Ken Owens has praised Wayne Pivac’s resillience, as Wales go in search of a Grand Slam in his second year in charge.
Pivac faced criticism in 2020 as Wales won just one Guinness Six Nations game and finished fifth in the table.
But they have bounced back spectacularly and can win a second Grand Slam in three years with a win against France on Super Saturday.
Hooker Owens has played a key role, scoring two tries in Round 4’s 48-7 win away to Italy, and he’s hailed the way Pivac has rebounded this year.
“It has obviously been a tough transition for him stepping into the job after the great work Gats [Warren Gatland] did over the last 10 years,” he said.
“It was never going to be an easy job and there have been some teething problems early on. But I think he has stuck to his guns, believed in his philosophy and tweaked things along the way.
“We look at things after every campaign and I am just glad he has backed the squad, backed the players and backed the management.
“The players and staff have done the same with him and we’ve got an ‘all in it together’ mentality.
“Fortunately we have got some results on the board and hopefully we are on the verge of a bit of history.”
The 2021 Championship is set for a thrilling Super Saturday, with Wales facing the only side who can prevent them from becoming champions.
France’s own Grand Slam hopes faded at Twickenham, as England came back to win 23-20, but they can still claim their first title in 11 years with bonus point wins against Wales and Scotland in the re-arranged Round 3 encounter.
And Owens is refusing to get carried away, insisting Wales need to be at their very best to win at the Stade de France.
“I think it is just keeping our focus and not getting sucked into all the outside talk about what is riding on the game,” he added. “All the boys will know that.
“We need to make sure we get the intensity right in training and maintain plenty of energy.
“We are going to have to hit the ground running, because France started quickly against England. We’ve got to be ready for whatever they throw at us.”
