BARBARIANS 17 – 34 WALES
Sean Lynn’s Welsh Women’s side made it a double dose of delight for Wales as they followed the men’s example by beating the Barbarians at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
No doubt buoyed by seeing Dewi Lake’s men triumph 33-31, Alex Callender’s side outscored the Baa-Baas by six tries to three ion an amazing display of class, character and confidence.
Lynn rested many of his senior players and picked a side that had 11 players under the age of 22. The Wales head coach said he wanted to use the game to assess the younger talent he has in his squad in the build up to the WXV matches in the autumn.
What he got was a huge reaction from his young guns who showed no sense of fear or stage fright on one of the biggest stages in world rugby – and against a star-studded Baa-Baas outfit.
Lynn picked five uncapped players in his matchday squad and new wing Amy Williams repaid the confidence he showed in her talent by scoring two first half tries.
The good work done on the training pitch in recent weeks by Lynn and his coaching team meant there was cohesion in all phases for the Welsh side, while the Baa-Baas took their time to get on the same page.
Wales struck first with a try in the 12th minute from outside half Kayleigh Powel. She stretched out of a tackle to touchdown, but the hard yards were made much earlier in the move on the other side of the pitch as No 8 Bryonie King went on a storming run to almost score herself.
King was on fire in the first half and always made ground when she picked up from the base of what was generally a rock solid Welsh scrum. Wales doubled their lead in the 25th minute when Williams showcased her pace on the left wing to race over in the corner.
That try began with a brilliant breakout of the 22 by livewire scrum half Seren Lockwood. She went all the way up to half-way, where she lost the ball at the breakdown.
However, a cross field kick by the Baa-Baas towards the wing of New Zealand super star Ruby Tui merely went straight down the throat of Williams. She needed no second invitation to speed up the touchline to score.
The Baa-Baas managed to put together enough pressure to pick up a try from close range by back rower Amy Rule. Spanish international Claudia Pena added the conversion.
With the clock ticking into the red zone at the end of the first half, Powell kicked a penalty into the 22 rather than off the field to end proceedings and it proved to be a very good decision. The line out was won, the ball was moved down the line and Williams this time bounced off Pena to score in the corner to make it 15-7 to Wales at the break.
Despite a number of changes, Wales simply grew in confidence as the game wore on and Branwen Metcalfe was unlucky to lose a try to a double movement early in the second half. They kept on throwing their big ball carriers at the Baa-Baas defence, but it was charge from centre Jenna de Vera that made the difference in the 53rd minute.
The charge from British Bears midfielder created a quick ruck 15 metres out from which Lockwood picked up the ball, dummied to her left and went racing through ghe unguarded defence to score a try that Powell improved.
That increased the lead to 15 points at 22-7, but you are never safe playing against the Baa-Baas. The invitation side upped the tempo of their game and two tries in three minutes just after the hour mark brought them racing back into the contest.
The first went to giant pro Bryony Cleal, who dived over the top of a ruck on the line to touchdown, and then wing Celia Quansah who burst up the left wing to score. That cut the gap to five points, but Wales were finished yet.
They refused to be intimidated or overawed by their high-profile opponents and hit back with a great team try wide out on the left by centre Courtney Keight.
If that was the icing on the cake, a sixth try with the clock in the red from Jorja Aiono after Lily Hawkins had almost capped her debut at this level with a score from a typical snipe put a few sprinkles on top for good measure.
Powell added a second conversion, and it was job very well done. The smile on the face of Lynn at the final whistle said it all – it stretched all the way back to the Severn Bridge!
Scorers: Barbarians: Tries: Amy Rule, Bryony Cleal, Celia Quansah; Con: Claudia Pena. Wales: Tries: Amy Williams 2, Kayleigh Powell, Seren Lockwood, Courtney Keight, Jorja Aiono; Cons: Kayleigh Powell 2