Wayne Pivac's brilliant one-liner turned match on its head in 'best team talk ever'

Wales Online

30-05-2025

Wayne Pivac's brilliant one-liner turned match on its head in 'best team talk ever'
The New Zealander delivered a half-time team talk that got his side over the line
One sentence from Wayne Pivac was enough to motivate his players
(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd )
Wales international Rhys Patchell has revealed a comical one-liner from Wayne Pivac inspired Scarlets to a famous victory.
Patchell appeared as a guest on the latest episode of BBC Scrum V's The Warm Up alongside Lauren Jenkins, Ellis Jenkins and Alex Cuthbert.
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The 32-year-old rugby star spoke about Scarlets' famous semi-final win over Irish heavyweights Leinster in 2017. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
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Of course, that was the year the west Walians clinched the Pro12 title against Munster at the Aviva Stadium in a thrilling finale.
However, prior to that, they had secured arguably an even more impressive win against the Dublin-based province.
Facing Leinster in a decisive second half wasn't the only challenge for them, with winger Steff Evans being sent off for a tip-tackle before the break and leaving the Llanelli side to play the second half with one player fewer.
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However, this didn't dampen their spirits, as Patchell says.
"The best thing that we did," began Patchell.
"Was that Lewis Rawlins absolutely drilled Johnny Sexton in the first five minutes and after that, he was always getting rid of the ball early because he didn't want to come to the line, because Lewy hit him that hard.
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"We came in at half-time, didn't concede, managed the game to half-time, came in, Byron Hayward comes up with a plan.
"Right, we're going to stick Cubby (James Davies) on the wing, on scrum defence, and otherwise, we're just going to have to work really hard in the backfields at all other times.
"And Pivac's best-ever half-time team talk, the best half-time team talk ever.'
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"I know what's coming,' said Cuthbert.
"Just before we walked out, he pops his head back around,' continues Patchell.
"And goes: 'Lads, imagine the night out we're going to have if we win this way'.
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"We were right in the thick of Cubby's tours and the boys enjoying a beer together and the social aspect of it.
"And out (in the) second half, got the job done and it was a pretty good night!"
Scarlets would go on to win the match 27-15 thanks to tries from the dismissed Evans, Aaron Shingler and Gareth Davies, with Patchell and Liam Williams knocking over points form the tee.
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Pivac's Scarlets defeated Munster 46-22 in the grand final in Dublin in a nine-try thriller. With Cardiff winning the Challenge Cup in 2018, Scarlets' league victory remains one of the last major trophies a Welsh region has won.