Eye for talent, an open-door policy and belief in free flowing rugby – the new Wales coach in profile...
WAYNE Pivac has been unveiled as the man to take the baton from fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland after next year’s World Cup.
A former policeman from New Zealand’s North Island, the 55-year-old has proven to be a huge success during his four years in Llanelli.
Playing a potent, easy-on-the-eye brand of attacking rugby, the Scarlets won a stunning Guinness PRO12 title in 2017, reached the final a year later, while also made the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup.
ROB LLOYD profiles the new man in the Wales hot seat...
Like one of his predecessors Steve Hansen, Pivac is a former police officer, spending 15 years with the New Zealand force.
He started out on Auckland’s north shore in the small suburb of Takapuna and credits his time in the job as big influence on his coaching ethos and ability to deal with different characters.
A back-rower, he played club rugby for the Takapuna club side, Auckland Colts and North Harbour, but a knee injury saw him turn his focus to coaching, where he started with North Harbour at the age of 27.
After a successful season at Northland, Auckland came calling and Pivac was invited to become assistant to a certain Graham Henry.
However, that double act never materialised.
The ‘Great Redeemer’ as he was to become known in Wales, was packing up and heading north, leaving Pivac as the man to steer the ship.
And with Pivac at the tiller, Auckland went on to enjoy remarkable success - three NPC titles in all, as well a New Zealand coach of the year award.
Whether a player or coach, it is hard to say no to international opportunities and in 2004, Pivac took up a post as head of the Fijian national side.
More success followed as Fiji won the Pacific Tri Nations title as well as the 2005 Rugby World Cup sevens.
He was due to be at the helm for the 2007 World Cup in France, a tournament which memorably saw Fiji shock Wales at the pool stage.
But he left his post before the World Cup began, citing family reasons.
He returned to New Zealand and after a spell with North Harbour, Pivac was soon back in the Auckland hot seat.
Things could have worked out very differently had Pivac opted for east instead of west Wales back in 2014.
Cardiff Blues sent a representative out to New Zealand to chat to Pivac about the prospect of replacing Phil Davies at the Arms Park.
Soon after, Simon Easterby was flying to the North Island trying to recruit Pivac as his assistant. A contract offer followed and the Kiwi was appointed as the Scarlets’ new forwards coach.
But in another twist, Easterby took up a post with Joe Schmidt’s Ireland and Pivac was thrust in charge of the West Walians, the first from the southern hemisphere to be handed the role.
Pivac’s tenure in west Wales has been marked by a glorious PRO12 triumph in Dublin and a memorable 2017-18 European campaign that saw the Scarlets reach the knockout stages for the first time in 11 years.
However, it hasn’t always been a bed of roses.
A common theme in recent seasons has been ‘the happy camp’ at Parc y Scarlets, based on a ‘team first’ ethos.
But in the early years there was a significant split, with some players unhappy about their treatment.
Pivac has spoken about how he needed every player ‘paddling in the same direction’ and a handful of players were ushered out the exit door. Some fans needed persuading, too. Three games into the title-winning season, the Scarlets’ record read played three, lost three.
They were trailing at half-time at home to Connacht and as Pivac stood up to leaving his coaching position to head to the dressing room, a shout came down from behind the press box ‘taxi for Pivac.’
Even in a fans forum, one disgruntled supporter stood up and asked when Pivac was going to resign.
The turnaround, though, was