‘That’s just not good enough’: Wales coach reacts to World Cup hurt

Coach Sean Lynn will take a mix of a “tough love” and supportive approach into next week after Wales suffered a 38-8 loss to Scotland, which comes as a major blow to their hopes of making the quarter-finals at the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

For quite some time, this match between two Six Nations rivals had been built up as almost a knockout match. With Fiji and world number two Canada still to play in the pool, winning this opening weekend fixture was always going to come as a major boost to the victor.

Scotland won this year’s Six Nations meeting between the sides 24-21, leading many to expect another close Test between the sides at Salford Community Stadium. But from the opening minute, the Scots took control on the back of some confident play.

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Left winger Francesca McGhie scored inside the first minute, with Scotland eventually building up a 17-8 lead going into the break. McGhie completed a hat-trick early in the second half, before Scotland ran away with a 30-point triumph.

Expecting to have some honest conversations with the playing group on Monday, Lynn will take a tough love approach into the second week of the showpiece event, but will then “put an arm around” those who are disappointed with their individual performances.

“Very disappointed. I said to the players at the end of the game, that’s just not good enough,” Lynn told reporters.

“We talk about it but we’ve got to start delivering it on the pitch. Wasn’t good enough at all.

“I think if you asked all the players and the coaching staff and everyone, didn’t see that coming at all,” he added soon after. “The prep has been brilliant.”

With Canada running away with a big win over Fiji at the time of writing, the World Cup is going to plan so far for the world’s second-ranked side. Canada are favoured to go three from three in pool play, while many fans will now expect Scotland to progress to the quarters.

If Scotland can beat Fiji next week, then even a loss to Canada will still see them go through, presuming the women from the Great White North go through unbeaten out of the pool. But if Wales can cause an upset, or if there’s a twist brewing, then there could be hope for Wales.

“I can only control Canada next week. There are some slip-ups in World Cups – we’ve seen it in the men’s game and we potentially could see it in the women’s game,” Lynn said.

“Scotland have got to play Fiji next week. Fiji look a dangerous side as well.

“We can only concentrate on going into Canada next week and making sure that we do not have a performance like that.”