Wayne Pivac senses ‘big challenge’ from Six Nations rivals as Wales defend title

Wayne Pivac has predicted a “hotly contested” Guinness Six Nations Championship as Wales prepare to launch their title defence.

Despite winning the tournament last season, Wales go into battle as fourth favourites with the bookmakers behind France, England and Ireland.

On the surface, it is potentially a fair rating given that Wales are without several injured star players for the whole competition.

That list features captain Alun Wyn Jones, plus his fellow British and Irish Lions Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens, Josh Navidi and Justin Tipuric, while George North, Dan Lydiate and Taulupe Faletau only have outside chances of being involved in the competition’s latter stages.

Wales head coach Pivac is minus around 700 caps of Test match experience and his players face a tough opener away against in-form Ireland on February 5 before hosting Scotland and then tackling England at Twickenham.

Form since last year’s title triumph has proved patchy, with the highlight being an Autumn Nations Series victory over Australia, but that was preceded by losses against Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa.

With Ireland and France having toppled the All Blacks in November, and England taking the scalp of world champions South Africa, Pivac accepts that a major test awaits.

We are all trying to advance and grow our squads- Wales head coach Wayne Pivac

“It is probably going to be a big challenge again with the advances France, England and Ireland have made,” he said.

“We are all trying to advance and grow our squads, and we are no different.

“We are hamstrung a little bit by our availability, but certainly the opportunities that presents to others and the excitement that comes with that, let’s hope that goes a long way to helping us get the