Ioan Cunningham’s subsequent recreation might be his thirtieth as Wales head coach however he’ll take cost with renewed confidence and hope.
Since his promotion from Underneath-20s head coach to the ladies’s senior facet in 2021, the previous quantity eight has taken Wales to new heights.
Successive third locations within the Six Nations, qualification for WXV1 and sixth on the planet rankings have been main achievements.
However as so typically the case in sport – notably Welsh rugby – file highs construct up for an excellent greater fall.
Wales equalled their worst run of defeats throughout this 12 months’s Six Nations with a seventh successive loss, and solely Sisilia Tuipulotu’s last-gasp attempt to beat Italy prevented a brand new low.
That meant a play-off in opposition to Spain, winners of Rugby Europe Championship – successfully the second tier in Europe – to qualify for WXV2, in addition to sealing a spot within the 2025 World Cup in England.
Cunningham had stated earlier than kick-off that enjoying in WXV3 would “not be a catastrophe”, however it’s onerous to consider these above him within the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) wouldn’t have regarded it as such given the numerous funding within the ladies’s recreation.
Rubbing shoulders with Hong Kong and Madagascar, only a 12 months after mixing it with New Zealand, Australia and Canada, would have been damaging.
And for 40 minutes at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, that prospect was on the playing cards after Carys Cox’s yellow card opened the door for a far lighter however nimbler Spanish to come back inside a degree of Wales at 21-20.
Cracks in Welsh play and confidence had been being uncovered till a chilled phrase at half-time enabled an assured second-half show and an eight-try rout.
