Tears of joy as Lynn urges Wales to 'believe'
"Remember this one, remember it."Those were the words preached to Wales' rain-soaked players by head coach Sean Lynn after Saturday's heroic 21-12 victory over Australia in Brisbane."You've just gone into the Aussies' backyard and you've taken a scalp," he said."Believe in this, believe in this journey we're on, it's gonna be a good one."The proud Welshman was clearly overcome with emotion having won his first game since taking charge in March.The fact that Lynn and captain Alex Callender both arrived at the press conference with tears still in their eyes showed just how much victory meant.Yes, it was not the World Cup final, but it was a significant milestone after what had been a disastrous couple of years in Wales' professional journey.More importantly, the performance laid down a marker for the 2025 World Cup which kicks off in England in just four weeks. Wales have finally arrived.
Captain fantastic
Lynn had spoken in the build-up in Brisbane that he and the players had a point to prove after Wales lost all five Six Nations games for the first time in their history. And that they certainly did.Let us start with his decision to appoint Callender as a co-captain. She was simply outstanding. Playing in unfamiliar territory at number eight, the 24-year-old showed maturity beyond her years and led from the front with a dynamic defensive display. Her effort was epitomised with a try-saving turnover when Australia were on the front foot in the second half. "I am so proud of the girls," Callender said."We have spoken a lot about physicality and one to 23 stood up today. This is a statement we wanted and a platform we can look forward to."A mention must also go to her predecessor Hannah Dallavalle (nee Jones), who Lynn had stripped of the captaincy in a bid to encourage the form he knew she was capable of while they were together at Gloucester-Hartpury. That decision also paid off as Dallavalle scored the decisive try after pouncing on a perfectly weighted kick from Lleucu George, whose kicking game proved the difference in poor conditions.Talk about things going to plan.
The kids are alright
Let us also talk about the youngsters, perhaps the most encouraging aspect of Wales' win.Six of the matchday squad were under the age of 21, which means they will likely be in their prime come the 2029 World Cup. Nel Metcalfe, 20, was deservedly named player of the match with her two-try display from full-back, while 19-year-old lock Alaw Pyrs gave her best performance to date, putting in crunching tackle after tackle.Baby-faced Maisie Davies continues to look every inch an international prop, while Seren Lockwood, Katherine Baverstock and Tilly Vucaj all made an impact from the bench on debut.Sisilia Tuipulotu was also a welcome sight from the bench having missed the Six Nations through injury. She may have been around for a couple of seasons, but the powerful tight-head is still only 21 herself.We must also not forget the 'older guard', Bethan Lewis, 26, put in an incredible shift alongside Callender in the back row.Lewis held back her tears when asked what it meant to get a first win for Lynn, her former coach at Gloucester."I'm emotional," she said. "He is a quality person and to be able to put that performance in for him, I know how much he cares and he shows us that, and to be able to perform like that and hopefully build going forward, it means the world."The ever-smiling Kelsey Jones also beamed with pride after winning her 50th cap."Thank you for making it a good one and one to remember", she told her team-mates in the dressing room afterwards while dancing to her anthem Proud Mary.
Work in progress
We must of course not get carried away while rolling down Proud Mary's river. You only have to cast your mind back to last September when Wales beat Australia for the first time in their history at Rodney Parade, only to suffer a hammering a week later to the same opposition at WXV2.Wales will be looking to back up their performance when they meet Australia again under the lights in Sydney on Friday if they are to be considered contenders in World Cup Pool B - which also contains Canada, Scotland and Fiji.It is worth noting Australia were missing some key players on Saturday, none more so than influential captain Siokapesi Palu, but Wales also have the likes of Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Abbie Fleming and co-captain Kate Williams to come back into the fray."We are going to enjoy it [victory] but we know we have work on Monday ready for a six-day turnaround," said Lynn."We are not the finished article and still have a lot to work on, but what I wanted from the team and the girls this week, they delivered."We're still going to work hard, I mean it, because we're taking it to the World Cup."
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