Wayne Pivac said his Wales team were “over the moon” to be crowned Six Nations champions after France lost 27-23 to Scotland.
Les Bleus required a bonus-point victory and a winning margin of at least 21 points from Friday evening’s rearranged clash with the Scots to snatch the title but they fell short. The result in Paris was welcome news for the Welsh, who claimed Championship glory for the second time in three years.
Pivac’s men had been forced to wait an additional six days to discover their fate after the heartbreak of Saturday’s last-gasp 32-30 defeat at Stade de France denied them a Grand Slam.
Pivac told BBC Sport: “What a tournament it has been and, from a Welsh point of view, we are over the moon. We are very happy to have won the championship. It’s a shame we couldn’t have done it together as a group last week. We felt we did quite a bit in the game to win it but it wasn’t to be.
“It doesn’t take away from the fact a lot of hard work has been done and we’ve come out on top of the points table and won the tournament.”
Wales’ success marked a remarkable turnaround for head coach Pivac, who faced questions about his future having finished fifth in last year’s Six Nations.
Wales won just three of 10 Tests in 2020 and were unfancied ahead of the tournament. But, after edging past the 14 men of both Ireland and Scotland, a 40-24 success over deposed champions England and a routine win against Italy were ultimately enough to hold off the challenge of Fabien Galthie’s talented French side.
Pivac, who succeeded fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland following the 2019 World Cup, said: “We are obviously very happy with how things are going in our camp and we’ve built nicely through the competition. Some great rugby has been played in this tournament and it is exciting times for all concerned.”
Wales fly-half Callum Sheedy hailed his team’s fighting spirit.
“I still think I’m going to wake up and it’s all going to be a dream,” Sheedy told the BBC. “It’s all a bit surreal. We’re chuffed to be champions. The more people write us off and tell us how bad we are the better we play.
“When we have our backs against the wall, we come out fighting, and I think that’s what the Welsh nation is all about.”
It was Wales’ sixth Six Nations title since 2000 and their first under coach Pivac.
“We might not have the most talent in the world, but we’re up there with having the most heart,” Sheedy added. “It’s all happened so quick the last year. I’m really enjoying the ride and long may it continue.”