WALES Women paid the price for a slow start after being beaten 29-15 by the Barbarians at Principality Stadium.

The Baa Baas bossed the first half and crossed five times to take command before the hosts rallied after the break to reduce the deficit with tries from Lisa Neumann, Keira Bevan and Alex Callender.

It was a disappointing end to the autumn series for Wales but coach Gareth Wyatt was pleased with the strides taken, with wins against Ireland, Scotland and Crawshay’s sandwiched by losses to Spain and the Barbarians.

"I'm so pleased for the group with the way they've conducted themselves and they showed how tight they are in that second half,” said former Dragons and Newport back Wyatt.

"The autumn campaign is about developing depth in the squad and we've achieved that with three wins from five.

"It was a huge test against some of the best players in the world, so it's also a benchmark of where we want to get to.

"In the Six Nations we know how strong England and France are, that's the sort of level that game was at, and we're going in the right direction in closing that performance gap."

The Barbarians struck first through New Zealand number eight Charmaine McMenamin and quickly went over for a second through Dyddgu Hywel, playing against her former teammates after retiring from Test rugby.

Former Scotland international Lauren Harris went over from Ruahei Demant’s pass over the top and Ireland’s Jenny Murphy and Anna Caplice followed in a one-sided half.

Wales needed to respond and did with Neumann finishing smartly in the corner and Bevan going over down the blindside.

Callender had the final say five minutes from time with Wales’ third from an interception.

Wales: Lauren Smyth (Ospreys); Paige Randall (Cardiff Blues), Megan Webb (Cardiff Blues), Kerin Lake (Ospreys), Lisa Neumann (RGC); Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears), Keira Bevan (Ospreys); Gwenllian Pyrs (RGC), Kelsey Jones (Ospreys), Cerys Hale (Cardiff Blues), Natalia John (Ospreys), Gwen Crabb (Ospreys), Robyn Lock (Ospreys), Bethan Lewis (Gloucester/Dragons), Siwan Lillicrap (capt, Ospreys).

Replacements: Molly Kelly (RGC), Gwenllian Jenkins (Scarlets), Amy Evans (Swansea), Abbie Fleming (Cardiff Blues), Alex Callender (Scarlets), Ffion Lewis (Scarlets), Robyn Wilkins (Cardiff Blues), Kayleigh Powell (Ospreys).