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'It's fine margins at this level': Pivac opens up after being dismissed by Wales

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The international rugby coaching merry-go-round is in full swing, with three proud nations having announced significant changes as they look to get their World Cup dreams back on track.

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Following a disastrous campaign, which included a first-ever loss to minnows Georgia in Cardiff, the Welsh Rugby Union were the first team to axe their head coach Wayne Pivac.

New Zealand-born Pivac had been released from his duties, while former Wales boss Warren Gatland was named to return nine month’s out from the World Cup.

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Since, the RFU have fired super coach Eddie Jones, and the Wallabies have parted ways with Dave Rennie – who has been replaced by Jones.

Wales had a become a shadow of their former selves throughout a tough campaign; falling to ninth in the world rankings, just a year after they won the Six Nations.

After winning a test against the Springboks on South African soil in July, Wales slumped to a shocking run of form throughout the Autumn Nations Series.

The All Blacks turned a corner with an emphatic 23-55 win at the Principality Stadium, before the Welsh bounced back with a win over Los Pumas.

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But the worst was yet to come.

A shocking loss at home to Georgia seemed to seal Pivac’s fate, before a stunning collapse against the Wallabies a week later.

Reflecting on his time in charge of Wales, Pivac said he was “very disappointed” with how it all ended.

“Obviously very disappointed not to have seen the job through to the World Cup but it’s fine margins at this level of the game, and ultimately the buck stops with me when it comes to results,” Pivac said on The Platform earlier this week.

“Very disappointed but now looking forward to the next challenge.

“Hindsight is a great thing isn’t it? There might be the odd selection here and there but ultimately it comes down to the style of game you want to play,” he added later.

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“I think we did that well at times and other times we didn’t.

“Probably for me, it’s making sure that we were more consistent than we were, and there’s a lot of factors that come into that.

“But ultimately I control that. The results weren’t as good as I would’ve liked personally, and we’re probably the most critical on ourselves as coaches.

“There were some highlights obviously which I’m really, really proud of. Winning that championship and getting the record points and tries, and obviously winning for the first time in South Africa for a Welsh team.

“There were some things to be proud of but also unearthing some very, very good young talent which I think will hold Wales in good stead going forward though to probably 2027.”

Wales were clearly falling short of where they needed to be ahead of this year’s World Cup, so change was necessary.

But even when the going got tough, and losses started to become more common, not many people in the rugby world would’ve tipped Georgia’s stunning upset.

Tries to Jac Morgan saw the hosts race out to an early lead, before Georgia struck back through Sandro Todua mid-way through the second-half.

Then, with three minutes to play, Tedo Abzhandadze kicked a penalty which handed the visitors a one-point lead – which they hung onto as well.

That’s when Pivac knew his time in charge of the Wales nation team was coming to an end.

“Probably after the Georgia game to be honest, a game that Wales should never lose.

“Certainly after the game, just body language you can tell, for me the writing was on the wall then.

“We had one more game to play against Australia and that game, for 60 odd minutes of the game it was a record score against Australia and we were cruising.

“Then to lose it the way we did with a few yellow cards and an injury was pretty gutting really. All in all, very disappointing.”

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Easy_Duzz-it 28 minutes ago
Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The world never caught up the All Blacks just went backwards . After 2015 they had a plan to build the team around 2 players . Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett , Cane was hailed as the next Mccaw and Barrett the next carter . Unfortunately Cane sustained too many injures and Barrett despite being a great ball runner didn't have a high enough conversion rate or the game management skills to control the team and the game . Then to make matters worst , the selections were so bad year after year the forward pack became shockingly weak .

New Zealand had so much talent wasted betwen 2016 - 2023 . Laumape , elliot dixon , ben tamefuna , pita gus , ben lam , vaea fifita and so many other in form players that never got a look or the time to develop into great All Blacks .


Then you have the dual playmaker system that never worked , but they kept using it . why ? cause some men cant admit when they're wrong . thats the All Blacks between 2016-2023 . wrong coaches with the wrong vision , going in the wrong direction . now it appears the world caught up . but like I said the world never caught up . then you add the obvious flawed referee calls that happen to go against us more often then for us now . the worst of which that never gets called is when the opposition use rush defence but have players offside . this has been going for years , but who cares ? .


anyway its almost 10 and i need to get some shut eye .

Go the might All Blacks !!!!

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