Pivac in firing line after Wales’ loss to Georgia
Former Wales captain Gwyn Jones has delivered a damning verdict on Wayne Pivac, saying their Kiwi coach is ‘‘out of his depth’’.
The pressure continues to mount on Pivac in the wake of Wales’ shock 13-12 loss to Georgia in Cardiff last weekend.
Wales have only won three tests from 11 in 2022 with their World Cup preparations and Pivac’s credentials being seriously questioned.
‘‘You don’t see any development coming through. I think he’s out of depth at this level and I don’t see Wales developing. He’s been in charge for three years, and we’re not a better team now than when he started,’’ Jones told Wales TV station
S4C.
‘‘He came to change Wales’ game, to play with a tempo and to score tries, and we’re unable to score tries against almost anyone.’’
Pivac, a former Fiji, North Harbour and Auckland coach, took over the Welsh side from Warren Gatland after the 2019 World Cup. Wales have won just 14 of his 34 tests at the helm.
Wales face Australia this Sunday (4.15am NZ time) with Pivac needing to orchestrate some sort of revival.
Jones’ comments come on the back of Welsh great Jamie Roberts questioning Pivac and his assistants.
‘‘I think there needs to be serious questions asked about the coaching side,’’ Roberts said.
‘‘We talk about motivation of players. As a player, yes, you play for your country, and you are wearing the three feathers, but you also play for your coach. And to see a Welsh side come out at half time and put in a performance like that is unacceptable. So there needs to be serious questions asked.’’ Recent Wales captain Sam Warburton hinted at something more sinister at play in the current struggles.
‘‘Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric ... these guys are people I loved playing with. They are real rugby warriors and tough men. I’m not questioning them,’’ Warburton said. ‘‘But I wonder, if it’s not being expressed on the pitch, there must be some kind of deeper, underlying issues.
‘‘The players – why aren’t they motivated? Why aren’t they desperate? I don’t know what the answer is. I’m not challenging the players. There are some tough, great competitors out there, some of the best players I have ever played with.
‘‘But for some reason, it’s not translating onto the pitch and there’s something that we perhaps don’t know which is why they are perhaps not fully motivated at the moment.’’