WILLIAMS PLAYED CRUCIAL ROLE – PIVAC
WAYNE Pivac hailed the contributions of scrum-half Tomos Williams and full-back Louis Rees-Zammit as Wales bounced back to see off Argentina.
Just a week after being on the wrong end of a 55-23 scoreline against New Zealand, Wales showed great character to beat the Pumas 20-13.
Cardiff No. 9 Williams scored one of Wales’ two tries, while Gloucester wing Rees-Zammit excelled on only a third start of his career in the No. 15 shirt.
“Tomos got the 80 minutes (against Argentina) because he is playing so well,” said Wales head coach Pivac.
“We just felt that he needed to stay out there, and it is a good confidence-booster for him.
“Everything we asked him to do during the week he delivered on.
“I thought he marshalled the forwards really well, because with the effort they put in they would have been tiring at times, and he led from the front with his actions and also his voice.
“What Louis brings, obviously, is express pace so if there’s a bit of a dog-leg (in the opposition defence), he can hurt you.
“Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny have dominated that jersey for a good part of 10-12 years probably, so to have Louis step up and play the way he did, it’s great for us and gives us more depth.”
Wales’ physicality was questioned when New Zealand horribly overpowered them. Argentina’s heavyweight pack would have targeted similar dominance, but Wales repeatedly knocked them back at the Principality Stadium.
“Rugby players, anywhere in the world, my experience is when they are challenged around physicality, you normally get a response,” added Pivac.
“The boys were very keen to get out there and put some of the wrongs of last week right, and we could not fault that defensive effort. The players kept coming forward over the 80 minutes, and there are some big boys there (in the Argentina team) that have caused the top teams in the world a lot of problems in the last 18 months, in particular.”
Pivac looks unlikely to make wholesale changes for this weekend’s game against Georgia, but lock Will Rowlands and flanker Dan Lydiate both suffered injuries against Argentina. Rowlands has a shoulder problem and Lydiate hurt his arm.