The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Thomas believes break came at good time for Wales and Pivac
Former Wales star Gareth Thomas believes new head coach Wayne Pivac could benefit from the lengthy enforced break from rugby due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Six Nations in March were halted before the tournament could conclude with the effects of Covid-19 forcing countries to go into lockdown.
Wales, under the stewardship of Pivac following Warren Gatland’s decision to step down after the 2019 World Cup, won their opener against Italy before subsequently losing to Ireland, France and England.
It was a far from ideal start for former Scarlets head coach Pivac, but it will be a distant memory when rugby can return later in the year.
Thomas, who launched the Tackle HIV campaign with ViiV Healthcare to improve public understanding, said: “This season was always going to be difficult for Wales because it is the post-Warren Gatland era.
“He is the most successful coach to ever coach Wales so it was always going to be an added pressure and an added sense of expectancy for the players.
“They have been in games, they have been in it until the very end and showed great character, and there have been times where under Gatland things would have gone their way like 50/50s, but the 50/50s for Pivac weren’t going their way.
“But they played a brand of rugby and a style people were starting to enjoy and were excited about and then all of a sudden coronavirus came along and everything stopped.
“Getting back to rugby for Wales, I think this could maybe be a welcome break because all of a sudden people will stop saying this is post-Warren Gatland.
“Gats is back in New Zealand and coaching the Chiefs so suddenly the focus and the energy can be towards not this team’s era under Gatland, but to be fully focused on the now and what Pivac can bring to the team.”