Wales: Wayne Pivac urges mental toughness against South Africa

Lawrence Nolan

“It’s a long time between drinks,” responded Wales head coach Wayne Pivac when asked about the transition between his team’s last outing and the looming next one.

For after losing 22-21 at home to Italy, the Welsh must now head to face the world champions in their own backyard over three Tests. A test for any team, never mind one likely to be a little low on confidence.

Time to reflect

But Wales have earned a reputation for playing well with their backs against the wall in the past, and it is the mental toughness that the squad is capable of showing that Pivac reckons will stand the side in good stead.

“Nobody likes finishing on a sour note with a poor performance,” continued Pivac on the Italy game.

“For us, it is about making sure we reflect on that time wisely.

“From a mental point of view as well where we apply ourselves, and we’ve got to be strong mentally to go to South Africa over three Test matches.

“We need to make sure that we give ourselves every opportunity.

“It is not just a physical game we’ve got to be able to counter, but it is also a mental game as well. We need to make sure we are up to that challenge.

“History says we that haven’t done well there (in South Africa), clearly.

“We will be doing what we think we need to do to try to win the first Test, and then set ourselves up for a great series.”

Yet Wales do have experience of beating South Africa. Poor results in the republic have been countered with wins in four out of five of the last home Tests. It is up to the squad, which has been hit by injury, to show that same form and resilience away from home – on Saturday that will include trying to do so at a place where the team famously lost 96-13 24 years ago.

“I think in the past, Wales have had a very good kicking game,” continued Pivac, asked how Wales might be able to conjure up a special win.

“And they have had a very good defensive game and been able to negate some of the strengths South Africa bring.

“I think the key is on the day the only experience I had with the team against South Africa (last November) we had to make sure we could stop the lineout drive and try to stop the scrum penalties.

“You have also got to be good under the high ball. There is going to be a lot of kicking, a lot of clatter, and you have got to fight for everything in those areas of the game as well.

“Wales have been good at doing that. Hopefully, we will continue to be good at that, and that will put some pressure on them.

“We were embarrassed by that last performance (against Italy). There is no hiding from that.

“The players have spoken about it, management have spoken about it, and we are a better team than that.”

READ MORE: Springboks: Pieter-Steph du Toit ruled out of first Test against Wales

 

video thumbnail

South Africa v Wales series preview

Planet Rugby previews the upcoming series between the Springboks and Wales in South Africa.