The 55-year-old Scarlets’ head coach was this week unveiled as Gatland’s successor at the Principality Stadium and immediately pledged to carry on the good work of his fellow Kiwi. Gatland is set to lead Wales into a third World Cup in Japan next year and has picked up two Grand Slams and a fourth place finish on the global stage since taking over the reins in 2008.
“Warren has had success – Grand Slams – and it’s something I want to achieve. I want to win, that’s what we’re in the game for,” said Pivac.
“There’s no reason why you can’t have success. People at the Scarlets probably felt we were a wee way off a few years ago, but a bit of hard work and you can achieve great things.
“I’m sure the talent that is in Wales, and the success we’ve seen on the last tour, the consistent form, the win/loss record shows that. It gives us every opportunity to do well.”
The former New Zealand policeman led the Scarlets to Guinness PRO12 glory in 2017 and followed that up with another final appearance last season and a first trip to the semi-finals in Europe since 2007. That record, allied to the eye-pleasing, expansive style he has introduced, made him the pick of the bunch of the final three candidates identified by the WRU.
“One thing I like to do in any job is create an environment where the players enjoy coming to work. If we can do that then we’ll be OK and have success,” added Pivac.
“If you look at the tour that’s just finished it was a huge success. Warren blooded a lot of new players, he learned a lot from them, and he achieved results at the same time.
“That was really important for the national team and I don’t think the national team could be any happier for the next stage of the preparation for the World Cup – I think they’re in a really good place.”
Speculation will now intensify around who Pivac will take with him into the national set-up, with former Welsh internationals Stephen Jones and Byron Hayward likely to be high on his list of candidates for the attack and defence roles given their success in harness with him at the Scarlets.
“I’m going to have an open mind on who will join me and we will have a very honest process and discussion about it,” he said.
“It’s such a serious business here and there will be no favouritism to people I know. It will be about the people who are compatible for the role and the best people for the role.”
