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WRU delivers verdict on Pivac's fifth-place Six Nations finish

By Online Editors
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Welsh Rugby Union bosses have come out and publicly backed Wayne Pivac despite the new Wales coach’s five-game losing streak and last weekend’s fifth-place Six Nations finish.   

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Wales finished top of the Six Nations in March 2019, Warren Gatland signing off with a championship Grand Slam before handing over the reins to Scarlets coach Pivac following last November’s fourth-place finish at the World Cup in Japan. 

He has since presided over a poor run of results, Wales losing five games on the bounce following an expected opening day win over Italy last February. 

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Jamie Roberts and Dylan Hartley assess Wales under Wayne Pivac in the latest RugbyPass Offload episode

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Jamie Roberts and Dylan Hartley assess Wales under Wayne Pivac in the latest RugbyPass Offload episode

Those defeats have sparked a debate over whether Pivac is the right coach to take Wales on and Steve Phillips, the WRU CEO, has now attempted to nip that speculation in the bud by backing their man through to France 2023.

In his weekly WRU status update, Phillips wrote: “Wayne Pivac is a man with a long-term vision and it’s one that will be shared throughout Welsh rugby. That vision is for our nation to succeed at the Rugby World Cup in 2023. 

“This doesn’t mean there aren’t immediate short and medium-term goals and losing matches is never on the checklist. But having already established a top-four seeding at the 2023 tournament, some of the pressure on results necessarily abates.

“During our recent regular meetings, Wayne has been open and honest in his assessment of performances on the pitch, but there has now been a ‘line drawn in the sand’ in camp and the forthcoming Autumn Nations Cup provides a new opportunity for both development and progress.  

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“Performances may not have been as Wayne has wanted for his talented squad, nor indeed what he knows is achievable. But there is nothing better after a setback than to be immediately presented with the opportunity to re-set and improve on what has gone before. 

“Against Ireland on November 13, Wales will kick-off a new and exciting tournament, one in which players – some new and others becoming established – will gain immeasurably from the experience and where we will be striving for significant improvements in both performances and results.

“We will need to create the momentum to ensure we realise our full potential and deliver during the 2021 Guinness Six Nations campaign in the new year.”

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Trevor 49 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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