'Too many errors' - Wayne Pivac says Wales' rusty performance against France was a disappointment
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac admitted there were “too many errors” from his team after they were beaten 38-21 by France in Paris.
It was Wales’ fourth successive defeat under Pivac, and also their heaviest loss against France since 2011.
As a warm-up game for next weekend’s delayed Six Nations clash against Scotland, it posed more questions than answers as France ran in five tries to wipe out Wales’ early 10-point lead.
“They thoroughly deserved the result and capitalised on a lot of our errors, which was disappointing from our end,” Pivac said.
“They certainly got a lot of ball away in the tackle, and they punished us in that area a lot.
“I thought we started well in both halves, but there were too many errors from our side tonight.
“There were a lot of aerial battles this evening, and we weren’t good enough in the air on the night.
“We gave too much ball back to the French in open play. There were also three turnovers at critical times for us. We have to be a lot better next week.”
Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones made a world record-equalling 148th Test match appearance, although he appeared to be on the receiving end of an elbow to the face from France lock Bernard Le Roux.
The incident went unnoticed by the match officials, and Pivac added: “I haven’t seen the incident myself, but I’ve been told about it.
“I have no doubt that the officials in charge will have a look at it if they think there is something in it.”
Wales could not build on a flying start that saw them race into a 10-0 lead through full-back Leigh Halfpenny’s try and a conversion and penalty by fly-half Dan Biggar.
But France responded through two tries from France scrum-half Antoine Dupont, while prop Cyril Baille also crossed, with three Romain Ntamack conversions giving France control that they never relinquished.
Captain Charles Ollivon and wing Teddy Thomas added second-half touchdowns, both converted by Ntamack, who also kicked a penalty, and Wales added a try by substitute prop Nicky Smith and two further Biggar penalties, although he also missed three kicks.
“I think you could see we were a bit rusty,” Pivac said. “We’ve come out of lockdown and there hasn’t been a lot of big rugby played.
“There were similar comments from the players afterwards. It was a big step up from what they’ve had in the last couple of months.
“They will be better for it, but we will review this performance and look at the areas that we need to work on during the week.
“We need to come out with less mistakes. I think we left a couple of tries out there, so we need to be a little bit more clinical with those scoring opportunities.
“Scotland were certainly very good against Georgia (on Friday). Hopefully, we will put a lot more pressure on Scotland than Georgia did, but we will be looking at our own game.
“We will be making sure we improve across the board. Scotland will be a very tough opponent, and we will have to play a lot better than we did tonight to get a result.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments