Despite defeat by England in the Autumn Nations Cup, Wayne Pivac can be cheered by his side’s gutsy display
Before kick-off, Wales would probably have settled for the final scoreline back in 1887, when England first played an international match in Llanelli. Given recent results, last week’s win over a limited Georgia excepted, even a 0-0 stalemate would have felt like relative progress and a respite from the gloomy muttering about the immediate future for Wayne Pivac’s squad.
Instead the home side should, in some respects, feel quietly encouraged. By the end they were beaten, yes, but their defensive spirit and appetite for the fray against strong, confident opposition was definitely a cause for optimism. While the scrums were an issue, this was by no means the one-sided rout some had been fearing. Along with the missing pomp and circumstance which normally adorns this fixture there was absolutely no sign of Welsh defeatism which Pivac, for one, will be delighted about.
