Forget wins, Pivac must build for the future – Gats

WARREN GATLAND has told Wayne Pivac to ignore external pressures and use the remaining five autumn fixtures to develop players for the Six Nations and next World Cup.

The former Wales boss, preparing to lead the Lions to South Africa next summer, insisted the Scotland Six Nations clash this weekend is not must-win because Wales can only ‘finish fourth or fifth’ anyway.

However, he advised a more pragmatic approach to international rugby to get Wales back to winning ways, explaining why it was completely different to the club or regional game Pivac has previously been accustomed to.

Speaking in depth about Wales for the first time since leaving the job last year, Gatland was asked what has gone wrong after a run of four defeats on the trot under his successor Pivac.

Gatland said: “You’ve got a new coaching team that are coming to grips with what they’re trying to achieve and that’s challenging. I think the players and coaches have kind of realised that the step-up from club rugby or regional rugby to international rugby is massive in a lot of aspects of the game.

“For example, on the weekend, France kicked the ball 36 times and Wales kicked it 30 times. That’s an average number for international games and not just for Wales and France but for all teams, the All Blacks as well.

“And when you play domestic competitions that number is a lot lower – there’s a little bit more time and space.

“Maybe the approach is that you take a little bit more realistic view about what you’re trying to develop.

“The Six Nations is important but they’re going to finish fourth or fifth so does it really matter?

“Use this autumn period to think about building towards the Six Nations.

“So forget the stuff that people are saying about them and the pressure that’s coming from the outside.”

Warren Gatland was speaking on behalf of Canterbury at the launch of the British & Irish Lions Pro jersey, available at Canterbury.com