Sean Lynn has named a squad of 45 (see below) to start training for a schedule which looks different from many of their fifteen rivals for the RWC trophy.
They have the usual initial training sessions, but in July thirty of them will set off for a two-match tour of Australia. That number 30 is interesting in itself, two short of the total permitted for the World Cup. So once they have returned, Welsh fans will be waiting anxiously to hear the final choice of 32. There are three broad possibilities: a. Two more players added, broad smiles on their gfaces; or b. Players injured beyond recovery on tour and needing replacement or c. Touring players deemed surplus to needs.
That brings us to the underlying problem facing Lynn, the dearth of quality players.
Other nations are undertaking overseas tours, the Black Ferns for example. But their first ever visit to South Africa comes under the heading ‘A Black Ferns XV’, not a full-strength side; and whatever the outcome of their two matches, there will always be queues of talented players for Allan Bunting to turn to.
Lynn will have been well aware of Welsh shortcomings before he took on his new role. A 0-5 record at this year’s Six Nations rubbed them in unpleasantly. He has taken first steps in showing the standards he expects: Carys Williams-Morris, Ffion Lewis, Meg Webb and Niamh Terry have not had their contracts renewed and are absent from the published list.
This is where we look anxiously down the list to spot certain names. Ah! Sisilia Tuipulotu’s is there; she has recovered from her damaged hamstring. Good. But it has to be admitted that in recent times she has found it harder making her decisive strikes than when she first appeared in scarlet.
Then a second glance at the less familiar names. Lynn introduces no fewer than nine uncapped players, a sign of his determination to give youth its chance and spread the choices wider. Since the WRU is still setting its pathway sides in place, the likeliest place to find new talent was in the two Celtic Challenge teams, Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning.
In the three years of the CC’s existence, no Welsh side has finished top or runner-up, and on 24 April WRU proposed two completely new teams. Bids were requested from the four professional regions (even their future is in the gravest doubt) plus universities (which means essentially Cardiff Met, one of the few highly successful rugby enterprises in Cymru).
A further black mark against the WRU comes with the trumpeted headlines from at least two English PWR clubs. Gloucester-Hartpury’s reaction is to shout: ’thirteen G-H players in the Welsh squad!’ While Quins can lay claim to only five. And, blow me down, G-H have just added Alaw Pyrs to their number! It’s enough to remind you of the old joke: Would the last person to leave the building kindly remember to turn the lights off!’.
Plans for Australia
Then comes the tricky business of selection. At present Lynn has just those two test matches in Australia, hardly enough to give a fair run-out for all the team regulars as well as the nine newcomers.
It seems highly likely to me that the WRU will request extra matches at a lower level, to give everyone the chance to flex their muscles. RA might be only too willing to accept.
When the two sides met at the last RWC, the Wallaroos won 13-7. I expect a wider win next
time.
The full Squad:
Forwards: Abbey Constable, Abbie Fleming, Alaw Pyrs, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis, Bryonie King, *Chiara Pearce, Carys Phillips, Donna Rose, Georgia Evans, Gwen Crabb, Gwenllian Pyrs, Gwennan Hopkins, Jenni Scoble, *Jorja Aiono, *Katherine Baverstock, Kate Williams, Kelsey Jones, *Lucy Isaac, Maisie Davies, Molly Reardon, Natalia John, Rosie Carr, Sisilia Tuipulotu, *Stella Orrin, *Tilly Vucaj (26)
Backs: Carys Cox, Catherine Richards, Courtney Keight, Hannah Bluck, Hannah Jones, *Isla McMullen, Jasmine Joyce, Jenny Hesketh, Kayleigh Powell, Keira Bevan, Kerin Lake, Lisa Neumann, Lleucu George, Meg Davies, Nel Metcalfe, Robyn Wilkins, *Savannah Picton-Powell, *Seren Lockwood, Sian Jones (19)
*uncapped
