Six Nations defeats in Cardiff with the most recent success against Scotland four years ago in February 2022.

But Wales, led by the inspirational Lake, got the Principality Stadium rocking.

“The support was incredible,” said Tandy.

“There’s lots of questions asked about the crowds, but they were unbelievable.

“Everyone felt it. The players gave them something to cheer about, but ultimately they got behind the team. It’s a snapshot of what we want to be.”

The challenge, for everybody involved in Welsh rugby, will be to replicate this environment in the final game of the tournament against Italy on 14 March.

The match has the same early evening kick-off as the Scotland showdown.

This past weekend cannot be a one-off if Wales are to be inspired to that overdue and elusive Six Nations success in front of their own fans.