It’s pretty much work as normal for us... we have prepared well – the Wayne Pivac Q&A
WAYNE Pivac announed his Wales team to face Scotland in their final Guinness Six Nations yesterday.
He spoke about preparing under the cloud of coronavirus and why he’s made changes for the visit of Gregor Townsend’s side.
Question: A lot of sporting events are being postponed, how does it feel that this may be the last mass event for some time? WP:
It’s interesting. I’m across it with Martyn Williams, our team manager.
For the rest of the blokes, it’s pretty much work as normal. We’re in isolation really, in this camp scenario. The guys have prepared well.
We’re looking forward to the weekend because the last couple of games have been frustrating for everybody concerned. We’ve made a few errors at critical times and lost a couple of close games.
So, we’d like the opportunity to get back out there and see if we can get that performance that we’re looking for being spread across the 80 minutes, having a bit more control than we have had at times.
Q: Have you had to increase your medical precautions in the camp? WP:
We’ve had a briefing from our head of medical in terms of good practice and making sure we’re very hygienic in everything we do and give ourselves the best opportunity to stay healthy and free of anything that is going around.
Q: Can you give us a broader insight into the advice you’re following and the chain of command? WP:
Our team manager is looking after the off-field scenarios and dealing with our chief executive Martyn Phillips. We just wait to hear from him.
At the moment, we’re preparing for a game as we normally do, but we’re aware of the discussions going on at a higher level.
Q: Are you comfortable with the idea of thousands of people coming in Cardiff to watch the game in bars and so on? WP:
I’ve got a huge responsibility within the team to make sure we’re functioning as well as we can.
That takes up the majority of my time. Obviously, there are people that make those decisions and we’ll follow those decisions whichever way they go.
That’s just the way it is.
Q: What are you hoping that WillGriff John will provide? WP:
He’s got a reputation for being a good scrummager. He’s been playing
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in the Premiership now for a number of years with some success.
He’s been in and out with Sale on the weekends we haven’t had games, so he’s had a workload there.
He’s been training with us, up to speed with us and now he gets an opportunity. He’s really looking forward to his first cap.
Q: What about Rhys Webb, you experimented a lot at scrum-half? WP:
We have and it’s not the only position. We said at the start of the campaign we’re here to win it and that’s not going to happen now.
The other thing we wanted to do was ensure every player left the camp in better shape than they came in in terms of their knowledge, and that will happen.
And also for us to learn as much as possible about the players. Clearly we’re building towards 2023.
Q: Alun Wyn Jones will equal the world record for Test appearances this weekend, what’s your view on him as a New Zealander? WP:
You just need to speak to anybody he plays against and they’ll
tell you what it’s like to play against him. They hold him in high regard.
I’ve seen first-hand what Alun Wyn does, not only on the field but in terms of training and our environment, in terms of his leadership off the field. It’s just huge.
At training, the whistle blows and we’ll shift from one drill to another and he’s up and sprinting, the first guy there every single time. Then you see in a game, when he gets up off the ground, he’s gone.
He’s the ultimate professional. Every country will have someone who they will say is the ultimate professional and in Wales he is that guy. He’s world class, no doubt about it.
I’m full of praise for him and I’ve only worked with him a couple of weeks. Equalling the record will be a proud moment for him and, all being well, he’ll break that record and that will be an even prouder moment.
Q: He was frustrated after the game last weekend, what was your take on the Joe Marler incident? WP:
His frustration wasn’t with any organisation, it was the fact the