Wales' Six Nations campaign has been a tale of two halves, with the team showing glimpses of promise but ultimately falling short of expectations. After a disappointing World Cup, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) brought in new coach Will Lynn, who promised a fresh approach and a focus on development. However, the results have been underwhelming, with five losses in five games, leaving the team without a single win in 15 Tests under Lynn's leadership.
One of the key issues has been consistency. Wales has struggled to maintain a high level of performance throughout the tournament, with their best displays coming in the first half of matches. Against Scotland, they led at halftime but lost due to a few kicks. Against France, they held their own until the second half, and against England, they showed their attacking prowess, pulling off two sleek lineout moves and claiming a try bonus point.
However, the performances against Ireland and Italy were worryingly flat, with Lynn attributing their loss to a poor breakdown and a lack of energy. The team has also been plagued by injuries, with key players like Alex Callender, Kate Williams, Nel Metcalfe, Lisa Neumann, Catherine Richards, and Gwen Crabb missing significant time.
Despite these challenges, there have been some bright spots. Lynn showed faith in his uncapped players, with Jorja Aiono, Branwen Metcalfe, and Seren Lockwood impressing in their Test rugby debuts. The ball-carrying ability of Aiono, in particular, stood out, as she sat down one of the best players in the world, Aoife Wafer, while on the charge in Belfast.
However, the question remains whether Wales has the players to succeed. The team's skill level and depth of the player pool have been called into question, with interim attack coach Ashley Beck and former fly-half James Hook suggesting that individual improvement is necessary. The lack of a clear fly-half option has also been a concern, with Lleucu George under scrutiny.
As Wales looks ahead, the WRU faces important decisions. The appointments of permanent attack and forwards coaches will be crucial, with the team's future in the WXV Global Series and World Cup qualification in 2029 at stake. With a week off before returning to their clubs and international duty, Lynn will have the opportunity to assess his squad and make changes, but the pressure is on to start winning and build a winning culture.
