Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyImage caption, Sean Lynn won the Premiership Women's Rugby (PRW) league three times with Gloucester-Hartpury prior to taking a role with Wales
ByCeri Coleman-PhillipsBBC Sport Wales- Published22 minutes ago
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Wales head coach Sean Lynn has wiped the slate clean going into this year's Women's Six Nations.
A year into the job, he has named nine uncapped players in his 38-strong squad and assembled his own backroom staff, with new attack, forwards and defence coaches.
"This is a new cycle for us," said Lynn, no longer picking up the pieces of an old regime.
"I'm very excited, we've got a blend of senior players, some fresh faces, fresh voices and the squad is looking much more competitive."
Wales lost all five games for the first time in their history in Lynn's first campaign, albeit he had less than a week to prepare. They also endured a winless World Cup, bowing out at the pool stage.
"We know we need to improve, and we're bringing in individuals we feel could be making that difference," said Lynn.
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Among those individuals is Tyrone Holmes, who was appointed Wales' new defence coach after three years in the same role with Scotland.
Lynn says he has been very impressed with the South Africa-born former flanker and expects to see a "big improvement" in that area, especially with Holmes being full-time.
"It's what we will be needing to be competitive," said Lynn, who admits his side were "bullied off the park" in their Word Cup opener against Scotland.
Brython Thunder coach Ashley Beck will attempt to revive Wales' stale attack, while Exeter Chiefs head coach Steve Salvin will be working with the forwards on an interim basis.
"It's new voices, news faces and big energy," said Lynn.
"What we're going after is that consistency, every coach who's coming in is making sure that we are following the process.
"I want us to be more hard-working, competitive, and when you're in those competitive games and you find those winning moments, those game changing moments, that's where I feel this team can grow."
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Media caption,Lynn delighted to welcome Alisha Joyce back after birth of son
Lynn said he can draw inspiration from what Steve Tandy has achieved with the men's national side.
Like Lynn, Tandy inherited a Wales squad that had won back-to-back Six Nations wooden spoons.
But after encouraging performances against Scotland and Ireland and a final round victory over Italy, Wales finished their campaign with a fresh sense of optimism.
"Looking at the performances and what they were building inside that camp, you could just feel that momentum," said Lynn.
"We too are building, we just want to be make the nation proud of the women's game."
Wales open their Six Nations campaign at home to Scotland at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, 11 April.
