The offhand Wayne Pivac remark that has thrown Welsh rugby

After winning the Guinness Six Nations in 2021, Wales have finished a lowly fifth in the 2022 tournament – and Wales fans are not happy.

In a thrilling denouement to the Six Nations, Kieran Crowley’s Italy broke a 36 game losing streak to win 22-21 and claim their first Six Nations victory for seven years and their first on Welsh soil.

While it was a result that has lifted the Italian rugby community, equally it has deflated an already troubled Welsh one. It was a humiliating loss for the Welsh, who will have rightly or wrongly, viewed it as an easy five-pointer.

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Instead they have found themselves one place above the perennial Wooden Spoon holders, with just one win to their name.

“Nothing changes in terms of where we are at and what we’re working towards,” Pivac noted after the game said. “Obviously that was not part of the plan to lose this game, but we’ll review this game as a coaching group and see why we didn’t have the energy and urgency that the Italians came with.”

“If we go to the World Cup and get to the quarter-final, and onto the semi-final, everyone will be very happy.”

The quarter-final comment, a line Pivac may not have given much thought to, was picked up by Welsh journalists and it’s widely been seen as an indictment of Pivac’s ambition and – more broadly – where this Welsh team finds itself under the New Zealander’s leadership.

ITV Wales reporter Beth Fisher tweeted: “Pivac told me post-match if Wales reach a 1/4 or semi final in the WC then “everyone will be happy” but when he took over Wales were in a place where the next step was all about winning it. I’ve always said give him time but 18 months out I’m genuinely worried. I hope I’m wrong.”

Pivac told me post-match if Wales reach a 1/4 or semi final in the WC then “everyone will be happy” but when he took over Wales were in a place where the next step was all about winning it. I’ve always said give him time but 18 months out I’m genuinely worried. I hope I’m wrong.

— Beth Fisher (@BethFisherSport) March 19, 2022

Robert Rees said he found the quarter-final statement ‘depressing’. “Wayne Pivac stating Wales will be happy with a 1/4 final is such a sad statement of how far we’ve dropped away. Stephen Jones’ attack and Pivac in trouble.”

Wayne Pivac stating Wales will be happy with a 1/4 final is such a sad statement of how far we've dropped away.

Stephen Jones' attack and Pivac in trouble.

— Robert Rees (@Rreesrugby) March 19, 2022

“I like Wayne Pivac,” wrote Wales Online writer Simon Thomas. “I have always found him a good man to deal with and there have been some really memorable moments covering his teams. But that was the worst display I have seen from Wales in a long while. Not sure where they go from here. Apart from SA!”

I like Wayne Pivac. I have always found him a good man to deal with and there have been some really memorable moments covering his teams. But that was the worst display I have seen from Wales in a long while. Not sure where they go from here. Apart from SA!

— Simon Thomas Rugby (@simonrug) March 19, 2022

Vocal Welsh fan Jamie Phillips said he didn’t think Pivac was headed to the door just yet. “I don’t see Pivac getting sacked or leaving before the World Cup. But there’s no denying Welsh rugby is in trouble. From pro game down to grassroots. Wales’ success has papered over the cracks for years. Maybe now the governance will be properly scrutinised.”

I don’t see Pivac getting sacked or leaving before the World Cup. But there’s no denying Welsh rugby is in trouble. From pro game down to grassroots. Wales’ success has papered over the cracks for years.

Maybe now the governance will be properly scruntised. Or maybe not…

— Jamie Phillips (@JNPhillips4) March 19, 2022

Rugby writer and columnist Paul Williams suggested that Pivac’s time at the top might be coming to prem-mature end.

“Pivac will struggle to ride this out.”

Pivac will struggle to ride this out.

— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) March 19, 2022

Dan Biggar was clearly devastated after the loss and maybe caught the Welsh mood better than his boss. The Wales captain told BBC Sport: “What do you say? This is probably the toughest interview I’ve ever had to do. Simply not good enough, so many facets of the game. We haven’t played well all day, but not to finish it off when they are 70 metres from our own line…

“We’ve just said in the huddle it’s probably the last chance for a lot of players. We weren’t at it from the get-go and we got punished. We were well short on work ethic and that’s got to be looked at very closely.”