The inside story behind Pivac’s elevation to Wales coach-in-waiting

As the video rolled and Wayne Pivac’s face appeared on the screen to confirm his appointment as Wales’ next coach, it was the culmination of a process which began more than two years ago.

A couple of minutes later, the Scarlets boss entered the press room to join WRU chiefs Gareth Davies and Martyn Phillips at the top table and the formal unveiling was complete.

But this was no ordinary ascension to the Welsh rugby throne. In fact, it’s been unprecedented.

For one thing, it will be another 16 months before Pivac actually moves into the hot seat, with Warren Gatland remaining in charge through to the conclusion of the team’s 2019 World Cup campaign in Japan.

For another, his appointment comes after the lengthiest and most exhaustive selection process the job has known.

He will be the 23rd Wales coach, but never before have things been done so far in advance or in such a detailed manner.

It was way back on the 2016 Welsh tour of New Zealand that the process actually began.

WRU chairman Davies and chief executive Phillips knew by that stage Gatland would be leaving after the 2019 World Cup and that they needed to find a replacement.

So, while out in the land of the long white cloud, they took the opportunity to talk to various leading figures down there about just why the country produces so many quality coaches.

They then drew up a seven-point criteria in terms of what they were looking for from the next Wales boss.

Top of the list was winning, with selection, style, culture, environment and the ability to work together also featuring.

They they set about putting together a list of around a dozen potential candidates, from both New Zealand and other countries.

Encouragingly, every one of them agreed to meet up for a chat.

If truth be told, at that point, Pivac probably wasn’t the No 1 target.

Ideally, the Union wanted someone who had either won the PRO14, Champions Cup, Super Rugby or won at international level.

While Pivac had Test experience with Fiji and won Provincial Championships with Auckland, he hadn’t claimed a big trophy with the Scarlets.

But that was to change in 2017 as he guided the region to the PRO12 title in thrilling style.

At a stroke, he was elevated up the rankings and when it came to whittling the contenders down to a short-list of three, there he was, along with two fellow Kiwis - Glasgow coach Dave Rennie and Hurricanes boss Chris Boyd.

Three became two when it was revealed that Boyd was to take up the reins at Northampton from next season.

And it also became clear that the Union didn’t want to hang about.

They were keen on making the announcement this summer.

Why so far in advance you may ask? Well, why not is the answer.

Chief executive Phillips is very hot on planning and to him it made absolute sense to give the next coach the maximum planning time.

There was also a feeling that they didn’t want to leave it too close to the World Cup and find themselves in a bun fight.

They wanted to get in first and get who they wanted.

So, over the last few months, it’s come down to decision time and the way Pivac drew yet more memorable performances out of the Scarlets last season can not have hindered his cause.

He enhanced his reputation still further by taking them to a Champions Cup semi-final, an outstanding achievement given their relatively limited resources.

And the way he has built such a tight-knit group, despite having originally come in as an outsider who knew no-one, has not gone unnoticed.

He has bought into the Scarlets culture big time and the knowledge of Welsh rugby he has acquired over the past four years is invaluable

The Union also sought soundings from players who had worked under him in New Zealand and found they talked about in equally glowing terms as the likes of Graham Henry and Steve Hansen.

After taking all these factors into consideration, they decided Pivac was their man and so a press conference was called for this lunchtime.

There was no indication in the diary marker that this was being held in order to unveil the next Wales coach.

But speculation grew over the weekend that this might be the case and that Pivac had the job.

As the TV screen flickered into life and an