WE’LL PLAY SOME RUGBY – PIVAC
WAYNE Pivac has admitted that Wales will look to play a little bit more than the Lions did against South Africa this weekend.
Warren Gatland’s approach to the Test series in Cape Town this summer has come under criticism right from the moment the Lions squandered a 1-0 lead to surrender the series with back-to-back defeats to the world champions.
Wales winger Louis Rees-zammit was the latest to question whether a more expansive style of rugby might have yielded different results to the risk-averse, attritional game we ultimately saw from the touring side.
Such comments can be commonplace after Lions tours, but for Pivac, it’s all ultimately irrelevant in his role as Wales coach.
The man who replaced Gatland readily said that his predecessor’s gameplan could have easily beaten the Boks, but admitted they would still go in their own direction with things.
“I don’t know if Louis was asked a question or sort of pushed down that route and he has just commented, because I don’t think he’s a young man who would go out and criticise
Warren with the way they played the game,” he said after naming his team to take on the Springboks.
“Certainly from our point of view, it’s irrelevant what the Lions did, different squad, different management.
“From our point of view, it’s clear to see what we are trying to do. We are building a game plan with the focus on the World Cup and how do you beat these sides.
“I think you have to score a few points, and so we are looking to play a little bit more than certainly the Lions did.
“But at the end of the day with the Lions, one or two decisions would have won that series by players in critical stages of the game.
“The argument there is that style of play could easily have won the series.”
Pivac also touched upon the leadership issues Wales now face with the absence of senior figures Alun Wyn Jones and Ken Owens.
Jones has ruled out of the autumn and is also set to miss the Six Nations - meaning Wales’ remaining stars will need to step up in the leadership stakes.
However, Pivac admitted that he’s content with the natural leaders in the group.
“Well certainly in the forwards you’ve got Adam as you’ve mentioned, and Ellis Jenkins are the ones who are going to have a role around leadership on the weekend in the forwards,” he added.
“With the guys that you’ve mentioned you’ve also got Gareth Anscombe if he comes into the game; obviously there’s a lot of experience there.
“So, there are guys there. In terms of the scrum we are putting more emphasis on Ryan Elias, obviously Wyn Jones when he’s out there and obviously Tomas Francis.
“There’s still plenty of experience there but removing the main man if you like and it’s a collective that’ll take over from where Alun Wyn left off.”