Tandy has delivered one of his most candid assessments yet of the scale of the task facing him, admitting the dual responsibility of leading the national side while also running the defence has become too demanding — a stark backdrop to Sunday’s daunting Six Nations clash with France.
Wales enter the weekend as heavy 25/1 underdogs, stranded in a bleak run of form that underlines just how far they have fallen.
They have not won a Six Nations match for almost three years and have managed only two victories in their past 24 internationals — both against Japan.
Against a France side stacked with power, depth and expectation, the gulf in confidence could hardly be wider.
Yet the most significant development ahead of the match is off the field.
Tandy has confirmed plans to appoint a specialist defence coach as part of his backroom staff, conceding the strain of juggling both roles has reached a tipping point.
That change, however, will not come until the Nations Cup in the summer.
“It is a lot,” Tandy admitted.
“When I first came in it was making sure I had the right people in the room.
“I am really passionate about defence and I've really enjoyed doing it – and doing it with the head coaching role.
“But then it is about making sure you don't spread yourself too thinly. We are constantly assessing and reviewing it and it is a big demand.”
For now, the immediate focus is France — and a Wales side still reeling from another chastening defeat, this time the 48-7 hammering by England at Twickenham.
Tandy described the overriding emotion afterwards as frustration, particularly at how quickly the contest slipped away.
“I think just frustration, in particular the first 20 minutes of the game, because you're out of the game,” he said.
“So, yeah, the biggest thing is probably disappointment.”
That opening spell set the tone for a long afternoon, one shaped by penalties, yellow cards and an inability to regain control.
Tandy acknowledged that desperation, born of repeated losses, is creeping into performances.
“I think sometimes that desperation comes out and it comes out in different ways and it doesn't always necessarily help you as a team.”
Against France, a side ruthless at punishing indiscipline, that margin for error will shrink further.
“We're not a team that can get away with that at this moment in time,” Tandy said.
Part of the challenge, he believes, is perception — particularly around how Wales are refereed when pressure mounts.
“We have to be whiter than white in large aspects,” he said. “We have to change the perception of how we are in the games.”
The numbers are unforgiving. Wales have spent vast periods defending deep in their own 22, a trend Tandy says is unsustainable and are averaging almost seven tries conceded every time they play.
“In the autumn, we defended on average eight to nine minutes in our 22, and you're not gonna survive that,” he said.
Fixing that imbalance is complicated by the demands on Tandy himself, which is why the move to strengthen the coaching group has been in motion for some time.
“It's something we've been looking into for a while,” he said.
“It is something that we are looking into and something we are hopefully going to get in place for the Nations Cup.”
Until then, the former Scotland defence coach continues to shoulder responsibility for a defence that will be under intense scrutiny against France’s explosive attack.
Selection decisions this week have also reflected a desire to find balance rather than make sweeping changes.
Flanker Josh Macleod’s omission – which made way for the return of Ollie Cracknell in the back row - Tandy stressed, was tactical rather than punitive.
“He's unlucky and it's just down to the balance of what we want in the back row this weekend.”
Similarly, Joe Hawkins gets the nod over Ben Thomas in midfield.
“Someone hasn't totally grabbed the jersey,” Tandy said.
“Joe has trained well, he's physical and has some softer touches. We believe he can bring balance on both sides of the ball.”
Captain Dewi Lake retains Tandy’s full backing despite criticism.
“We aren't going to make knee jerk decisions,” he said.
“Dewi is our captain and he leads from the front… there was never a doubt in my mind about Dewi playing this weekend.”
Off the pitch, Tandy is acutely aware of the scrutiny players are under, even if he personally avoids social media.
“They're human beings,” he said.
“I just want them to represent themselves the best they can do… you're in high-end sport, you're in international rugby, you know there's going to be scrutiny.”
Despite the thousands of unsold tickets and mounting frustration, Tandy insists Wales remains a rugby nation, even in decline.
“Absolutely, I think it tells me we're a rugby nation with all the disappointment there has been,” he said.
“It is not in a great place at the minute, but I believe we will get there.”
That belief will be tested again on Sunday. Wales are wounded, short on confidence and confronting a French side with title ambitions.
For now, survival, discipline and effort may be the only realistic targets — as Tandy balances the weight of two jobs, and a team searching for a way out of the wilderness.
