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Tears of joy as Lynn urges Wales to 'believe'
Tears of joy as Lynn urges Wales to 'believe'

BBC News

time3 days ago

  • Sport
  • BBC News

Tears of joy as Lynn urges Wales to 'believe'

Women's summer series: Australia v WalesVenue: North Sydney Oval Date: Friday, 1 August Kick-off: 10:00 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC Sport online and BBC iPlayer, listen on Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds. "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 fact that Lynn and captain Alex Callender both arrived at the press conference with tears still in their eyes showed just how much victory 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 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 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 about things going to plan. The kids are alright Let us also talk about the youngsters, perhaps the most encouraging aspect of Wales' 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 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 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 must also not forget the 'older guard', Bethan Lewis, 26, put in an incredible shift alongside Callender in the back 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 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 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."

Wales beat Australia to claim first win under Lynn
Wales beat Australia to claim first win under Lynn

Yahoo

time4 days ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Wales beat Australia to claim first win under Lynn

Women's summer series Australia (12) 12 Tries: Codey, Morgan Con: Miller Wales (14) 21 Tries: Metcalfe 2, Dallavalle Cons: Bevan 3 Wales celebrated a first win under head coach Sean Lynn with victory over Australia in Brisbane. Having lost all five Six Nations games earlier this year, Wales delivered a timely performance just four weeks out from the Rugby World Cup. Annabelle Codey gave the hosts an early lead before play was halted amid an impressive show of thunder and lightning on the Sunshine Coast. Nel Metcalfe then crossed twice as Wales looked resurgent, but a lapse in concentration allowed Layne Morgan to sneak over on the stroke of half-time to trim Wales' lead to 14-12. Hannah Dallavalle extended Wales' lead, and while the Wallaroos dominated territory in the second half, Wales' defence was up to the task. The two sides will meet again in Sydney on Friday, their final warm-up before the World Cup. More to follow. Australia: Caitlyn Halse; Waiaria Ellis, Georgina Friedrichs, Trilleen Pomare, Desiree Miller; Tia Hinds, Layne Morgan; Lydia Kavoa, Katalina Amosa, Bridie O'Gorman, Kaitlan Leaney, Annabelle Codey, Emily Chancellor (capt), Ashley Marsters, Layne Morgan. Replacements: Tania Naden, Bree-Anna Browne, Asoiva (Eva) Karpani, Ashley Fernandez, Piper Duck, Samantha Wood, Cecilia Smith, Lori Cramer. Wales: Nel Metcalfe, Jasmine Joyce, Hannah Dallavalle, Courtney Keight, Lisa Neumann, Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Maisie Davies, Kelsey Jones, Donna Rose, Alaw Pyrs, Gwen Crabb, Georgia Evans, Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender (captain). Replacements: Molly Reardon, Katherine Baverstock, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Tilly Vucaj, Bryonie King, Seren Lockwood, Kayleigh Powell, Carys Cox.

'We've all got a point to prove'
'We've all got a point to prove'

BBC News

time6 days ago

  • Sport
  • BBC News

'We've all got a point to prove'

Women's summer series: Australia v WalesVenue: Ballymore, Brisbane Date: Saturday, 26 July Kick-off: 05:00 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC Sport online and BBC iPlayer, listen on Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds Wales head coach Sean Lynn says he and his players have a point to prove on their tour of Australia, but warns they will be far from the finished article. Wales lost all five games for the first time in their history in a disastrous Six Nations, slumping to 10th in the world had very little time to make an impression in what was his first campaign, but has since benefitted from a full say they are the fittest they have ever been and that will certainly be tested on Saturday when Wales take on the Wallaroos in the first of two Tests."I think we've all got a point to prove, we know that as a group, we had some honest conversations when we started pre-season," said Lynn. "Fitness is coming on really well, also you can see the intensity in training and the accuracy has improved massively, I'm really pleased with that."The areas that I want us to be stronger in is making sure that we're being more competitive. The more competitive we are the more we can put sides under pressure."It's making sure that we're moving the ball, having that accuracy and being much more disciplined." Despite the strides taken this summer, Lynn says Wales' transformation from a wooden spoon side to world beaters will take matchday squad has six players under the age of 21, with three set to make their debuts from the bench. The captain Alex Callender is only 24 herself."We're improving, everything that we want to be doing is making sure that we're taking small steps moving forward," said Lynn. "I'm not going to say we are the finished article, we're moving forward with it, but the girls and the staff have all been working hard over this pre-season and Saturday is going to be a really good test for us."

