Wales face tough questions after early World Cup exit

With a strong performance against Canada in Salford, Wales may have once more regained a little bit of pride, but just hours later, on the same pitch, they were the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup.

With the score of Francesca McGhie’s wing in the 56th minute, Scotland won the match 29-15. This was technically impossible for Sean Lynn’s side to reach the quarter-finals.

After taking on Australia in Brisbane in July, Wales, ranked 10th in the world, had a lot of hope, but now they can watch knockout rugby from the couch.

Despite losing 42-0, Canada’s quality provided an upbeat feeling in some areas, but it is an early exit after losing eight games since Lynn took over.

Realistically, Wales were never going to upset a second-ranked Canada side, which was predicted to give England a run for their money on home soil.

Seven days prior, their performance and outcome at the same location caused them to fail to enter Pool B, with a difficult knockout tie with the Red Roses in store for the victory.

In a match that was anticipated to be tense and tight, Wales defeated Scotland 38-8.

The Scots had a much tougher afternoon thanks to Fiji, which is 14th in the world.

After the loss to Canada, Wales scrum-half Keira Bevan said, “It’s a hard one to say, but we could have had a different outcome if we had played that well last week.”

“We knew that we didn’t put our best foot forward, but Scotland were the better team on the day.”

Wales have only conceded one try of the tournament so far, Alex Callender’s effort from a driving line-out, and they have only conceded 80 points and 12 tries in two games.

They have lost three of their three consecutive games against Scotland and Canada and have only managed one line break.

Since they had to raise money before the tournament, semi-professional Canada stretched their muscles by running 11 tries past Fiji and then ease past Wales.

In order to pay for the preparation plan, “Mission: Win World Cup 2025” was released.

Wales has 37 players on contract with Canada for this World Cup, compared to 32 for Canada.

The radical plans of the Welsh Rugby Union for elite rugby have not only suggested the formation of two professional women’s teams, but also the risky men’s clubs of Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, Scarlets, and Ospreys.

The document stated that those squads would need a total of 80 players, which would depend on the pathway providing sufficient talent.

In the past, the governing body has faced criticism for supporting and addressing the women’s game, which has seen Wales play catch-up with England and France.

However, Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, the wing, offered no justifications.

The three-time Olympian, who made her Wales debut in 2017, said, “To be honest, I think we are in a good position. We have contracts in place, we get funded, we get a lot of help, and our training facilities are fantastic.”

“I have no idea what else could be done,” she said. We may need to consider ourselves and work harder as a team more.

After their Six Nations whitewash, Lynn, who was previously in charge of Gloucester-Hartpury, expressed concern about Wales’ strength and conditioning.

Bevan, who plays rugby for the Bristol Bears, pointed out the issues that new men’s head coach Steve Tandy will have.

The Welsh men’s game is “probably not where it needs to be either,” she said. The WRU’s top priority right now is probably the men’s game.

Wales has a chance thanks to some promising young people entering, as the off-field talent demonstrated.

Branwen Metcalfe, Seren Lockwood, and Tilly Vucaj were the young stars who Lynn introduced to a top-tier Canada outfit.

You can see the results of the investment the WRU made with the PDCs (Player Development Centres) two years ago, said Lynn.

The wing agrees with Joyce-Butchers’ assessment, which is that she is one of the older heads.

She said, “The girls coming through with us are fantastic. We’ll see that on the pitch because they have good energy.

Nel Metcalfe is the starting 15 for us, and she has taken that shirt because she is currently one of the most exciting women’s rugby players.

Sioned Harries, who was previously Wales number eight, cautions fans before the Six Nations begin the following cycle.

The 35-year-old, who won 78 caps and participated in four World Cups, said, “I came through the system in Wales, we had regions at that time, and the system worked.”

Talent is emerging, he says. the likes of Bryonie King, Branwen Metcalfe, and Seren Lockwood.

What I don’t want to see is pulling these girls out again when they don’t, expecting them to do it.

And Harries cautioned against Sian Jones and Gwennan Hopkins, who have already experienced it.

Wales will anticipate a victory, but the Fijians’ performance against the Scots serves as a warning.

With their physicality and teamwork, they not only wasted a lot of chances, but also caused Scotland all kinds of issues.

The Scots won the opening weekend tackle success with a tackle success of 74%, managing 91%, making 169 runs, defeating 46 defenders, and making 15 offloads. Fiji carried for 725 metres, making 169 runs, and a winning run total of 169 runs.

The additional plot involves Wales facing Fiji head coach Ioan Cunningham, who left as Wales’ boss in November 2024 after a turbulent time both on and off the pitch.

For us, it’s about playing the game, not the emotional side of playing Fiji and Ioan, Bevan said, “but it’ll be at the forefront of external minds.”

There is no way to avoid Lynn allowing complacency, and there is no way to guarantee that there will be Welsh celebrations when Sandy Park’s final whistle whistle blows.