It doesn’t get tougher than trip to SA – Pivac
WAYNE Pivac believes that Wales face “probably the ultimate challenge” in tackling world champions South Africa away from home at altitude.
Wales are also on the back of a poor Guinness Six Nations campaign that ended with a dismal home defeat against Italy three months ago.
They now face Test matches in Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Cape Town – the opening two encounters will be at altitude – with Wales returning to a country they last visited eight years ago and where they have yet to beat South Africa following 10 previous attempts.
“In Test rugby, you want the ultimate challenge as players and coaches, and this is probably the ultimate challenge with South Africa at altitude and us coming off the back of our Six Nations and where they are at in their game,” Pivac said.
“From our point of view, it is a huge challenge.
“We are playing the world champions in their own back yard at altitude in the first two Tests in front of their own fans for the first time since they won the World Cup (in 2019).
“In international rugby, if you write anyone off you do it at your peril.
“It is a Wales team that turns up on the day that South Africa will have to deal with, and we hope that will be a very good one.
“We are certainly going there with things we want to achieve on the tour. I think we will be a step up from where we were in our last match.”
Pivac has added uncapped Scarlets prop Harri O’Connor to his tour squad, meaning that 34 players will board the plane later this week.
Pivac allayed any fitness fears about captain Dan Biggar, who took a blow to his back during Northampton’s Gallagher Premiership play-off defeat against Leicester 10 days ago.
“Dan has had a good break and his medical team has done a good job with him,” Pivac said. “The reports to us have been virtually daily from Dan himself.
“He is in good spirits and he will be fine to go.
“We are very pleased with where the squad is at.”
Meanwhile, Pivac insists assistant coach Gareth Williams is staying put for the tour to South Africa, and doesn’t expect any move to be confirmed until the squad return.
Williams has looked after Wales’ breakdown and contact skills for the last year but is expected to take up a role with the Scarlets as their new defence coach.
But first there is the matter of taking on the Springboks in a three Test tour this summer.
“Nothing has changed. Gareth is full steam ahead in terms of training and is fully committed to this tour,” insisted Pivac.
“There has been an approach which is nice for any coach from another organisation to say they would love to have you.
“It has been through the front door and we have been having open conversations about that.
“Nothing has been finalised and I would not be surprised if that does not happen until after the tour.”
Asked if it was a distraction, Pivac refuted: “No. These things happen to players and coaches on a regular basis.
“We are just looking whether an alignment with a club would be beneficial with the game in Wales.
“I think the short answer to that is yes, it’s just about it being done in the timely manner so everybody gets what they need out of it.”
“We talk about alignment all the time about country and club and you see that in Ireland and New Zealand and a lot of places, and it is certainly something we can get better at and we are looking to do that.”