Sean Lynn will be hoping his rallying call to the Wales side to work harder for each other and to make more of the chances they are creating doesn’t fall on deaf ears when they host Ireland at Rodney Parade on Easter Sunday (kick-off 3.00pm).
Lynn came into the job just before the Guinness Six Nations riding the crest of a wave having steered Gloucester-Hartpury to a third Professional Women’s Rugby title in a row. Winning at club level was a good habit for him and a number of the Welsh players in his ranks.
But life has been rather different on the international stage and after defeats to Scotland ( 24-21), England (67-12) and France (42-12) his new team is still seeking a first win of the tournament.
Progress has certainly been made in the players getting to grips with his playing style and in the on-field performances, but the results haven’t backed up the effort. It won’t be easy to make the breakthrough against an Irish team that gave the French a fright before going down to a 27-15 defeat, hammered Italy 54-12 and gave mighty England the hurry up before eventually losing 49-5.
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While Wales beat the Irish the last time they played on Welsh soil in 2023, winning 31-5 at the Arms Park, there was revenge for the girls in green in Cork last year with a 36-5 triumph. Ireland are current ranked No 5 in the World Rankings.
The first of five Welsh tries two years ago came from Alex Callender after only four minutes and the dynamic flanker is finally back in the side after recovering from a foot injury picked up playing for Harlequins.
Her reappearance in the back row at No 8 has allowed Lynn to move Georgia Evans up into the second row. He has also preferred Kelsey Jones over Carys Phillips as the starting hooker.
“Alex is champing at the bit to get back and the energy she brings is what we want. We need energy from our back five and while it was a difficult decision to switch Georgia Evans from No 8 into the second row, I’ve told her we need energy from the whole back five and she can carry on playing with the same freedom she has in the first three games,” said Lynn.
“Alex is very explosive and Kelsey Jones has brought great impact off the bench in the previous games and that’s why we’ve given her a chance to start.”
Lynn has identified outside half Dannah O’Brien and No 8 Aoife Wafer as twin threats in the Irish ranks. O’Brien’s cultured left boot always gets her side into good positions, while Wafer is one of their top ball carriers.
“Ireland always bring energy and work rate but that’s something we can do as well. That’s why I’m asking the players to match that and their physicality,” added Lynn.
“If we can do that then it could be a tight game. They have some big ball carriers, and the left foot of O’Brien always guides them around the field.
“I’ve definitely seen improvements, but we need to get better at our collision dominance in attack and defence. We were making line breaks against the French in the second half but to be a better team in this tournament we have to be capitalising on them.
“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. I’ve told the players to be brave and to express themselves.
“Carys Cox has been an outstanding ball carrier for us, but we have to make more of it. I’m a proud and passionate coach and it hurts me when we are losing, but we’re making small wins as a group and as a staff through our performances.
“I’ve asked the girls to make sure we are performing. The hardest part I’ve struggled with was against France because I thought we were better than losing by 40 points.
“We could have got to 28-19 if we hadn’t had a try disallowed. But we are going to grow together as a group and move forward step by step.”
Even though it has been a tough baptism for Lynn as an international coach he has loved every moment so far.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it and there have been some real ‘pinch me’ moments, like when Rob Howley came into training with us. I always looked up to him as a scrum half when I was playing and then this week WRU president Terry Cobner came to see us,” added Lynn.
“My dad and I both looked up to him and it as amazing to see them both. I always talk about us being one big family and after the game against England at Principality Stadium my eldest daughter said it was the best day of her life. It has been amazing.”