Warren Gatland has tasked his squad with giving the fans something to feel happy about again after a turbulent spell which has been perhaps the most shameful in the history of Wales rugby union.
The returning Kiwi – who will take change of his first Wales international in more than three years when Ireland visit in the Six Nations on Saturday – became unwittingly and unfairly caught up in the Welsh Rugby Union sexism scandal, having to answer questions on the discriminatory culture discovered to be rife in the governing body which led Steve Phillips to resign as chief executive.
Gatland was unsurprisingly far more comfortable discussing the sport at Wales HQ on Tuesday, admitting that one of the reasons he brought the team announcement forward from tomorrow was to help his squad concentrate on the mountainous mission of facing the world’s No 1 ranked nation.
“Part of that is so we can just talk about rugby as well,” Gatland said. “It’s been quite hard but the important thing is looking forward to playing at home in the stadium and hopefully everyone’s focus in the next couple of days can be on the rugby side of things.
“Last week there was only one topic of discussion and that was understandable. This week the message to players is we have a Test match to focus on. Rugby has been the only talking point and the players have been great. It’s been a bit of a challenge, but our whole focus is on Saturday.”
When asked if the Dragonhood needed to get the supporters back on side after so many negative headlines, Gatland replied: “I think it’s important for us that we give a performance. I’m comfortable with losing if we get beaten by a better side. But what I won’t tolerate from the players and what I expect is that when they come off and they look themselves in the mirror, they can say, ‘God I tried really hard today’.
“And if those fans can see those players giving 100 per cent, then that’s all I can ask for as a coach – and that’s all I think the fans can expect. And the way that these guys have been this week, I am confident that they’ll go out there and demonstrate how much it means to them.”
‘These players are different specimens when they put on the red jersey’
Gatland was characteristically keen to talk up Wales’s role as underdogs while redirecting the spotlight on to the opponents who have enjoyed such a spectacular run, including a Test series win in New Zealand.
“I suppose the free hit for us is that the expectation and pressure is on Ireland,” he said. “It hasn’t always been the easiest tag for Irish and Welsh teams to carry – going in as the favourites. You can get upsets because there is a huge amount of history and rivalry and there’s been a lot of close games. And what keeps coming back from the Irish players is that when they are with their provinces they often comfortably beat the Welsh regions – but these same Welsh players turn into different specimens when they put on that red jersey. That’s what they need to show the fans on Saturday.”
It is fair to say that the cast list will be familiar to a sold-out Principality Stadium, where Ireland have not won a Six Nations match since 2013. When he accepted the offer to replace the sacked Wayne Pivac last month, Gatland indicated that, for a variety of factors, there had not been nearly enough transition in the squad and so, inevitably, he finds himself walking the tightrope between ensuring he has the competitive nous to provide a realistic challenge, as well as bringing on the youngsters with this autumn’s World Cup in mind.
So as well as the experience provided by seven of the XV who have 80 caps or more – including Leigh Halfpenny, at full-back, making his first international start in 19 months and Alun Wyn Jones, the 167-times capped second rower, handed the mission of “busting himself for 40 minutes” – there is 20-year-old Joe Hawkins, with one cap, at inside centre, 23-year Rio Dyer, with three caps, on the wing, and Jac Morgan, 23, with six caps on the blindside.
Naturally, this is the alchemy of the successful international head coach, but does fine vintage wine mix with the sparkly stuff, does grey hair blend in with bum fluff? “This is a balancing act,” Gatland acknowledged. “We want to do well in this Six Nations, but we have to think long term and the development of guys who haven’t had much Test rugby and how we get them ready for France.”
Wales team to play Ireland
L Halfpenny (Scarlets); J Adams (Cardiff), G North (Ospreys), J Hawkins (Ospreys), R Dyer (Dragons); D Biggar (Toulon), T Williams (Cardiff); G Thomas (Ospreys), K Owens (Scarlets, capt), T Francis (Ospreys), A Beard (Ospreys), A W Jones (Ospreys), J Morgan (Ospreys), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Cardiff).
Replacements: S Baldwin (Ospreys), R Carre (Cardiff), D Lewis (Cardiff), D Jenkins (Exeter), T Reffell (Leicester), R Webb (Ospreys), O Williams (Ospreys), A Cuthbert (Ospreys).
Article courtesy of
Source link
