We’ve been going round all the regions, talking to the respective coaches about the way we’d like to play and the skill-sets required to do that. Sid Going. The exciting brand of rugby he instilled at Scarlets saw them lift the Pro12 trophy in 2017, while he has enjoyed domestic success in New Zealand and helped Fiji lift the Sevens World Cup in 2005. And to win the Sevens World Cup in 2005 is something I’ll never forget. Top man: Wales head coach Wayne Pivac (Getty Images) Wayne Pivac took over as Wales coach following the 2019 Pivac is the latest Kiwi to hold the role, with previous Wales coaches including Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Gatland, and it marks his return to coaching at the international level after a stint with the Fiji team from 2004 to 2007.After working in the Pacific Islands, Pivac returned home to New Zealand to coach at provincial level before becoming Scarlets head coach in 2014 and winning the Pro14 in 2017.Buying presents can be a tricky business.
Most teams I played in would rather play with the ball, but it’s horses for courses and you need to play more than one way.There are so many fantastic players.
I remember being in a sleeping bag and getting up at 2.30am, watching the game and having a toasted sandwich.I left school and went straight down to police college in Wellington. All teams have an attack coach and a skills coach, who works with the attack coach. “That’s his sense of humour.”There’s nothing like a reminder of the size of the shoes you’re filling as you prepare for your first Six Nations campaign. Back in those days you didn’t have substitutions and the No 8 in front of me was pretty good – Wayne Shelford, All Blacks captain!I played a lot of sevens and I definitely liked to be the link from tight forwards to backs and to get my hands on the ball as much as I could. This is an opportunity for him to grow as a coach in our environment.There are a lot of similarities to New Zealand. We have created a browser extension. You can’t do anything that would jeopardise that. Pivac played for North Harbour Rugby Union while he was a policeman.
Pivac is all too aware of how successful Gatland’s 12-year Wales reign was – three Grand Slams the standout achievements – but he is also excited by the challenge of building on such successful foundations.The 57-year-old has included a wealth of international experience in his back-room team, with four former Wales captains part of the set-up in Stephen Jones, Jonathan Humphreys (assistants), Sam Warburton (technical adviser) and Martyn Williams (manager). Seeing him coach had a big influence on me getting into coaching after a serious knee injury stopped me playing at 27.I was always a forward and had the ability to play across the back row.
He… People are passionate about the game.Having lived in Wales for five-and-a-half years now and come from the club system here, I see myself as a club coach coming through.Trying to emulate some of what the past group has done and win trophies. The four regional teams all have slightly different ways of playing, so it does take a bit of time. I don’t get to play as much as I’d like but it’s a great way to spend an afternoon or a morning and relax. I used to live in West Wales – I’m in St Hilary near Cowbridge now – so I like going to beach. They’re all out and about having discussions, and some clubs have asked them to come in and take a few sessions.That’s really easy from my point of view. My brother played, too, and when we were old enough we played in the same rugby teams.Dad was a passionate rugby man. As a cadet, you go in at 18 for a year, so at 19 I was on the streets of North Shore. As a young person you had to be able to communicate with people from different walks of life. When you pick up a new role, you give 110% to that role. You always want to help players fulfil their dreams, further develop players and give good team performances when you take the field.Certainly going to a World Cup and performing on the biggest stage… Every rugby player and every coach wants to challenge themselves against the best.It adds to the challenge. It’s making sure a person is very good at their trade, with their technical and tactical knowledge, and is also the type of person and personality you want to bring into the environment.That’s an important part of process, making sure everyone within the coaching group is compatible, as we have a short amount of time to put things together so need to be on the same page when discussing players.Stephen (Jones) was a no-brainer for me. We’ve all got strengths and weaknesses and it’s making sure that between the group we’ve covered that.Having like-minded people who like to have players express themselves is really important. The majority of Welsh rugby fans believe Wayne Pivac will turn out to be a success as head coach of Wales. Getting paid to work in sport, you pinch yourself sometimes.I’m a social golfer.
He has a lot to contribute and give back to the game.