Wales hooker Jones to win 50th cap against Wallaroos
Wales hooker Jones to win 50th cap against Wallaroos

BBC News

time6 days ago

  • Sport
  • BBC News

Wales hooker Jones to win 50th cap against Wallaroos

First Test - Australia v WalesVenue: Ballymore Stadium, Queensland Date: Saturday, 26 July Kick-Off: 05;00 BST Head coach Sean Lynn, still seeking his first win in charge of Wales, said: "This is an exciting Wales side."Australia are ranked sixth the world rankings and will be a stern test but the whole squad have worked hard during pre-season and now it's time to show that on the field."Kelsey Jones wins her 50th Cap for Wales and I know what that achievement means to her and her family."Having Sisilia Tuipulotu back is a major boost and a credit to her and all the staff in getting her back fit to play after missing the Six Nations."To have six players aged 21 or under named in the matchday squad shows the talent we have coming through in Wales and this selection is an exciting one with the 2025 Rugby World Cup on the horizon."Wales travel to Sydney to face Australia for the second Test at North Sydney Oval on Friday, 1 August ahead of the World Cup in England. Kelsey Jones will win her 50th Wales cap in the first of two Tests against Australia in Queensland on Callender skippers the side having recently named co-captain for the tour and the upcoming World Cup alongside fellow flanker Kate is rested for the first Test against the Wallaroos while prop Sisilia Tuipulotu is included on the bench after missing the 2025 Women's Six half Seren Lockwood, prop Katherine Baverstock and lock Tilly Vucaj are set to make their Wales debuts off the bench. Wales: Nel Metcalfe, Jasmine Joyce, Hannah Dallavalle, Courtney Keight, Lisa Neumann, Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Maisie Davies, Kelsey Jones, Donna Rose, Alaw Pyrs, Gwen Crabb, Georgia Evans, Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender (captain)Replacements: Molly Reardon, Katherine Baverstock, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Tilly Vucaj, Bryonie King, Seren Lockwood, Kayleigh Powell, Carys Cox

Wales boost fitness in hunt for Lynn's first win
Wales boost fitness in hunt for Lynn's first win

BBC News

time7 days ago

  • Sport
  • BBC News

Wales boost fitness in hunt for Lynn's first win

Women's summer series: Australia v WalesVenue: Ballymore, Brisbane Date: Saturday, 26 July Kick-off: 05:00 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC Sport online and BBC iPlayer, listen on Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds Georgia Evans says she and her Wales team-mates are the fittest they have ever been after being pushed to their limits in coach Sean Lynn said a lack of strength and conditioning was a concern after Wales finished bottom of the 2025 Women's Six Nations, his first campaign in the summer, Lynn's players trained in army boot camps and also spent time running up Wales' largest sand dune in preparation for a two-Test tour of Australia and next month's Rugby World Cup in England. "He (Lynn) wasn't lying when he said he was going to put us in a dark place, he definitely did that," said back-rower Evans."He set us standards before we left for off-season of what he expected when he came back in, so the work didn't stop, it was about grinding away." Evans thinks the hard work will pay off as Wales go in search of a first win under Lynn during their trip to take on the Wallaroos in Brisbane on Saturday before a repeat fixture in Sydney on Friday, 1 August - the day before the third British and Irish Lions Test in the same recorded their first victory over Australia at Rodney Parade last September, but suffered a sobering defeat when the two sides met again in South Africa at WXV2."It (pre-season) has been really tough, but looking to your left and looking to your right, you're seeing PBs (personal bests) week-in, week-out. We're getting fitter," said Evans."I think everyone is glad to see the back of block one purely because now we're into more rugby."We've got the ball in our hands way more than we did before. Just getting around the park, it makes life a lot easier when you can breathe a bit better. The tour of Australia will show us where we are rather than just training against each other." On a personal note, Evans will be hoping to hit the same levels which made her a standout player in the Six Nations in terms of tackle count and ball carrying. The 27-year-old Saracens star can play in the second row but is hoping to make the number eight jersey her own amid some stiff competition."I felt I did myself justice in the Six Nations but it's about building - the job is never done," Evans said."Wales have some world-class players. Unfortunately all of them play in my position, so it's all about that competition and making sure they're pushing you for your shirt and making you're a better player."I'm looking forward to it and hopefully I'll get my chance."

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