Welsh TV presenter Sian Lloyd has launched a scathing criticism of Wales coach Wayne Pivac after he named his squad to tour to South Africa this summer, even insisting she could 'do a better job'.
Pivac picked a 33-man Wales squad on Wednesday for the three-Test series against the world champions in July, which will mark a return to international action for the men in red after the low point of losing to Italy for the first time and finishing fifth in the Six Nations. The omission of talented Ospreys back-rower Jac Morgan has been a major talking point, along with the non-selection of Jonathan Davies and Seb Davies.
As every rugby fan is entitled to, Sian, 63, aired her own view of the squad selection which came less than 18 months out from the Rugby World Cup in France - and it's fair to say the former ITV weather presenter was not impressed.
"Does Pivac actually understand rugby?" she posted on Twitter to her 70,000-plus followers. "This squad shows zero ambition and no forward planning. Clueless. As for his Jac Morgan comments, just b******s, as the stats show. Are Welsh Rugby Union really going to let him take us into Rugby World Cup? I could do a better job myself!"
Pivac opted for uncapped openside Tommy Reffell, who has been starring for Leicester Tigers this term, over Morgan. THis is despite Ospreys ace Morgan putting in a number of stunning performances for his region, including against Cardiff recently when he outshone Josh Navidi.
The Wales boss suggested he wants Morgan to bulk up over the off-season and get stronger in the contact area, even though that is a widely-perceived strength of the young Osprey. Indeed, he has achieved 22 turnovers in the United Rugby Championship this season. No player in the entire league has more, which rather contradicts what Pivac has said.
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And rugby-loving Sian made her own views on the matter known on social media.
Pivac had explained his Morgan call by saying: "I had a good chat to Jac around what we want him to do in the off-season and that's a big work-on in terms of what he can do in the strength and conditioning area. The game's a really physical game. Where we're going, South Africa, there are a lot of very big men. We've asked him to improve, if he can, in that area of physicality when he's over the ball, being even stronger than he is. He'll go away and work hard at his game, I know that. He's a young guy and he's desperate to get back into the side. It's all ahead of him."
Ospreys head coach Toby Booth admitted he was taken aback at Pivac's reasons for dropping Morgan, saying: “Am I surprised? Yeah, I suppose I am, really. It’s Wayne’s decision. Wayne has his reasons and so those questions are really for him."
Booth, it evidently appears, isn't the only one perplexed by the decision.
