There is a very specific tone a Welsh rugby fan reaches for when a loss actually feels like a win. Squidge Rugby's analysis of Wales's narrow Women's Six Nations defeat to France hit exactly that register — and, for the first time in years, without the defeatism.
"I'd rather be stressed than miserable watching this team," one of the hosts said in the opening minute, capturing what has until very recently been a rare feeling around Cymru. "For the last couple of years it's felt quite futile at times watching Wales, particularly against the big teams — the big four: England, France, New Zealand, Canada. Against those teams it's never felt like Wales are in it."
Not this time. "This game was the first time I could think of, since Wales-Canada about 2021 under Cunning's first campaign in charge, where I have thought at any point Wales might win this," the host said. "Not 'Wales are going to win this.' But I thought Wales could win this."
The scoreline — which widened late after France cashed in a player-advantage period — is, the pod argued, a misleading read on how the contest actually played out. Until Gwen Crabb's yellow card, Wales stayed inside the French shoulder. Crucially, they did so with genuine defensive structure for the first time in years. "Wales's effort in defence was exceptional," the hosts said.
That effort has a name attached to it: Tyrone Holmes, the newly appointed defence coach who had previously worked with Scotland, and Scott Baldwin, who came in alongside him. "This is the first time where Wales have had a proper recognised defence coach ever," the analysis said. "Tyrone Holmes is a proper defence coach. They've also had Scott Baldwin, who's another defence coach. Experienced coaches. They've had two defence coaches working on this area. And they're making a massive difference."
The Welsh shift, the hosts noted, has been subtle but intentional. "Wales were a bit less aggressive in their line speed this week and they're more like rolling, containing — which I think is an interesting way of defending this France team because you're not going to get dominant shots in them."
The signature performer of the night wore the captain's armband. Kate Williams, Squidge said, has become one of the players of the Six Nations. "Kate Williams is outstanding," one host said. "She's one of the best players in Six Nations so far. She's decided, 'I'm Alpha now.' But also she's her own player — she isn't playing like someone else. She's just kind of become. I love that. She's absolutely levered it. Once-proper fun. She's outstanding."
They showed clips of Williams flying out of the line twice to force panicked offloads and a knock-on — the sort of moments the hosts argued "really typified what Wales are doing."
The other lasting image came from inside the forward pack. Wales's set-piece, once a weakness, was genuinely on top. "Wales make 30 metres off this maul and they then commit to that and they keep running these mauls, and they got so on top it sets a mindset. Wales are up for this. They're going for this game and they're up for it physically." A Kelsey Jones maul try was cited as the pick of a genuinely brutish Welsh pack display.
Opposite them, France leaned on Pauline Bordes. The scrum-half has been the most talked-about player in the women's game for two years, and Squidge argued the Wales defensive plan revolved entirely around denying her space. "You could constantly hear on the ref mic, 'I've got nine, I've got nine, I've got nine,'" the hosts said. "In the first half she was taking that and going, 'No worries, I'll give it to the big fours, I'll let them do the work.' And in the second half she was still taking those gaps. It's something not many scrum-halves can do. I think this is the thing that highlights why she's so special."
Where the game slipped away, in Squidge's reading, was not in defeat but in finishing. During a nine-minute period with France reduced to 13 players, Wales scored seven and conceded seven. "France had 76% possession. Territory was about 80%. Which is great for them — completely on top," one host said. "This comes from a lot of really smart play by France, but also Wales just not being able to take the chances presented to themselves."
The verdict, though, was unambiguous. "Wales aren't a bad team. They're just horrifically inaccurate. They used to not know how to physically create good opportunities — whereas now they can. They're just not finishing them. That is a huge step forward."
And for a programme whose Wales segments have for two years felt like obituaries, the closing note was almost startling. "There's an awful lot of pride and of delight at how far forward they've moved in a year. In Kate Williams we trust."
