1
Pivac off to winning start with Wales
Wayne Pivac celebrated his first game in charge of Wales with a 43-33 win over the Barbarians as Warren Gatland’s return to Cardiff ended in defeat. Wales scored six tries but they had to withstand a second-half fightback by the Barbarians who trailed 33-7 at one point.
ADVERTISEMENT
Gatland was given a hero’s welcome after a 12-year reign in which he led Wales from the doldrums and to top spot in the world rankings. The New Zealander was honoured this week with the creation of “Gatland’s Gate” at the main entrance to the stadium, recognition of a successful tenure which brought four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-final places.
The second of those last-four appearances was just 29 days before this uncapped clash, but Pivac’s determination to put his stamp on Wales produced some interesting selections. Exciting Cardiff Blues outside-half Jarrod Evans – who had missed out on World Cup selection – made only his second appearance with Wales expected to employ more width under Pivac.
Uncapped New Zealand-born Johnny McNicholl came onto the wing after qualifying through the three-year residency rule. McNicholl’s first involvement was some defensive duty, but the Scarlets speedster soon had the ball in hand as both sides upheld the Barbarians’ traditional values of running rugby.
Wales were ahead inside six minutes when Evans slipped a tackle and fed Josh Adams, the World Cup’s try-scorer adding another score to his ledger in the corner with Leigh Halfpenny adding the extras. Evans was pulling the strings with plenty of ball coming his way but Justin Tipuric – captain in the absence of the injured Alun Wyn Jones – had a try disallowed as Aaron Wainwright was offside in the build-up.
(Continue reading below…)
The Barbarians made the most of their good fortune to build some pressure for Scotland’s Josh Strauss to pick up and score and Curwin Bosch levelled matters with the conversion. The friendly nature of the contest was upset by a tip-tackle on Adams and a bust-up off the ball which forced referee Nigel Owens to lay down the law.
That incident sparked Wales into life and Tomos Williams’ quick tap-penalty five minutes before half-time freed Evans to send McNicholl over. Barbarians flanker Marco Van Staden was sent to the sin-bin for killing the ball and Wales took advantage as Ken Owens profited from an overthrown lineout and Halfpenny converted for a 19-7 interval lead.
ADVERTISEMENT
The pre-match formalities in Cardiff before Wales versus the Barbarians didn't earn universal approval https://t.co/4iGQypVapG
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 30, 2019
Van Staden was still off the field when Owens claimed his second try to earn a hug from his opposite number Rory Best, the former Ireland captain who was playing his final game of professional rugby. The floodgates were open now and Adams scorched over for his second try after a Williams snipe and impressive pace from prop Wyn Jones.
But the Barbarians responded when Bosch sliced through a gap and Shaun Stevenson accepted a bouncing ball to reduce the gap further. Bosch’s conversion made it 33-19. Every attack looked like ending in a try as the game opened up, Gareth Davies’ effort for Wales quickly cancelled out by his fellow replacement Craig Millar.
The Barbarians continued their remarkable comeback victory when flanker Peter Samu was on the end of more slick work, and Bosch’s kick reduced the gap to seven points. But a late Halfpenny penalty, taking his contribution to 13 points, ensured that the Pivac era would get off to a winning start.
– Press Association
WATCH: Warren Gatland on what he thought it would be like taking on his old team Wales this weekend as Barbarians coach
ADVERTISEMENT
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
8 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
8 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
8 Go to comments