Wales crash out of World Cup after one week following Canada defeat
Wales are out of the 2025 Rugby World Cup after just one week, following defeat to Canada on Saturday and Scotland the weekend before.
Despite falling to a 42-0 defeat, Sean Lynn cut a much happier figure in this week’s post-match press duties.
Canada are the second best team in the world, behind only tournament hosts England, and were kept at bay for much of the opening stages and second half, with the 20 minutes either side of half time proving to be the real undoing for Wales.
“We knew today was going to be a big ask… but I’m super proud of those girls,” said Lynn.
“In the first 15 to 20 minutes we could see the physicality side of it, I saw improvements, and that’s what I wanted.
“When I went in at half-time I told the girls ‘just empty those tanks in the next 40 minutes’.
“The big thing for me was that in the last 15, 20 minutes there was a glimpse of what I want to see; being brave, moving the ball and getting individuals with the ball in hand.”
Ahead of the match, Lynn made seven changes to the Wales side that lost 38-8 to Scotland, sending a warning to his players “if you don’t perform, you’re out”.
Experienced forwards Georgia Evans and Abbie Fleming adding some much-needed physicality to the pack, while Bryonie King did herself justice in the back row.
Carys Cox looked threatening in the midfield and furthered her case to start next week against a Fiji side also eliminated from the tournament.
Even with the green shoots, Wales have endured an exceptionally poor World Cup campaign.
Wales have conceded 80 points and 12 tries in two games and their only try of the tournament so far is Alex Callender’s effort from a driving line-out.
They have endured three scoreless halves on the bounce and managed just one line break against Scotland and two against Canada.
While it is true that Lynn has yet to reach double figures as Wales head coach, one win in nine games is nowhere near where they should be.
With a tricky final fixture against Fiji – who pushed Scotland all the way on the weekend – and a reunion with former head coach Ioan Cunningham, Wales desperately need to end 2025 with a consolation victory.
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