WAYNE PIVAC
Age: 55 Former job: Police officer Coaching record PIVAC cut his coaching teeth at Northland, but it was with Auckland that he started to make a name for himself in New Zealand provincial rugby
He guided the side to the National Provincial Championship (NPC) title in 2002 and 2003, earning him the award as New Zealand Rugby Union’s coach of the year.
The Fijian national side came calling in 2004 before Pivac returned to New Zealand, initially with North Harbour, before returning to familiar territory with Auckland, where he replaced Mark Anscombe at the helm.
In 2014, he was appointed by the Scarlets, initially as assistant to Simon Easterby, but when the former skipper linked up with the Ireland coaching team, Pivac was quickly elevated into the senior role. International experience PIVAC was appointed Fiji’s head coach in February 2004 and that year the islanders won the Pacific Tri-Nations. He was also in charge as the country’s sevens team savoured Rugby World Cup success.
His tenure came to an end in 2011 with Pivac citing family reasons. His record at the Scarlets THERE was steady early progress as the West Walians finished sixth in the PRO12 in Pivac’s first season. A small step was taken up the table the following season, into fifth, but the Scarlets endured a torturous run in Europe, whitewashed in an unforgiving pool containing Northampton, Racing Metro and Toulon.
It was in his third season, though, where the breakthrough was made, and a stunning one at that.
The return of Wales and Lions centre Jonathan Davies, together with the signings of Rhys Patchell, Johnny McNicholl and Tadhg Beirne saw the West Walians mould into a confident, free-running outfit, gathering confidence and momentum after a sticky start. The campaign ended with a glorious PRO12 title win in Dublin. In Europe, the Scarlets came within touching distance of the knockout stages.
This season, the Scarlets have continued on the upward curve. Maintaining their attractive brand of off-loading rugby. They remain in contention to defend their league crown and have reached the semi-finals of the Champions Cup for the first time in 11 years, showing a steely defensive resolve in the home wins over Toulon and La Rochelle. What is the Pivac philosophy? THE Scarlets have built a reputation as a side that enjoys to play with width, a team that flourishes in the open spaces, backing their passing game – honed by backs coach Stephen Jones – to unpick defences.
Pivac has put faith in elusive, ball-handling backs and athletic, dynamic forwards with the Scarlets game leaning heavily on some outstanding breakdown players like James Davies, John Barclay and Beirne. They are razor sharp on the counter.
The coach has also been praised for his man-management. He wasn’t afraid to make some big decisions on players early in his tenure.
“Wayne came in with a clean sheet for everybody,” said skipper Ken Owens. “There is a happy environment here and he has managed to create that with a quality coaching team around him.” What has Pivac said about Wales? “I was part of preparing Fiji for the World Cup in 2007 and had three years out there and loved every minute of it. It would be nice again one day, but it is all about timing and for me I am still learning as a coach.
“If the opportunity arose in Wales going forward I would certainly look at that very seriously because I consider myself now a part of Welsh rugby.
“If the opportunity came, yeah, I would probably love it.”
DAVE RENNIE
Age: 54 Former job: Teacher Coaching record AFTER hanging up his boots at the age of 27, Rennie took the reins at Wellington in 2000, guiding the side to their first provincial title in 14 years — a certain Jonah Lomu scored two tries in the final.
His first taste of Super Rugby came as assistant with the Wellingtonbased Hurricanes; he coached New Zealand Under-20s to three successive Junior World Championships and was head coach of Manawatu from 2005 to 2011 before taking the job of head coach at Super Rugby franchise The Chiefs.
The Chiefs were transformed by Rennie and a side that included the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, Brodie Retallick and Aaron Cruden dazzled their way to the 2012 title and successfully defended it the following year. Glasgow announced in 2016 that Rennie would be the man to replace Gregor Townsend as head coach for the 2017-18 campaign. International experience FROM 2008 to 2011 the ‘Baby Blacks’ dominated the Junior World Championship under Rennie’s stewardship. His record at Glasgow IT’S been a tale of two competitions for the New Zealander in his first season north of the border.
Glasgow have been irresistible in the PRO14, dominating Conference A from the whistle and are all but guaranteed a home semi-final as they look to repeat their title-winning feats of 2014-15.
However, Rennie has found far tougher obstacles in his European path.
Defeats at the hands of Leinster, Exeter and Montpellier sent them tumbling out of the competition before the tinsel was put up with a lone pool victory coming in the final match against the Chiefs at Scotstoun. What is the Rennie philosophy? RENNIE belongs to the same attack-minded school of thought as Pivac, a coach who wants his side to off-load out of contact and play with tempo.
“At the Chiefs, we’re prepared to attack from anywhere,” he said in an interview before he arrived in Glasgow. Under Townsend, the Warriors were a side who always gave the ball oxygen and on the artificial surface of Scotstoun, they have continued in similar vein, picking up more try bonus points than any side in the competition this season.
When in New Zealand, Rennie also forged a reputation as an innovator. What has he said about Wales? RENNIE last spoke about the Wales link in the autumn. At the time he insisted he hadn’t had talks with anyone at the Welsh Rugby Union, but when pressed about his desire to coach at Test level, he said: “Absolutely. When I came over here I was pretty keen to be involved in the week-to-week stuff, because you get a chance to work with a lot of players with regards development and so on.
“I keep saying I’m a young coach but I’m not getting any younger.”