Wayne Pivac wants Wales to stay strong despite ‘backward step’

Wayne Pivac believes that Wales must “stay strong” and show belief after their Guinness Six Nations campaign ended in shambolic fashion.

A year on from winning the title, Wales collapsed at home to wooden spoonists Italy.

It was their first loss in Cardiff to the Azzurri, who had not won a Six Nations game in their previous 36 attempts across a demoralising seven-year period.

Although head coach Pivac has credit in the bank following last season’s title triumph, he has now seen Wales lose 15 of 27 Tests since he succeeded Warren Gatland following the 2019 World Cup.

Eighteen months before rugby union’s next global spectacular, Pivac finds himself addressing a second fifth-placed finish from his three Six Nations campaigns.

What should have been a day of celebration in the Cardiff sunshine for captain Dan Biggar and lock Alun Wyn Jones, who won their 100th and 150th Wales caps, respectively, imploded spectacularly as Italy claimed a stunning 22-21 victory.

Biggar said immediately after the game that it had been “probably the last chance for a lot of players,” and life is not about to get any easier, with Wales’ next three Tests being away from home against world champions South Africa in July.

“It is a backward step – there is no doubt about that, and there is no hiding from that,” Pivac said.

“It is fine margins, but we have to stay strong and believe in what we are doing. This group does that, and we believe in the players that we have.

“We will review the whole competition, look at the positives and negatives and make sure we build from this campaign. We have to, because if we don’t, it has been a waste of time.”

Pivac’s future will inevitably be debated on Welsh rugby’s intense public platform, and he added: “They are