When Wales brought in a comprehensive performance last year at Cardiff, they did not expect Ireland to come out strong.
Regardless of the win, it also exposed many fatalities in the Wales team for the fans with Six Nations tickets.
Wales were dominated from the whistle as Ireland romped to a five-try victory in front of a roaring home crowd. And as Ireland celebrates a triumphant transformation on and off the pitch, it is Wales’ turn to take a good hard look at themselves.
Their progress as a professional outfit has come to a sobering and grinding halt.
“Sometimes these things humble you… the better team beat us,” said Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham after the 36-5 Women’s Six Nations defeat.
“We’ve done well up to a point, but we need to look deeper at where we can make changes. We know that other teams are improving.
Still Waiting for a Win
Wales have played three and lost three in this year’s Six Nations, with a targeted third-place finish almost out of reach with games against France and Italy.
The Welsh camp said in the Ireland build-up that despite their now six-match losing streak, confidence was high, but they are looking more and more like a side that has forgotten how to win.
You have to go back to last summer when Wales last tasted victory in a friendly against the USA.
Speaking after the game, clearly disappointed Wales captain Hannah Jones said, “They didn’t turn up,” and questioned the “want” of her professional side. It is hard to disagree with that assessment.
Wales’ focus was also on being clinical and taking chances after only scoring one try in 13 visits to England’s 22 in the last round.
But chances never came at Virgin Media Park; Wales rarely got a sniff of the Irish try line as they were second best in every aspect of the game.
Tries from Aoife Wafer, Eve Higgins, and Neve Jones inside the first 30 minutes signaled the Irish intent to right the wrongs of last year’s 31-5 defeat.
On the contrary, Italian women have seen a massive turnaround this season, with the side showcasing exceptional rugby spirit. Their win against Scotland marks a start for something special for the fans with Six Nations tickets.
It could have been worse; the bonus point would have been wrapped up before the break had Alex Callender not come up with a crucial turnover.
But that fourth try came within seconds of the restart as Katie Corrigan charged down Lleucu George’s clearance kick. Beibhenn Parsons was over shortly after to rub salt into Welsh wounds.
The only optimistic Wales can take is from replacement Gwennan Hopkins, who scored on her international debut.
What has gone wrong?
Wales’ 2023 Six Nations campaign was a roaring success, a testament to their professional program, which included rising stars such as Sisilia Tuipulotu.
Three bonus-point wins were their best finish since 2009 while securing an all-time high world ranking of sixth.
It also bagged them a place at the top table of women’s rugby in WXV1, and despite heavy losses to Canada, New Zealand, and Australia in the autumn, they insisted that is where they want to be again this year, to learn from the best.
It will now be a dog fight to secure a place in WXV2, which they would need to win to qualify for next year’s Rugby World Cup.
If they finish bottom of the table, they could even end up in WXV3, something unthinkable this time last year.
“On the surface of it, we’re going through a bit of transition with the playing group,” said Cunningham.
Cunningham shows that most of their players have retired, and the mix and match of the experience is playing a pivotal role.
“Players with a lot of experience have retired – Elinor Snowsill, Sioned Harries, Caryl Thomas – but we’re seeing green shoots of exceptional young talent like Gwennan Hopkins and Sian Jones.
“There are also other things that we need to get right in our game. It has more to do with how we cope with pressure, performing and delivering on the big stage, rather than technical, tactical, or physical.
But Cunningham once again could not fault the effort of his team.
More Problems
Naturally, in a results-based business, questions will be asked about the players and the coaching staff after six straight defeats and how Wales appears to have taken a backward step in their professional journey.
Cunningham is contracted until the 2025 Rugby World Cup, remains committed to the cause,, and wants to prove a point to the fans with Six Nations tickets in the future.
“I think I’m the right person to lead this team. There will be other people who can make those decisions, but in the cold light of day, I think we have to be honest with each other,” he said.
“We’re probably not comparing apples with apples from different countries now.”
Cunningham said the problem runs a lot deeper, and Wales is in desperate need of its domestic league.
“We’ve reached a point now where there is so much good talent coming through in Wales, and we’ve got nowhere for them to play, and that is something that we’ve got to look at seriously.
“Playing at under-20 level is brilliant, but where do they play after that?
All but a few of Wales’ squad ply their trade in England’s Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR).
Cunningham has made no secret of not being shy about knocking on the door of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) bosses, and he said the domestic league is something “I’ve already brought up.”
“It’s a long-term thing; it won’t happen overnight. There are players like Sian Jones, Gwennan Hopkins, and Molly Reardon; where are they going to play?
In the meantime, Wales will need to salvage what they can from this campaign by claiming a big scalp against the French, who are on course to challenge England for the title once again.
It would then set up a finale against Italy, which will be played this year at the Principality Stadium.
In what Welsh rugby hopes will be a record crowd, let us hope Wales is playing for more than the wooden spoon. We already have one of those, thanks.
