"If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it. " This maxim, Wayne Pivac erected it as a watchword when taking charge, after the World Cup in Japan, the destiny of the Wales rugby team, which faces the Blues on Saturday February 22 at Cardiff (5:45 p.m.).
The New Zealand technician knows he is following in the footprint of his compatriot and predecessor, Warren Gatland. Under his orders, the XV of Leek rose to first place in the world, won four Tournaments of six nations between 2007 and 2019, including three Grand Slams, but failed twice to cross the quarter-final World Cup final.
"I come after someone extremely well regarded, not only by the Welsh audience, but by the players who have evolved under him, notes the technician. It’s up to me to do my best to preserve the legacy. " While bringing its touch to the Welsh game.
Before making the Millennium stadium in Cardiff his playground, Wayne Pivac saw the country: from Suva, the capital of Fiji whose selection he trained, to his native New Zealand, via Llanelli, at the controls of the local Welsh Scarlet team.
Wales' fourth kiwi coach (after Gatland, Graham Henry and Steve Hansen), he does not consider himself a stranger to his new homeland, where he has been established for five years. “I see myself as a Welsh coach. It’s a great advantage here to know about local rugby, and I wouldn’t have ventured if I didn’t feel capable and passionate about this challenge. "
Large renewal on the benches of the Six Nations
Like Fabien Galthié, whom he faces on Saturday, and like technicians from Ireland (Andy Farrell) and Italy (Franco Smith), Wayne Pivac was promoted after the World Cup. This rotation, if it strikes by its magnitude, is part of a logic: in rugby, coaches generally sign for a quadrennial – here to prepare for the 2023 World Cup in France.
Four new coaches and as many desires to reshuffle the cards on the Old Continent. "At the moment, I love every moment spent with this team, savored Wayne Pivac, Thursday in the vast hotel serving as a base camp for the Welsh in the Cardiff countryside. Everything is perfect. Finally, with the exception of a few moments in the match in Ireland. " Beaten by the XV of Clover (24-14), his men were dominated and unable to respond for 80 minutes to the aggressiveness of teammates Jonathan Sexton.
Josh Adams said the loss to Ireland was a wake-up call to the Welsh. "After a defeat, the big teams must have a reaction, whatever the opponent, relates the young Welsh winger. Coaches and players, we all looked at what we did wrong, and we trained twice as much. "
At 24, the prolific Cardiff Blues test marker is delighted to broaden his knowledge with new staff: "I keep collecting ideas and adding new aspects to my game, it's great to face the world of a new coach. "
A "world" that composes with the structure in place, the Welsh game is far from being broken. Still leaning on the defensive foundation erected by Shaun Edwards – former Gatland assistant, now Galthié's assistant and French defense coach – since November, the men in red started the Six Nations with a home stroll facing Italy (42-0).
"We’re going to focus on moving the ball a little bit more in attack, but it’s going to take a little while, warned Wayne Pivac before the start of the Tournament. This is nothing new, it took the Scarlets a little while to change the mindset, hone the skills and get everyone to understand their role. "
Evolutions, no revolution
"He knows how to surround himself with the best, and we can already see him with Waless, said Xavier Rush, former captain of Wayne Pivac at the Auckland Blues, to the BBC. He added the best possible specialists to each position and integrated icons of the country into his staff ", like Sam Warburton, a former pillar of the Welsh defensive line and now a defense coach. "He is not the type to want to change everything to mark his territory, he will take the pulse of the team before making changes. "
Welsh veterans of Wayne Pivac do not want a revolution. "Some players will try to stay in the shadows, hoping that we will not come and ask them to change everything in their game, warned Captain Alun Wyn Jones before the tournament. But we are fortunate to be part of a group that likes challenges, and to participate in its evolution. "
Facing French people, with whom "The difference was made on little things" in the last three games, according to the coach, the Welsh will be keen to show that they remain the first contenders for their own succession in this Six Nations Tournament.
When drawing a line under his Welsh adventure, after the match for the 3rd place of the World lost to the All Blacks, Warren Gatland was proud to have "Restored its letters of nobility" in the XV of Leek. He also campaigned for continuity, even with new staff, "Because after what we have achieved, it would break my heart if Wales fell back into the doldrums. "
For his third official match at the head of the Welsh, a week after having disputed and lost the "Biggest test of (her) career " In Dublin, Wayne Pivac remains awaited at the turn by a whole people swearing by the oval ball. "All of this is an incredible challenge, but I was more than prepared for it. "
