Wales ‘unlucky game’ issue receives World Rugby comments

Wayne Pivac accepts that Wales have to exercise much more discipline when aiming for a Test Series-level victory over South Africa Saturday. The Welsh face the Springboks at Bloemfontein after a thrilling first test which world champions South Africa won 32-29 following Damian Willemse’s penalty with the final kick of the game.

As Wales took on South Africa and produced arguably their best performance of Pivac’s coaching reign, they were also punished by referee Nika Amashukeli. The Georgia official received a yellow card for four Wales players – Dan Biggar |Alum Wyn Jones, Louis Rees-Zammit and Square Rhys – with the tourists briefly reduced to twelve men in a frantic finale.

Wales also conceded 15 penalties to the Springboks’ seven, plus three free-kicks, with the cumulative effect of that indiscipline ultimately costing them dearly. Pivac said: “It’s really about focusing on what we can bring to the game and hopefully it’s going to be a lot more disciplined than last week because we’ve clearly let ourselves down in that area of ​​the game.

Dan Biggar talks about Springbok selection for second Test

Dan Biggar talks about Springbok selection for second Test

“Holding South Africa as close as we have for as long as we have, with the penalty tally as it was, is a testament to the good job we have done.”

Pivac, who confirmed Wales had sought and received comment from World Rugby, underlined his disappointment at Rees-Zammit’s sin-binning, which came seven minutes from time. The Gloucester The wing was penalized after a try tackle on Springboks substitute Willie le Roux, after being judged for intentionally slowing down play.

“It was the unluckiest game of the game,” added Pivac. “Obviously, from our perspective, we thought it was a great play. It was a big moment of the match for us and very disappointing. We know there are areas in the game that we need to improve in terms of discipline, but we also felt there were things that were not going our way.

Pivac called the wing Alex Cuthbert as a solitary change to the starting XV, replacing Josh Adams who is on the bench where a forced switch sees outlet Saracens sustain Sam Wainwright succeeding Tomas Francis. He was dismissed by the Wales medical team and returned home after suffering a concussion in the first Test loss in Pretoria.

Wainwright, 24, born in North Wales, was drafted into the tour squad last month as an injured replacement Leon Brown and his Test debut now awaits him as Wales aim for a maiden victory against the Springboks in South Africa. Mid Wales George Northmeanwhile, will equal Stephen Jones’ record as the most capped Welsh men’s international defender with 104 appearances.

Unlike Pivac, his Springbok counterpart Jacques Nienaber made 14 changes to the series opener, retaining only lock Eben Etzebeth. Welsh great Gareth Edwards has been among the critics of South Africa’s selection approach, saying it lacks respect for tourists.

Pivac said: “They will have their reasoning. They have depth and quality throughout their team and they have experience in this team. We know that the team we will face will be full of enthusiasm. When you give rugby players an opportunity, most of the time they will grab it with both hands.

“We are expecting a South African team full of ambition, full of intensity, and we know they will come with one thing in mind and that is to win a test match. You can’t really gauge the team. South African because the team we are facing is not the XV we faced last week.

“When a coach does what South Africa did, it’s a big pat on the back for his team. For us, it’s about getting our own house in order and making sure that we can start as well as we did last week.