Wales breakthrough ace Taine Basham reveals what Wayne Pivac said to him following surprise Six Nations axe

If feedback is the breakfast of champions, as a famous business consultant once suggested, then Taine Basham was treated to a hearty offering in a sit-down with Wayne Pivac after the Six Nations.

We’ll call it a full Welsh. Basham went from being Wales’ player of the series during the autumn and their top performer in the Six Nations opener against Ireland to being left out completely for the final two games of the championship, against France and Italy.

He could have been forgiven for feeling a spot of anxiety over his demotion, but the player who would have been a plasterer had he not made it as a rugby player isn’t the type who worries. At 22, Basham has time on his side.

“I felt pretty good after the first couple of games of the Six Nations — Ireland and Scotland were decent outings for me,” he said. “Then there were experienced players coming back into the squad and a few errors crept into my game.

“At my age, I'm working on those errors and my graft. It's nothing worrying and I will just keep working hard and hopefully I will be back out there in the summer. I sat down with Wayne after not being involved towards the end of the championship. It was an open and honest chat and fairly positive, considering I didn’t play in the final two matches.

“I still keep in contact with the likes of Wales contact area coach Gareth Williams after regional games, so I am still in the picture.”

Asked what had Pivac said to him, Basham replied: “There are a few errors creeping into my game…just keep on working at my craft. I’m only 22 and still learning the game. I don’t want to lose sight of that. But over the next couple of seasons, maybe that’s when I will become the finished article.”

Fair play to the Dragon for recognising that