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Point to prove: Wales gear up for crucial World Cup clash with Scotland
By Finn Morton
Kate Williams has acknowledged Wales have a point to prove against Six Nations rivals Scotland to open their Rugby World Cup campaign on Saturday. Wales suffered a 24-21 defeat to the Scots in March but they seem full of belief ahead of this crucial Test in Manchester.
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Williams spoke with reporters on Thursday, two days out from a match that could go a long way to deciding Wales’ hopes of making the quarter-finals. With world No. two Canada and Fiji also drawn in the same pool, this familiar rivalry is being built up as a must-win for both teams.
Wales are also hoping to bounce back from a one-sided loss to Australia in Sydney earlier this month, as the Wallaroos ran away with a relentless 36-5 win in tough conditions, which followed Wales’ famous win over the Aussies in Brisbane just six days earlier.
Williams and Alex Callender led the Welsh into battle at North Sydney Oval as co-captains, and the pair will share the leadership duties to start the team’s World Cup campaign – with Callender set to play after suffering a concerning ankle injury against the Aussies.
The Welsh haven’t beaten Scotland in the Six Nations since April 1, 2023, when they won 22-34 on the road. Scotland have since gone back-to-back with two wins by a combined margin of just five points, with all signs pointing towards another classic on the sport’s biggest stage.
“I know that recent results have proven that Scotland have had the upper hand over us but it would take context into part of the conversation,” Williams told reporters on Thursday.
“We only had two days with [Sean Lynn] before we were playing that game against Scotland, and I think we’re a different team now.
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“Really excited to see how we go.
“It’s exciting that we hit the ground running straight away in a World Cup,” she added. “I think that’s really important to build momentum from the first game. We’re looking for a performance.”
Williams and Callender will both pack down in the backrow, which comes as a major boost for Wales ahead of this crunch clash. Callender sustained a devastating injury in Sydney just three weeks ago, leaving the field in just the second minute of that Test.
With the 25-year-old returning in time for Wales’ World Cup opener, Sean Lynn didn’t underplay the importance of the No. 8’s inclusion in the side – with the coach full of praise for the powerful backrower who had been in doubt for the Test.
“Just everything about her on the pitch, off the pitch, the energy she just brings,” Lynn explained.
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“I’ve seen her grow as a leader which is lovely to see.”
While the second Test in Australia didn’t go to plan, Wales will still take plenty of confidence out of their historic victory at Ballymore Stadium on July 26. In torrential conditions, the visitors clawed their way back from an early deficit to claim a 21-12 win on the road.
Wales defeated the Wallaroos for the first time ever last year, and backed that up with another famous win over the women in gold. But, as Lynn alluded to, the second Test loss is also incredibly important for this Wales side moving forward.
“That second Test, I said after it, we need to be learning,” he said.
“In training we are getting this learning in place.
“We’ve had a real good training week. The girl’s are positive, they’re buzzing for it, and just making sure we can get this performance.”
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