New voices, new faces, big energy – Lynn’s fresh Wales start

Wales head coach Sean Lynn has wiped the slate clean going into this year’s Women’s Six Nations.

A year into the job, he has named nine uncapped players in his 38-strong squad and assembled his own backroom staff, with new attack, forwards and defence coaches.

“This is a new cycle for us,” said Lynn, no longer picking up the pieces of an old regime.

“I’m very excited, we’ve got a blend of senior players, some fresh faces, fresh voices and the squad is looking much more competitive.”

Among those individuals is Tyrone Holmes, who was appointed Wales’ new defence coach after three years in the same role with Scotland.

Lynn says he has been very impressed with the South Africa-born former flanker and expects to see a “big improvement” in that area, especially with Holmes being full-time.

“It’s what we will be needing to be competitive,” said Lynn, who admits his side were “bullied off the park” in their Word Cup opener against Scotland.

Brython Thunder coach Ashley Beck will attempt to revive Wales’ stale attack, while Exeter Chiefs head coach Steve Salvin will be working with the forwards on an interim basis.

“It’s new voices, new faces and big energy,” said Lynn.

“What we’re going after is that consistency, every coach who’s coming in is making sure that we are following the process.

Lynn said he can draw inspiration from what Steve Tandy has achieved with the men’s national side.

Like Lynn, Tandy inherited a Wales squad that had won back-to-back Six Nations wooden spoons.

But after encouraging performances against Scotland and Ireland and a final-round victory over Italy, Wales finished their campaign with a fresh sense of optimism.

“Looking at the performances and what they were building inside that camp, you could just feel that momentum,” said Lynn.

“We too are building, we just want to be make the nation proud of the women’s game.”