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BBC News
7 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wallaroos rain on Wales' parade as World Cup looms
You win some and you learn some, it's a comforting saying when things don't go to is what Sean Lynn said to his drenched and disappointed players after their tour of Australia ended in an anti-climax on headed to the second Test in Sydney full of confidence after victory in Brisbane - one of their best results in recent years, but the weather and the Wallaroos combined to rain on their parade. The emphasis all week had been on backing the performance up and avoiding a repeat of what happened last September, when Wales beat Australia at Rodney Parade only to be hammered in Cape Town a week later. But Wales were a shadow of the side from six days earlier. They were outmuscled and outclassed against a rejuvenated Australia who had a point to prove to themselves. Both sides had made personnel changes, but Wales' incomings were all seasoned internationals - the likes of Carys Phillips, Abbie Fleming and Kate Williams. This was far from a second string on defeat, Lynn says lessons will be learned and those lessons will have to be learned quickly with what is shaping up to be a crucial Rugby World Cup opener against Scotland in just three weeks."I said to the girls at the end there that this is still another pre-season game for us," said Lynn."We enjoyed that win last week and I thought Australia's reaction to it was great. "They won the physical battle, they won the territorial battle, but also they turned pressure into points, we need to learn to be ruthless that way."We're going to review on Sunday, we'll put Australia to bed in Australia and as soon as we go back, we're back in camp." Pre-season positives Anyone who has met Lynn knows he is all about finding the positives and there are plenty to reflect on as he and his team make the long journey back to World Cup selection on the line, there were a few individuals who stuck their hand up for starting jerseys, notably the Pyrs used to be known as the not so little sister of prop Gwenllian, but the 19-year-old has catapulted herself out that 5ft 11in her physicality was outstanding on her start in Brisbane and she made a big impact when she came on in the second half in same goes for front row forwards Maisie Davies and Molly Reardon who are doing more than just nipping at the heels of senior Metcalfe did not have the best game in Sydney, but her two-try showing the week before was a timely reminder of her capabilities in the back line. Two weeks down under has also provided time for the team to bond and the players are certainly speaking highly of the environment that has been is a stark contrast to this time last year when players were embroiled in a bitter contract row with the Welsh Rugby Union, with then-captain Hannah Dallavalle admitting she came close to quitting her international Joyce-Butchers, who scored on her 50th appearance on Friday, said she feels she can finally be herself."Last weekend was one of the best I've ever felt in a Welsh jersey, not just because we won, but the whole atmosphere," she said."The girls are brilliant, Lynny and the coaching staff have been outstanding. It's definitely a place now where I can be my true self and express who I am and I don't get judged for that."Even when we lose it's still a happy place to be. Yes we're hurting, yes we're gutted, but we've just got to remember that we are in such a better place than we were last year."A few eyebrows were raised when the tour was announced, with it being so far away and so close to the World Cup, but Lynn says it has definitely been worthwhile."The way we have connected as a group, players and staff, it has been so beneficial, I'm taking this trip as a real big positive for us," he said."I've learned a lot and myself and the coaching team will go away and have a think about what works well for us, what combinations are working and certain individuals have definitely been putting their hands up." Worrying wait and final preparations There is always the worry that players will get injured in warm-up matches before major tournaments, but it is a risk coaches have to for Wales it was their talismanic co-captain Alex Callender who went down with a foot injury after just four minutes in was later all smiles as she returned to the side line wearing a boot and on crutches, but let us hope that was not just the adrenalin kicking in. We should know more about her scan on 25-year-old back-rower was a big miss in the opening three games of Wales' wooden spoon Six Nations campaign with an ankle injury, but she burst back onto the scene in Brisbane with an outstanding should the worst happen and Callender not be fit for Scotland, Wales still have a safe pair of hands in co-captain Kate after the match on Friday, Williams said she was "gutted" for Callender, but Wales will take "some really good learnings" from the tour."We've definitely come closer as a group and that's going to put us in really good stead for the World Cup," Williams said. "We're playing much better rugby since we've been out here and if we can build on that going into the World Cup, I think we can really take it to Scotland."Wales are due to fly home this weekend and there will be little time for jet lag as they will be back in training on Friday. Lynn will announce his 32-strong squad the following Monday before heading up to their base in with Canada, the second best team in the world, expected to win Pool B, it would likely leave Wales, Scotland and Fiji battling it out for the other place to progress to the just like the World Cup in 2022, it is all eyes on Wales v Scotland come 23 August.
BBC News
18-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Callender returns to boost Wales for Ireland game
Women's Six Nations: Wales v IrelandVenue: Rodney Parade Date: Sunday, 20 April Kick-off: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC One Wales, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport online, listen on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru Alex Callender returns to boost Wales for their penultimate Women's Six Nations game against Ireland on 24-year-old back row has been one of Wales' standout players in recent years, but has yet to feature in the campaign after injuring her foot with club side slots straight into the starting XV at number eight as Wales go in hunt of their first win of 2025 and a first under new head coach Sean Evans moves to the second row, while Kelsey Jones is preferred to Carys Phillips as starting hooker. Kayleigh Powell keeps her place at fly-half with Lleucu George, who missed the defeat in France, named among the Keight once again partners skipper Hannah Jones in the centre as Wales look to boost their physicality in the wing Catherine Richards is set for her first appearance of the tournament. Wales are currently bottom of the Six Nations table after defeats to Scotland, England and France, while Ireland are third with their sole victory coming over won the last meeting between the sides, a 36-5 victory in Cork and arrive at Rodney Parade as firm favourites."This is our final game at home in the Guinness Six Nations and we need to keep building our performances and to focus on expanding our style of play and what we want to achieve as a squad," said Wales head coach Sean Lynn. "The players have bought into the attacking game we are implementing but we need to work harder for each other and to turn the pressure moments we are creating into points."We know what Ireland will bring, and they have proved their quality throughout the tournament."The players have been told to be brave and to express themselves and they have a licence to inspire on the field." Line-ups Wales: Jasmine Joyce; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt), Courtney Keight, Carys Cox; Kayleigh Powell, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Jenni Scoble, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Alex Carys Phillips, Maisie Davies, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Alaw Pyrs, Sian Jones, Lleucu George, Catherine TBCReplacements: Officials Referee: Lauren Jenner (FIR)Assistants: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR), Maria Heitor (FPR)TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)FPRO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
