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The 'massive challenge' Wayne Pivac was 'always' going to face

Wayne Pivac

Dan Biggar thinks Wayne Pivac will help Wales to play more attractive rugby.

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Pivac took over as head coach from Warren Gatland after the World Cup in November, well aware that his fellow New Zealander left the biggest of boots to fill.

Wales, who won the Six Nations grand slam under Gatland in 2019, only won one of the four Six Nations matches they played before this year’s tournament was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Fly-half Biggar has called for patience as Pivac settles into the role.

Biggar told Sky Sports: “It was always going to be a massive challenge (for Pivac), coming in for Warren Gatland, with the success he had over the last eight to 10 years.

“When you change something that has been in place for so long, it sometimes will take a little bit of time. We just fell short against France, we just fell short against England.

“In a new pattern and in a slightly new style of play, I think it’s certainly going to help us in terms of playing more attractive rugby and scoring more tries.

“I think that probably takes a couple of campaigns to get used to everything and I’m sure, come the Autumn Internationals, if we can get back playing, I think you’ll see us much stronger.”

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The Autumn Internationals are due to begin on November 7, with Wales taking on Fiji, New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa.

Press Association

WATCH: In episode one, we’re taken to Round 6 of the Queensland GPS Rugby competition where the only two unbeaten teams in the premiership race come face to face, We also journey back to pre-season and as the team prepares for 2019 kicko? against Churchie.

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Jon 13 hours ago
Why Sam Cane's path to retirement is perfect for him and the All Blacks

> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.

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