Jasmine Joyce-Butchers is determined history won’t repeat itself at North Sydney Oval on Friday when Wales Women seek back to back victories against Australia.
A last-gasp try from Kate Williams helped Wales make history when they defeated Australia for the first time last September, coming out on top 31-24 in a dramatic WXV2 warm-up at Rodney Parade. But when the sides next met at in South Africa, the Wallaroos overpowered Wales to win 37-7.
Joyce-Butchers is confident the home side will face a different proposition with Wales seeking a perfect boost ahead of the Rugby World Cup next month.
“I think that the win against Australia in Rodney Parade last year is in the back of our minds,” she said. “We won that one but unfortunately we couldn’t back it up when we played Australian next.
“So that is 100% now at the forefront of our minds and we’re going to keep going after that second win. I think we are a different team now – we’re a different animal so for us going into this second game in Australia now there are only positive vibes and positive energy going into it.”
Joyce-Butchers paid head coach Sean Lynn a glowing tribute, saying his influence has been a major turning point for the side and the squad were delighted to overcome Australia at Brisbane Stadium with a complete performance.
“It’s one of the best feelings I have had in a Welsh jersey in a long long time,” she said.
“To get the feeling in and around the camp leading into a World Cup – to be honest it can’t get much better and I do thank Lynney a lot for that environment he creates whether we win or lose nothing changes – he still goes through the same processes and everything like that.
“Lynney coming in at the Six Nations, we’re all getting used to the way he wants to play and I think for us to beat the sixth best side in the world was fantastic for us on Saturday.
“His team talks – I haven’t cried in ages and then every time he talks all of us are like ‘oh God’ so yeah I think he really fills the passion and energy in and around the squad and even before we go out for training everyone is buzzing.
“It’s as if we’re going to play a game and even after the game he gets involved with us dancing and cheering and doing all that stuff so it’s a great group to part of at the moment.”
As one of the most experienced members in the Wales squad, Joyce-Butchers was delighted to see teenager Seren Lockwood earn her first cap.
The young scrum half showed the Welsh speedster a photo of when the two met several years ago, so to be able to now share the pitch was a special moment for the pair of them.
🏴 How it’s going 🆚️ How it started ❤️
Seren 🫶 Jas#CymruAmByth pic.twitter.com/1YHTqrZq15
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) July 25, 2025
“I’m so proud of Seren – she’s come into to an international environment where she’s only 18-years-old bless her.
“You wouldn’t think she’s 18 years old the way she plays, the way she tackles, honestly l she has been phenomenal so to see her get her first cap on the weekend was amazing. She came on and she did brilliant – she controlled the game, she made a few tackles so I’m very proud of her.
“She showed me that picture a couple of weeks ago and I was thinking it would be cool if she gets her first cap and we can do the picture again – I think her and the likes of Kath Baverstock are just great for the environment.
“Again it is down to Lynney’s training environment and culture that these young girls can come through and just be themselves and play the way they play.”