Wallaroos rain on Wales’ parade as World Cup looms

There is always the worry that players will get injured in warm-up matches before major tournaments, but it is a risk coaches have to take.

Unfortunately for Wales it was their talismanic co-captain Alex Callender who went down with a foot injury after just four minutes in Sydney.

She was later all smiles as she returned to the side line wearing a boot and on crutches, but let us hope that was not just the adrenalin kicking in. We should know more about her scan on Monday.

The 25-year-old back-rower was a big miss in the opening three games of Wales’ wooden spoon Six Nations campaign with an ankle injury, but she burst back onto the scene in Brisbane with an outstanding display.

But should the worst happen and Callender not be fit for Scotland, Wales still have a safe pair of hands in co-captain Kate Williams.

Speaking after the match on Friday, Williams said she was “gutted” for Callender, but Wales will take “some really good learnings” from the tour.

“We’ve definitely come closer as a group and that’s going to put us in really good stead for the World Cup,” Williams said.

“We’re playing much better rugby since we’ve been out here and if we can build on that going into the World Cup, I think we can really take it to Scotland.”

Wales are due to fly home this weekend and there will be little time for jet lag as they will be back in training on Friday.

Lynn will announce his 32-strong squad the following Monday before heading up to their base in Manchester.

And with Canada, the second best team in the world, expected to win Pool B, it would likely leave Wales, Scotland and Fiji battling it out for the other place to progress to the knockouts.

So just like the World Cup in 2022, it is all eyes on Wales v Scotland come 23 August.