By Graham Thomas
When Jasmine Joyce faces up to Australia at the World Cup this weekend, she will be powered by the strong vibes of love from three pairs of eyes back home.
At 2am on Saturday morning, Joyce’s fiancé Alisha Butchers will switch on the TV and smooth down the bed for her two dogs, hoping to settle down to a famous Welsh victory.
Had a knee injury not ended her own World Cup prematurely, then Butchers – a club and country teammate of her partner Joyce – would have been out on the field in Whangerei, New Zealand.
Instead, she will be willing her team on from afar in the early hours as Wales bid to clinch a place in the knockout stages by winning their final match in Pool A, in a game that will be replayed in full by S4C.
Butchers suffered her injury during Wales’ dramatic 18-15 victory over Scotland, meaning she was arranging flights back to Wales and organising her rehab rather than facing New Zealand in game two.
As ever, 27-year-old Joyce will be Wales’ main hope of attacking potency and try-scoring flair as they seek the victory they require, which would also work well as a pick-me-up for her Bristol Bears soulmate.
“She’s doing as okay as she can be, but obviously she wants to be here living her dream,” says Wales’ highest profile player about Butchers.
“But she has the dogs keeping her company at home. I know she is fully backing and supporting the girls, so hopefully we can cheer her up a bit.”
Heart broken that my World Cup dream has been cut short. I’m always grateful for the opportunity to represent my home. Now onto the come back👊🏻
Good luck to my amazing team for the rest of the journey ❤️🏴 pic.twitter.com/InL4UvhNNQ— Alisha Butchers (@Alishabutchers1) October 15, 2022
Until very recently a serious injury would have been a cause for concern for any player in the Wales women’s squad, with medical treatment – and, in particular, who picks up the bills – something far from guaranteed.
But the introduction this year of full-time Welsh Rugby Union contracts means Joyce is confident that her housemate will get the support she requires.
“I have full trust in the medical staff and that the coaches will be checking in on her and making sure she is alright,” adds Joyce.
“I went through an injury just before the World Cup. Obviously, it was not as serious as Alisha’s, but I was looked after, and I am sure she will be given everything she needs to get up and running as soon as possible.”
Even with Butchers fit, Wales would have been outsiders to beat the Aussies. But they can take heart from the way Scotland ran Australia close, before going down narrowly, 14-12.
But even if Wales lose – so long as the scoreboard is not too ugly – they are still favourites to make the last eight as Fiji would need to shock France to edge out Wales for the eighth seeding.
Wales, though, want to keep their destiny firmly in their own hands by beating the Aussies and Joyce, who will earn her 30th cap, says: “We are going into the Australia game wanting to win it and knowing we can win it; it is just about making sure everything comes together.
Jasmine Joyce has wheels 🔥
D E F E N C E.pic.twitter.com/epnOh3AqMd
— The Rugby Paper (@TheRugbyPaper) September 19, 2021
“If we win, we don’t have to wait on other results and wait on uncontrollables as to whether we go though or not.”
One thing for certain is that Wales – who will feature Niamh Terry and Carys Williams-Morris in their line-up for the first time as two of four changes – will not want for support, either back in Wales or in New Zealand.
Joyce, who has appeared before huge crowds around the world on the Sevens circuit including at two Olympic Games, says: “The support has been massive this time around.
“We know we are going to get a lot of support from home, especially after the Six Nations. I can’t believe how many parents and families have come out here to support us.
“We went out to play New Zealand on Sunday and it felt we were in Cardiff Arms Park. There were so many Welsh flags and Welsh jerseys everywhere. We can feel it out here, but also on social media, you can really feel the support out there when you are playing.
“It has always been our goal to get to the quarter-finals, since January. To get a win over the Australians and put us into the knockout stages would be brilliant.
“It would really prove to us and everyone back at home, just how far we have come.”
👊 Our #RWC2021 story so far. Let’s do this! Amdani!
🏴 Cymru vs. 🇦🇺 Awstralia
🏉 KO 2:15 Welsh time
📺 S4C Clic, ITV#HerStory | #EiHanesHi pic.twitter.com/NubRWa6sbe— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) October 21, 2022
That journey has been made more achievable thanks to those professional contracts, with Joyce one of the 12 pioneers.
“It has been brilliant. It is the first World Cup that any Welsh player has been to, where rugby is their full-time job. You don’t have to worry about what’s going on back at home, or what you are going to do when you get back.
“It has had a huge impact on how we are playing. We have come into the World Cup with a much better skillset, and our fitness is brilliant.
“We haven’t had the contracts long, but you can already see individually how much everyone is improving and competing to be in that starting 15.
“We are looking forward to facing Australia. We are hoping everything clicks into place now and we can put on a performance that we know we are capable of.
“We know it is now or never.”
Watch Wales v Australia live from 2.00am on Saturday morning on S4C Clic, S4C YouTube channel and S4C Rygbi Facebook page. The whole match will be shown again on S4C from 5.00pm on Saturday.
