We never lost faith, insists union chief

WELSH Rugby Union chairman Robert Butcher says they knew they had to back Wayne Pivac in his approach after Wales sealed the Six Nations championship at the weekend.

Pivac’s tenure as Wales head coach got off to a rocky start, with an Autumn Nations Cup campaign that brought more questions than answers.

But Butcher explained they anticipated that things would take time to bed in following the success of previous head coach Warren Gatland.

“We knew from the outset we had to stick by Wayne as he was going to have a different approach,” Butcher told the BBC.

“We’re delighted to have the support we have and are well aware of the criticism that arises at times.

“We knew from the point Wayne was selected it was going to be difficult. We were realistic enough to realise it wasn’t going to be a continual upwards curve and it can be cyclical.

“We cling to those great parts of Welsh sport when Gareth Bale is successful, Joe Calzaghe is successful, when Richard Burton is the greatest actor.

“That’s what Welsh rugby is like – it has ups and downs, and we’d be unrealistic to think we’re going to win the Six Nations or Grand Slam every year.

“It doesn’t work like that. I feel, the Welsh Rugby Union board feel, and I think the nation feel, that as we’ve gone through this Six Nations campaign we’ve got better and better.

“We’ve noticed a new style which doesn’t come about overnight, they take time to develop.

“It’s there for everyone to see the team has developed, it has a style of its own.”