Pivac addresses absence of Alun Wyn Jones
Wayne Pivac has played down the absence of world record cap-holder Alun Wyn Jones from Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series clash with Argentina.
The 37-year-old lock and former Wales skipper has not been included by head coach Pivac in the matchday 23.
Given that Jones is fully fit, it is a rare event for him to miss out during a stellar 16-year career that has delivered 154 Wales caps and 12 British and Irish Lions Test match appearances.
Ben Carter will provide bench cover for starting locks Will Rowlands and Adam Beard as Pivac continues assessing his options ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Asked how Jones had reacted, Pivac said: “He has been exceptional, he has trained the house down, which is what you want.
“He is a leader, and the leadership group has been running the opposition (in training) and running it very, very well.
“We had a lot of live stuff in training today and on Tuesday, and he was at the forefront of it putting pressure on the boys, which is exactly what we need.
“We are preparing for a very good Argentina side who are going to be very physical, so we needed that, and Al has delivered it very, very well.
“He still very much understands the importance of every role. Al was very good in the contact (against New Zealand last weekend).
“From our point of view, we know everything we need to know about Al, and it is an opportunity to get some more experience for a guy like Ben Carter.
“It is all-round form and what the guys are doing in training and what they can deliver.
“When we get to the World Cup, we have got to make sure we have got the best four second-rows and the ability to start if we have an injury.”
Wales take on Argentina just seven days after losing 55-23 to New Zealand, which saw them fail to build on an impressive Test series in South Africa this summer.
Pivac added: “For South Africa, we had a month with the players and they were operating at the levels we operate at international level and they were ready to go.
“When you get them for two weeks, after what they’ve come off, it is very hard.
“You will probably see in another couple of weeks’ time, which is a month together, that we will probably be playing better rugby I would expect at the back end of this competition, rather than the start.
“That is just the reality of what it is, and we have to make sure, leading into the Ireland game in the Six Nations that somehow we’ve got to get these players in better condition.”
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They also use a far more consistent scale.
Rugby pass seem to have a different scale for each player based on the authors expectations or how much he likes them.
Can't fathom how Moodie and Reece both were a 3.
Go to commentsYes for sure, thanks for sharing. I fully understand that both parties are better off, no one needs to lose, neither competition suffers, in fact both can be better as a result.
Too many true rugby fans (and analysts) don't understand that.
I wouldn't imagine there is a date aye. It was a long decline rugby in SA and Australia was going through, and was so bad it even effected NZ, caused them to argue to can a couple of teams. The nation of SA probably grew into it? I know I watch more of the NH now specifically because of the SR teams playing there. I actually had to mention to Nick Bishop (because of his stubborn perspective) the other day that I've never been a fan of Super Rugby, I don't think they chose the right way to go about professionalism back in 1995. Unfortunately, NZR was stuck between a rock and a hard place, because it had SA's and Australians that ran their unions by States, so we had to separate into "two or three" teams as a result. Our game is in the kak now because of it, they want to kill off the lifeblood of our National Provincial Championship. But now we might see a way out of it, so it's all good.
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