Question: Wayne, you’re the first Welsh team to win in South Africa, how does that feel?
Wayne Pivac: After last week it feels very good, obviously. We went through the pain of that last quarter and tonight we’ve actually turned that game around and won it in the last quarter. So that was very special.
But this South Africa side that we played didn’t disappoint. They came in and knocked us off our stride in that first half. We weren’t able to build enough pressure in phases. We talked about that at half time.
The game slipped away at 12-3 but we were able to pull it back and that was very pleasing because a lot of work has gone in since last week.
Q: The character you showed as well, going a man down?
WP: Yeah it had a little tinge of last week to it. Certainly, our discipline was a lot better in the pressure moments, in the last quarter. We were able to get some field position and have one last crack ourselves to get across and score the only try of the game.
And then to hold out that last scrum. That was a big moment for us as well and for young Sam Wainwright, on his debut, to go in and do such a good job, I’m very pleased for him.
I’m pleased for the side after last week, it was obviously a very disappointing changing room. Tonight it’s a very happy one.
Q: Alex Cuthbert and Kieran Hardy – how are they?
WP: Kieran is fine, that was a substitution. Alex did something to his arm and it troubled him in the air. He was desperate to play on but it was just one of those unfortunate moments, getting an injury early.
The players that came on all acquitted themselves very well.
Q: Do you think you’ll be playing the South Africa side from the first Test rather than this one in Cape Town?
WP: I thought there were some South African players today that did very well and put us under a lot of pressure. A bit like ourselves last week, did enough to win a Test match but didn’t quite get there.
It will be an interesting selection but it will be the strongest South African team because it’ll be a decider and both teams have entered into this to win a series. We’re just pleased that we got across the line tonight but we go to Cape Town with that opportunity.
Q: The job is not done yet though...
WP: No, it’s not done. It’s two down with one to play. It’s two really tight contests coming down to the last plays of the game. We’d like to think we’ll put up a fight next week, similar to these first two weeks and, again, we’ll get a really tight contest, which is what we’re after.
Q: It’s the first time since 2016 that South Africa have been kept tryless in South Africa?
WP: We didn’t look after the ball in the first half, we turned a lot of it over. At half time we knew we needed to tidy that up but it gave South Africa opportunities and put us under a lot of pressure. To be able to hold them out, tryless, doesn’t happen every day. Gethin Jenkins (defence coach) will be very pleased and the boys worked hard in defence. Last week we leaked a few when we put ourselves under the same pressure, so it was a step in the right direction.
Obviously the penalty count was a lot more in our favour than it was last week. We made some improvements, which were needed.
Q: You looked ecstatic in the last few minutes in the coaches box?
WP: We were. Probably not so much because of the history, though we’re very well aware of that and proud of it. But it was more the disappointment for the players who had put in such a huge shift last week. There was so much disappointment in the changing room when we’d worked so hard. We really wanted to create history last week against the side we were up against. To be denied that was really frustrating.
There was a lot of emotion that poured out. It was more around the feeling from last week, which we’ve taken into this week. I’m just really happy for the players who did so well last week but didn’t get across the line.
To come back from 12-3 to get that result and the way they did it... I’m very happy.
Q: What are you expecting from Cape Town?
WP: For a start, Cape Town is a beautiful place to be. It’s one of the nicest places in the world that I’ve been to. So we’re going to enjoy our stay there but we’ll be working very hard. We’re going to look at how we plan the week, we’ll reassess that once we get the boys checked out physically tomorrow.
It’ll be an enjoyable week because there is something on the game and, in the past, it hasn’t always been that way. There is a lot to look forward to.
Q: You personally copped a lot of flak after the Italy game, now you’ve achieved something no Wales coach has ever done?
WP: To be honest, it’s not about individuals. I certainly don’t feel like I’ve achieved any more than anyone else in the group. It’s the boys that play the game. We prepare them, they go out there and they have to go through some dark times in an 80 minute game. They’ve done that and dug themselves out of a hole at 12-3 and got a result that we’re all proud of. I’m just happy to be part of a group that has come together very well.
We can build on this performance and it’s certainly what we want to do. There’s a big Test match next week but there’s a very big World Cup coming up in 12 months time.
Q: What did you make of Alun Wyn Jones’ yellow card?
WP: Well it was one of those, on the far side of the field, it’s one of those things. Al was disappointed but I haven’t had a chance to look at it.
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