In the end, it never really got going.

Sean Lynn, Wales women’s new head coach, had spent much of the last six weeks cautioning against any drastic improvement in his new team and maintaining that this year’s Six Nations was a ‘free hit’ ahead of the all-important World Cup in the autumn.

After five chastening defeats and the ever-unwanted Wooden Spoon, one can see why Lynn preached such caution in his early days.

A trip to Scotland on the first weekend was a good test for the new side. Scotland have been Wales’ closest rivals in the women’s game for a number of years and beating them was the benchmark for positive Six Nations campaigns.

The Lynn era got off to the perfect start with a score from Carys Phillips after four minutes, but Scotland rallied to lead 24-14. A late Gwenllian Pyrs score almost saw Wales snatch victory at the death, but it was not to be.

Against England at the Principality Stadium, Wales again started well, scoring through Jenni Scoble’s first try in professional rugby.

England, though, were far too strong, running in 11 tries in front of a record crowd for a stand-alone women’s sporting fixture in Wales.

Lynn’s team started well throughout the campaign, scoring the first try in four of their five matches, with Kate Williams also dotting down in the first ten minutes against France after Emilie Boulard had opened the scoring.

A trio of matches where Wales were good enough to score two tries, but poor enough to concede more than 40, ended the tournament and made for some tough questions.

Lynn insisted before the record 44-12 defeat to Italy in Parma – in which the visitors lead 10-12 at halftime – that his players were now playing for their places at the upcoming World Cup. With Wales unable to put in an 80-minute performance throughout the campaign, difficult decisions need to be made.

Having had only three training sessions to imprint his style on the squad, Lynn did not rock the boat in any meaningful way in his selections.

Injuries to Sisilia Tuipulotu and Alisha Joyce-Butchers kept those two key players out of the entire tournament, while in-form Harlequins duo Alex Callender and Kayleigh Powell both missed matches due to smaller issues.

As a result, the team was remarkably stable. Gwenllian Pyrs was the cornerstone of the scrum, while Scoble had bright moments at tighthead in place of Tuipulotu. Carys Phillips and Kelsey Jones rotated at hooker.

Wales were given an injury boost in the form of Gwen Crabb, who had played very little international rugby in the last three years and was a good partner for the industrious Abbie Fleming. Teenager Alaw Pyrs was given opportunities in every match to show her immense promise.

In the back row, the absent Joyce-Butchers and Callender were missed and meant that the trio of Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, and Georgia Evans put in an enormous effort across the six-week campaign. Williams and Evans brought their good club form into the international arena, and their performances were rewarded with team of the tournament nominations.

Wales’ most consistent player in their recent woes has been Keira Bevan, who was her usual metronomic self, both out of hand and boot. Utility back Powell had an opportunity to play flyhalf and looked good against France before an injury picked up in training ruled her out of the Ireland and Italy matches.

Lleucu George’s boot remains an excellent weapon in the Welsh attacking armoury, but she is becoming predictable when deciding to pass or carry the ball, which can make Wales a little stuttering going forward.

Wales’ centre partnership is Lynn biggest issue. Hannah Jones retained the captaincy this tournament and she started every match but, with her form not meriting automatic selection, there may be a switch before the World Cup.

Inside Jones, in the 12 shirt, Wales picked two very different options. Powell was a surprise selection at inside centre against Scotland and England and looked good there, but the Welsh backline lacked physicality, especially against the Red Roses.

After Powell’s shift to flyhalf and subsequent injury, Courtney Keight filled the role. Another slight position shift, Keight plays most of her club rugby at fullback for Bristol Bears, and looked a little rusty, albeit effective.

The back three of Lisa Neumann, Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, and Carys Cox started every game, with youngsters Nel Metcalfe and Catherine Richards deputising from the bench. Cox in particular had an excellent tournament and could potentially be a centre option down the line.

Outside of the matchday squad, there are a number of younger players who have impressed in the Celtic Challenge that could now be in contention for places. The Gwalia Lightning quartet of Molly Reardon, Maisie Davies, Gwennan Hopkins, and Bryonie King are all excellent prospects and none are 22 yet.

With a two-match tour of Australia the only international rugby between now and the first game of the World Cup, Lynn and his squad must take the lessons from this campaign on board and enact a quick turnaround if they are to reach the knockout stages.

Wales’ World Cup group consists of world number two side Canada, as well as Scotland and Fiji. With old foes Scotland up first, Wales have to be at the level required straight away. Otherwise, that World Cup will go the same way this Six Nations.

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