Wayne Pivac aiming for fine family double with Grand Slam victory
Wayne Pivac aiming for fine family double with Grand Slam victory against France in Six Nations… just days after Wales boss’ son was part of New Zealand sailing team who won America’s Cup
- Wayne Pivac is out to foil the French and complete a Grand Slam for Wales
- His son was part of the victorious New Zealand sailing team in the America’s Cup
- Having moved to Wales, Pivac is desperate to deliver for his adopted nation
- Pivac has made one change to his starting XV for the Grand Slam fixture
This is a big week for the Pivacs.
Already Wayne’s son Bradley has worked with Team New Zealand’s America’s Cup-winning sailors, now it is dad’s turn to bring home a famous trophy.
While Pivac Snr may have a little more influence on Wales’ quest for the Six Nations in Paris than Bradley did with the Auld Jug, as part of the on-shore events team, foiling the French will complete a fine family double.
Covid has of course kept the Wales head coach from his two sons this year.
Wayne Pivac is out to foil the French and complete a fine family double with a Grand Slam
His son was part of the New Zealand sailing team who won the America’s Cup this week
‘It would be nice if they were here but they’ll be watching,’
‘It’s a perfect kick off time for them!’
With Luke Pearce’s first whistle peeping at 9am on Sunday Kiwi time, there is less chance Bradley will miss the Stade de France match.
On Twitter after the England win he revealed his alarm had let him down.
Wales have the chance to complete the Six Nations Grand Slam this weekend
FRANCE V WALES XVS
WALES: L Williams; Rees-Zammit, North, J Davies, Adams; Biggar, G Davies; W Jones, Owens, Francis, Beard, AW Jones (c), Navidi (6), Tipuric (7), Faletau (8).
Bench: Dee, Smith, Brown, Hill, Botham, T Williams, Sheedy, Halaholo.
FRANCE: Dulin; Thomas, Vakatawa, Fickou, Penaud; Dupont, Jalibert; Baille, Marchand, Haouas, Taofifenua, Willemse, Cretin (6), Ollivon (c)(7), Alldritt (8).
Bench: Chat, Gros, Atonio, Rebbadj, Jelonch, Serin, Ntamack, Rattez.
STAT – 2 WINS in 9 Six Nations matches for France against Wales, only winning in 2020 and 2017 since 2012. Wales have won six Six Nations games at the Stade de France, in 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2019.
‘Just woke up… couple missed calls from Wayno think I may have missed a good one,’ he wrote a couple of hours after Wales had won 40-24 in Cardiff in round three.
He returned for Italy though, writing: ‘Back in the good books. Watched the game. Contacted dad first post-match to congratulate him (11 alarms set this time… never again).’
On that Wayne said: ‘His brother, Matthew, would probably say he exaggerates a bit, but they’re both very supportive. They’ll both be watching, both wearing Welsh jerseys.’
The head coach has his own second family here now. With Mikaela, whom he married in 2019, he is father to two step daughters.
So having lived in his adopted country since 2014 is fully aware what sealing the deal would mean for Wales – and is desperate to deliver for the nation.
‘It would mean everything, really,’ he said.
‘Coming up to seven years, you understand what it means to the country, and what it can do to productivity.
‘I noticed walking round the golf course here at our hotel, on the day off, the amount of people that were saying good luck for the weekend, they are very supportive.
‘That changes very quickly, from the autumn to now!
Pivac has made one change, with lock Adam Beard in for Cory Hill to provide set piece nous
‘We get a lot of support from home here in Wales, and from New Zealand, from all over the place.
‘To understand what it can do to people, we will certainly give it our best shot to try to get the ultimate prize.’
They have had to dial down the emotions this week. Alun Wyn Jones and co are experts at managing these Grand Slam games, though, and Wales will use all the experience in their side– 14 of the starting 15 having swept the Championship at least once.
‘There is a lot of experience to call on in these situations, which is a good place to be,’ added Pivac having made only one change to his XV – bringing back Adam Beard for Cory Hill at second row for more beef and lineout nous up front, and re-installing Tomos Williams to the bench after he overcame hamstring issues.
‘Alun Wyn talked about Saturday being when we need to bring all the mental energy and be right physically.
‘This week is about making sure the boys have a full tank of gas on Saturday.’
Pivac’s well-documented turnaround has been stark – but he was he in no mood to laugh at his early critics.
Alun Wyn Jones (pictured) and co are experts at managing these Grand Slam games, though, and Wales will use all the experience
‘This group of coaches have kept believing, and the players also,’ he said.
‘Criticism goes with the territory. The same thing happened with the Scarlets.
‘It took me a while to get that machine rolling, and ultimately we had some success.
‘People will always have their opinions, and rightly so – they support the team and put a lot of faith in what we do. If things don’t go well, questions get asked.
‘I’m not bothered by that in the slightest. When I watch other sports I’m probably quite critical as well!
‘Winning the Grand Slam would be fantastic, winning the Championship would be fantastic. If we end up finishing second it would be a big improvement.’
It will be one hell of a result if Wales win in Paris, sealing a Slam away from home for the first time since 1971.
The French team is unchanged from the England defeat – and with Antoine Dupont leading the fire-crackers Wales are aware they are a long way from glory.
‘We are in a pretty good space but we are not the finished article,’ said Pivac.
‘We know France are a very good side and if you look at the improvements we have made, you’ve just got to look at the French team since the World Cup. They’ve done a fantastic job. Dupont is world class.
‘It’s two teams that are starting to play some really good rugby. It makes for a mouth-watering final match.’
This will not be plain sailing by any means.
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