Since Warren Gatland’s departure Wales have lost five out of six Tests and Wayne Pivac needs a result against Ireland
Warren Gatland’s final words as Wales’s head coach a year ago after they had finished fourth in the
World Cup resonated long into the Tokyo night. Reflecting on his 12 years in charge, during which they had risen from 10th in the world rankings to first for a few weeks in 2019, he put on a rare show of emotion.
“We feel we have put respect back into Wales as an international team,” he said. “Because of what we have done and what we have achieved, it would break my heart if Wales went back into the doldrums. There’s an opportunity for the new group to come in and build on what we have created and to improve on it. I just want them to continue.”