A place in the knock-out stages was the minimum standard for Jones and co and they got into the last stage thanks to their first-round win over Scotland. That was followed by the first of two clashes with New Zealand and then a narrow, losing bonus-point defeat to Australia.
The 55-3 quarter-final defeat to the host nation and reigning champions showed the standard the newly professionalised Welsh players have to aspire to, and Jones believes her squad will return much the better for the playing the best in the world.
“The experience of playing in front of an amazing crowd and the intensity that brings was fantastic. You’ve got to remember we haven’t been professional for long, we’re building and this is just the start – we’re really excited for the future,” said Jones.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game. Their offloading game is absolutely insane, but the girls gave it their all and there was some tremendous rugby out there.”
“We went in with belief and started really. Testament to the defense, nothing came through us, they came around us.”
“The positives for us are that we’ve been on a journey. We finished third in the Six Nations and we have grown so much since then.”
