Keira Bevan: 'It did feel like a backwards step'

Wales scrum-half Keira Bevan has admitted that her team’s Round 4 loss to Ireland felt like a ‘backwards step’.

In Belfast, Bristol Bears half-back Bevan and her Test match teammates lost 33-12 to Scott Bemand’s side. The result means that Sean Lynn’s team are staring down the barrel of a third wooden spoon finish at the Guinness Women’s Six Nations in a row.

Wales struggled to gain a foothold at Affidea Stadium from the start, and saw their sole points in the contest come from Georgia Evans and Jasmine Joyce tries, as well as a Bevan conversion.

“It did feel like a backwards step, but we have to be positive,” Bevan said. “We have to learn quickly and learn on the hoof as well. We have to try and fix problems in the game rather than wait until a Monday morning.”

Wales have only won one of their past 14 Women’s Six Nations matches. Their win against Australia last July in Brisbane is their only victory in their past 14 matches altogether.

Even so there are glimmers of hope for Wales, who registered their highest-ever points tally against England in Round 3 and got a losing bonus point against Scotland on opening day.

“Yes, we probably haven’t had the wins we want, but we are performing and getting better every game,” Bevan said. “It’s such a cliche, but stick with it because it’s going to come and hopefully soon.”

This weekend’s Championship finale against Italy is another contest sure to test Wales. While not at their best against England last time out, Fabio Roselli’s side did find a way to steal a try-scoring bonus point from their 61-33 loss in Parma.

Against Scotland in Round 3, the Azzurre were in ruthless form and picked up an almost effortless 41-14 win in front of a record crowd.

“We’re under no illusions of what Italy can do,” she said. “It wasn’t a one-off last year because we’ve seen glimpses in this campaign of how physical and dominant they can be, so we’ve got to be on it.

“To get the win would be massive. It would set us up nicely heading into pre-season and then the new WXV tournament, but we know we’re going to have to work for it, it’s not just going to come to us.”