Wales Face Tough Questions After Early World Cup Exit

Wales whitethorn person restored a small spot of pridefulness pinch a battling capacity against Canada successful Salford but conscionable hours later, connected nan aforesaid pitch, they became nan first broadside to beryllium knocked retired of nan World Cup.

Scotland's 4th effort successful a 29-15 triumph against Fiji, scored by helping Francesca McGhie successful nan 56th minute, meant that Sean Lynn's broadside were mathematically incapable to suffice for nan quarter-finals.

Wales, classed 10th successful nan world, had been afloat of dream aft they stunned Australia successful Brisbane successful July - but they will watch knockout rugby from nan sofa.

Canada's value meant location was an upbeat emotion successful immoderate quarters, contempt a 42-0 defeat, but it is an early exit aft an eighth conclusion from 9 games since Lynn took nan reins.

The caput coach has 1 much crippled of nan 2025 World Cup earlier nan rhythm starts towards trying to debar nan aforesaid destiny successful Australia.

Realistically, Wales were ne'er going to upset a Canada broadside that are classed 2nd successful nan world and tipped to springiness England a tally for their money connected location soil.

It was nan capacity and consequence astatine nan aforesaid crushed 7 days earlier that led to their nonaccomplishment to look from Pool B, pinch nan probable prize a daunting knockout necktie against nan Red Roses.

Wales were abject against Scotland, thumped 38-8 successful what was expected to beryllium a tight and tense encounter.

Fiji, classed 14th successful nan world, gave nan Scots a much, overmuch tougher afternoon.

"It's a difficult 1 to say, but if we had played that good past week we could person had a different outcome," said Wales scrum-half Keira Bevan aft nan nonaccomplishment to Canada.

"Scotland were nan amended squad connected nan time but we knew that we didn't put our champion ft forward."

Nonetheless, Wales person conceded 80 points and 12 tries successful 2 games and their only effort of nan tourney truthful acold is Alex Callender's effort from a driving line-out.

They person endured 3 scoreless halves connected nan bounce and managed conscionable 1 statement break against Scotland and 2 against Canada.

Wales person beaten 13 defenders truthful acold successful nan tourney while adjacent opponents Fiji hit 46 against nan Scots.

Semi-professional Canada flexed their muscles by moving 11 tries past Fiji and past easing past Wales, that aft needing a fundraising run earlier nan tournament.

'Mission: Win World Cup 2025' was launched to capable a $1m (£740k) shortfall successful paying for nan mentation plan.

Canada person 32 contracted players for this World Cup while Wales person 37.

The Welsh Rugby Union's extremist plans for elite rugby person put nan men's clubs of Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets astatine consequence but they person besides projected nan statement of 2 master women's teams.

The archive stated an purpose of providing a mixed full of 80 players for those squads, which will trust connected nan pathway providing capable talent.

The governing assemblage has been criticised for its backing and attack to nan women's crippled successful nan past, which has led to Wales playing catch-up pinch England and France.

However, helping Jasmine Joyce-Butchers made nary excuses.

"To beryllium honorable I deliberation we are successful a bully spot successful that we person sewage contracts successful place, we get funded, we get a batch of help, our training accommodation are fantastic," said nan three-time Olympian, who made her Wales debut successful 2017.

"I don't cognize what other could beryllium done. As individuals we've perchance sewage to look astatine ourselves and do much to beryllium amended arsenic a team."

Lynn, formerly leader of Gloucester-Hartpury, raised concerns astir Wales' spot and conditioning aft their Six Nations whitewash.

There are deeper problems and Bevan, who plays nine rugby for Bristol Bears, pointed to nan problems that caller men's caput coach Steve Tandy will inherit.

"It's a reliable 1 because nan men's crippled successful Wales astir apt isn't wherever it needs to beryllium either," she said. "Their [the WRU] privilege is astir apt nan men's crippled astatine nan minute.

"I cognize a batch of america play our rugby successful PWR (Premiership Women's Rugby) truthful are getting bully minutes and playing pinch and against nan champion successful nan world."

There is dream for Wales acknowledgment to immoderate young prospects coming through, arsenic was shown by nan teenage talent that came disconnected nan bench.

Lynn brought youngsters Branwen Metcalfe, Seren Lockwood and Tilly Vucaj into nan fray against a value Canada outfit.

"You look astatine nan finance nan WRU did 2 years agone pinch nan PDCs (Player Development Centres) and you are seeing nan fruits of that now," said Lynn.

Joyce-Butchers, 30 successful October, is 1 of nan older heads and nan helping agrees pinch her boss' assessment.

"The girls coming done pinch america are fantastic," she said. "They bring bully power and we will spot that connected nan pitch.

"We person sewage Nel Metcalfe arsenic our starting 15 and she has grabbed that garment - she is 1 of nan astir breathtaking players successful women's rugby astatine nan moment."

However, a connection of be aware is provided by erstwhile Wales number 8 Sioned Harries earlier nan Six Nations astatine nan commencement of nan adjacent cycle.

"I came done nan strategy successful Wales, we had regions astatine that time, and nan strategy worked," said nan 35-year-old, who won 78 caps and played astatine 4 World Cups.

"There is talent coming through. The likes of Seren Lockwood, Branwen Metcalfe and Bryonie King.

"What I don't want to spot is throwing these girls into nan heavy end, expecting them to perform, and erstwhile they don't, we propulsion them retired again."

And Harries warned: "We've seen it hap to Sian Jones and Gwennan Hopkins, that's not what's meant to happen.

"Who's looking aft these young players erstwhile they measurement up to nan women's crippled from nan Under-20's? Because it's rather a measurement up."

Wales will expect to motion disconnected pinch a win, but nan capacity of nan Fijians against nan Scots provides a warning.

They caused Scotland each mode of problems pinch their physicality and enterprise; they scored 3 tries but besides blew a number of large chances.

Fiji carried for 725 metres, made 169 runs, hit 46 defenders and made 15 offloads, pinch nan Scots having a tackle occurrence of 74% aft managing 91% connected opening weekend.

Then location is nan added storyline of Wales going up against Fiji caput coach Ioan Cunningham, who resigned arsenic Wales leader successful November 2024 aft a turbulent clip connected and disconnected nan pitch.

"It beryllium astatine nan forefront of outer minds, but for america it's astir playing nan crippled and not nan affectional broadside from playing Fiji and Ioan," said Bevan.

There is surely nary guarantee that location will beryllium Welsh celebrations erstwhile nan last whistle goes astatine Sandy Park and location is nary threat of Lynn allowing immoderate complacency.

Wales started nan run pinch a must-win crippled against Scotland and - moreover if qualification has gone - they decorativeness it pinch nan aforesaid scenario.