REVIEW MAY SPELL THE END FOR PIVAC
THE clock appears to be ticking on Wayne Pivac’s time as Wales head coach after the Welsh Rugby Union pledged to act on the outcome of the review into the national team’s miserable autumn series.
Wales lost three out of their four matches, with the setbacks including a first defeat to Georgia.
The union regularly conduct reviews after tournaments and this one was pre-planned, but it could spell trouble for Pivac given the way the matches and performances panned out.
Wales crashed 55-23 to New Zealand, lost 13-12 to Georgia and fell 39-34 to Australia after leading by 21 points with 22 minutes to play.
WRU chief executive Steve Phillips stressed that a proper process must now be followed. But there were also words that will concern Pivac in a statement the WRU said “left no room for interpretation” on what bosses thought of the defeats to Georgia and Australia.
“With no disrespect to Georgia, who are a growing force in the world game, this result was extremely disappointing,” said Phillips.
“We were anticipating a significant improvement against Australia and there was an obvious positive reaction but, again, we are of course disappointed not to have won that game.
“We will now review the autumn nation series campaign in its entirety and in detail, as we always do.
“Upon conclusion of this review we will, of course, act on the outcome as we continue to work towards, the now short-term goal of, success at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the more immediate 2023 Six Nations competition, but also sustainable longer-term success.”
Meantime, it emerged yesterday evening that Pivac hadn’t gone to France as planned on a World Cup reconnaissance trip.
He had been due to fly out as part of a group checking venues, hotels and facilities for the Wales squad at next year’s global tournament. As late as Saturday evening he was adamant he would be travelling and some on the union were under the impression that would be the case, but he has remained in Wales to ensure maximum efficiency for the review process.
It is believed Pivac himself made the decision not to make the trip while the inquest into the events of the past few weeks unfolds.
He certainly wasn’t helped by the setback against Australia which could not have come at a worse time, a week on from Wales’ loss to Georgia, and fuelled talk that his time as national coach may be coming to an end.
The WRU will now sift through the wreckage of the autumn via their review into exactly what happened – how Wales went from taking a Test off world champions South Africa in the summer to losing three out of four games in the autumn, with the rock-bottom low seeing them crash to ignominious defeat at the hands of Tier Two opponents.
Such an appraisal is set to involve the Wales team management submitting their own take on the events of the past month for the likes of union chief executive Phillips and performance director Nigel Walker to assess.
It will then be up to Phillips and Walker to decide whether to widen the process by canvassing the opinions of senior Wales players.
Warren Gatland heads up a number of potential candidates the Welsh Rugby Union are ready to consider as they prepare to decide upon Pivac’s future.
It is understood Gatland is the leading contender if Pivac does leave, although it is thought any offer would involve a role only through to the World Cup in France next year.
Other names in the frame as potential targets include former Ospreys coach Steve Tandy, who was part of Gatland’s Lions coaching team last year on the back of his work with Super Rugby outfit the Waratahs and Scotland on the defensive front.
It is possible Gatland and Tandy could even double up as a coaching ticket on an interim basis to take Wales to France 2023.
Kiwi Scott Robertson, La Rochelle’s Irish coach Ronan O’Gara and former Llanelli head coach Brad Mooar are others thought to be in contention.
Steve Borthwick is another name said be mentioned behind the scenes, while Bristol boss Pat Lam might also be a target.
However, Gatland is the man believed to most interest WRU powerbrokers union for an interim head coach role should the call be made to end Pivac’s tenure after three years.
There had been suggestions that Pivac’s fate had already been sealed following the loss to Georgia.
There was speculation Gatland had been approached about the possibility of a dramatic return to Welsh rugby, with the Kiwi having held the Wales head coach role for 12 years up to 2019.
Gatland denied any contact had been made and nothing has been confirmed on that front by the WRU.
Gatland was at the Principality Stadium to watch the loss to the Wallabies in his role as pundit for Amazon Prime.
He told the broadcaster no approach had been made by the WRU.