With three straight Super Rugby titles in his back pocket, Mooar is keen to bring that winning mentality to Llanelli and his new team this season. “We had an expectation to win every day with the Crusaders and at times you can really thrive on it,” said Mooar.
“I was impressed with the aspirations of the Scarlets and the willingness to walk the walk not just talk the talk. We have the resources off the field to build a squad that can take on the PRO14 and Europe and do very well.
“Every player who puts the jersey on wants to perform to the best of their ability. For us as coaches it’s about creating an environment where the guys are excited to come to work.
“I want them to get better all the time and as coaches we need to test them to make sure they are growing as rugby players. We also need to make sure we put pressure on them in training so we can perform in the games.
“If we can create that environment and win the moments throughout the week then we will win games. We need to make sure we are switched on when we are at a meeting and in training.
“Wayne Pivac is leaving a really strong environment and I want to continue to strengthen it. I don’t feel pressure at all, but there is always going to be pressure when there is an expectation to win.”
Mooar has succeeded Pivac in charge of the Scarlets as the latter will take over from Warren Gatland as Wales head coach after the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. Despite his huge successes in the southern hemisphere, Mooar is all too aware the European game will provide an altogether different set of challenges.
His first season in charge is slightly different due to the World Cup impacting the start of the Guinness PRO14 and Heineken Champions Cup campaigns. “The biggest challenge for me is forming a real quick understanding of the nature of the competitions and the season,” Mooar said.
“I need to make sure the squad remains cohesive. The length of the season is a challenge and as coaches we need to break the season up.
“There is also different weather throughout different parts of the season which is another challenge. It’s a really strong squad with internationals across the park.
“There are some outstanding players like Ken Owens, Jonathan Davies, Rhys Patchell and Leigh Halfpenny.
What Halfpenny doesn’t know about playing in the back three isn’t worth knowing and there is a bit of a Kiwi contingent there with three guys I know very well in Hadleigh Parkes, Kieron Fonotia and Johnny McNicholl.
“I’m looking forward to working with them all and having another rugby experience in another country. One of the major things I learnt from working in South Africa a few years ago with the Kings was how different rugby philosophies can be and how many opportunities there are to learn.”
