0:27 Pivac says his side will need the experience of recalled forward Dan Lydiate during the Six Nations
In selecting the Ospreys flanker, Pivac has shown that, along with looking towards the future, he needs to rediscover Wales’ hard edge quickly – and 33-year-old Lydiate will go a long way to doing just that.
“We had a good look at some young players in the autumn series and we know what they can do and what their work-ons are. Clear messages have been sent to those who missed out,” Pivac continued.
“But Dan brings a wealth of experience and I think he’s back playing some of his best rugby. In the Six Nations, we’re going to need a lot of that experience.”
Key player
Dan Biggar: Biggar has been a mainstay of Welsh rugby for some time now, and at 31 he is one of the senior players in the squad who will settle the nerves of the younger players making their start on the international stage.
Biggar has 87 Test caps to his name, while the other two fly-halves in the squad, Sheedy and Jarrod Evans, have 10 between them.
Biggar’s influence therefore will go beyond what happens on the field; his duty will be to help guide the next generation of Wales No 10s in the squad, ensuring all can do a job for Pivac if called upon in this year’s Six Nations and beyond.
Championship record
Six Nations since 2000: Five-time winners (2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2019)
Overall: 27 titles outright (1893, 1900, 1902, 1905, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1922, 1931, 1936, 1950, 1952, 1956, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1994, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2019)
Wales’ 36-man squad for the 2021 Six Nations:
Forwards (20): Rhys Carre, Wyn Jones, Rhodri Jones, Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias, Ken Owens, Leon Brown, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Jake Ball, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Will Rowlands, Cory Hill, Dan Lydiate, Josh Navidi, Aaron Wainwright, Taulupe Faletau, Josh MacLeod, Justin Tipuric,
Backs (16): Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Kieran Hardy, Dan Biggar, Callum Sheedy, Jarrod Evans, Johnny Williams, Jonathan Davies, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, George North, Josh Adams, Hallam Amos, Louis Rees-Zammit, Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams.
Sourse: skysports.com
