Big performance in the pipeline, insists Pivac
WALES head coach Wayne Pivac is confident a big performance has been brewing in camp over the last fortnight.
His charges have had two weeks to dwell on a disappointing defeat to France in Cardiff as they prepare to head to Twickenham with their hopes of defending their Six Nations title in tatters. But if there is any game that will focus the mind more than most, then it is surely facing England in their own backyard.
It will be Pivac’s first trip up the M4 as Wales boss and he’s admitted this week feels a little different.
“You’ve only got to listen to Alun Wyn Jones during the week,” said Pivac. “The intensity is there in his voice and everything he’s done in training. He’s led from the front.
“The level of intensity has noticeably gone up in training, certainly in the live stuff and it has been no holds barred.
“No-one has been holding back. That tells me a big performance is coming.”
A big performance is exactly what will be required.
The two teams are on different trajectories in this tournament. England have improved with each passing game where Wales have spluttered and stumbled their way through.
They head to Twickenham, a place where men in red have tasted success just three times in the last three decades and that is not lost on the man in charge.
“With my background coming from New Zealand we look at England like the Welsh do,” insisted Pivac.
“They’re a strong team, one of the world leaders, and a very capable team as we saw at the World Cup against the All Blacks and last week against Ireland. They put away two of the top teams in the world comfortably.
“There is a healthy respect, but it’s a game we’re looking forward to – me included.
“Clearly they’ve got a great record at Twickenham – one we respect and one which tells us we’ll have to be at the peak of our powers and play well to win.”
While the challenge is sizeable, Wales are bolstered by the return of Liam Williams and Josh Navidi to the starting line-up.
George North has overcome the concussion he suffered against France and Dan Biggar is fit despite limping out of Northampton’s defeat to Saracens last weekend.
Williams has not played since October, when his World Cup was ended by a training ground ankle injury.
He has been kept in camp all tournament, rather than being released to Scarlets, his new employer, to get game time.
Pivac refuted that it was a risk to throw the British and Irish Lion straight back into a game of this magnitude. “He had to play a game of rugby at some stage, club or with us,” said Pivac. “Obviously it’s a higher level. We’ve given him that extra time rather than going back [to Scarlets] a week ago.
“We have put as much volume into to him as we can and if it was a club game this week or a Test match he is good to go.
“The strength and conditioners and medical team are comfortable with it. Early on we thought he might be back a bit earlier, but we have taken all the precautions. He’s at a level where we think he’s safe to play.”
Pivac added: “We have a lot of live sessions. He’s [Williams] been through that and Tuesday was a pretty lively session.”
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