Gatland: Wales chasing top dogs
11 Mar 2008
Warren Gatland says Wales are still a way behind matching the leading southern hemisphere nations.
Gatland, a New Zealander, has been the catalyst for a major turnaround in Wales’ play. They swept to a Triple Crown victory by beating Ireland on Saturday, and are favourites to win the Grand Slam when they face France in Cardiff.
Gatland added that he was pleasantly surprised at the skill level of the Wales players, but despite their success he concedes that his team are still a few notches below the standard set by the south’s big hitters.
“We’ve made some progress, but I’m trying to keep these guys’ feet on the ground. What they’ve achieved already has been pretty special but we’re still a few levels behind teams in the southern hemisphere,” he said.
“We’ve got a tour to South Africa in June and that’s going to be a test for us and we’re lucky enough to play the three southern hemisphere giants in the autumn. For us it’s seeing how much progress we can make in the next 12 months or so.
“We want to be one of the top five sides in the world and that’s just going to take a bit of time.”
Gatland, said “breaking down some of the barriers” that exist in the country was his biggest challenge, but was pleased to play a part of bringing joy to the long suffering Wales fans.
“The big buzz I’ve got is going to the stadium with 75,000 people there and just seeing the smiles on Welsh supporters’ faces. I get a real kick out of that.”
18 Comments
11 Mar 2008, 10:26 am
Would be very unfair to compare teams currently playing old rules vs teams playing ELV’s.
11 Mar 2008, 10:38 am
If they beats France and England they can beat SA/Aus/NZ at home at least.
11 Mar 2008, 10:40 am
#2 What rules will they be playing Biggles?
11 Mar 2008, 10:43 am
Normal rules Kwagga, the Welsh hate the ELVs and it was a WRU man who protested against them at the last IRB meeting.
He basically said that rugby is going to be railroaded into the ELVs if good men stand by and say nothing, so he spoke up and attacked the new laws.
11 Mar 2008, 10:52 am
Gonna be interesting with our guys now playing ELV’s and going back to old rules for the tests. Wales are playing great rugby at the moment and one gets the feeling the could surpize anybody on any day.
Don’t particulary like these new rules either. Some of them do make a bit of sense but I think in trying to make the game more spectacular they’ve gone overboard.
Like John Robbie said. Allow hands in the ruck and allow collapsing of the maul and that alone should have a significant effect in itself.
11 Mar 2008, 11:02 am
5.
I think SA and NZ will cope all right, they have the mentality for the normal rules but Australia could struggle.
Agree though, ELVs have went a little too far.
11 Mar 2008, 11:12 am
Big Hit, if you think Wales will beat either NZ, SA or OZ at home you’re severely disillusioned. They might be playing some “good” rugby but look at the opposition.
I’m willing to bet my house on it. You can’t mention any of the northern hemisphere sides in the same breath as any of the Tri-Nations sides, in fact, add Argentina to that list. The only side that came close was the 2002/2003 English. Other than that, keep dreaming.
11 Mar 2008, 11:25 am
I really hate what rugby has become in the S14. There is no plan other than give it to a big guy to run it up, wait for the inevitable short-arm, take the quick tap and get it to the quickest guy you’ve got
11 Mar 2008, 11:33 am
#8
and who’s fault is that? the idiot teams and coaches
look at the crusaders (and, to a lesser extent, the Blues, Sharks and Force) if you want to see a team that can play the ELVs.
it’s not about flinging the ball about willy-nilly as some, like Biggles, would have you believe…forward play can still win you games
11 Mar 2008, 11:36 am
the Saders-Force, Sharks-Blues games over the weekend were streets ahead of the tosh being dished up in the Six Nations
give me a choice between watching the Saders and watching England and I know which one I would go for every time
it’s not the super 14 that is ****, it’s the idiot teams and coaches who don’t understand how to use the new laws to their advantage
when a team gets a short arm there is no rule saying they HAVE to take a quick tap…they can, as the Saders have shown, take the scrum and get the opposition on the back foot.
11 Mar 2008, 11:36 am
#8 squonkmonk, have to agree with you, look at the improvement in structured play from round 1 to round 4, it’s been amazing.
Embrace the new laws instead of fighting them. They’re going to revolutionise rugby.
11 Mar 2008, 12:16 pm
7
Would that be the same all-conquering Tri-Nations sides which include Australia and New Zealand who were beaten by England and France at the World Cup?
Wales can beat Australia certainly, run SA close (SA probably too physical) and its 50/50 between them and NZ for my money.
11 Mar 2008, 12:25 pm
#12 That was an anomaly Big Hit and you know it. One World Cup out of six for the Northern Hemisphere. New Zealand weren’t beaten, they were robbed.
11 Mar 2008, 12:28 pm
13
How is it an anomaly when Ireland (not the only time) and England beat South Africa in the last set of AIs, Australia drew with Wales and lost to Ireland which led on to a RWC where NZ and Australia both lost to NH opposition and SA only beat a full strength England by 9 in the final.
How were NZ robbed, they were outfought and one marginal forward pass is no justification to say they were robbed?
You’re the one thats dreaming if you think Wales can’t turn over Aus/NZ/SA at the Millennium Stadium.
11 Mar 2008, 12:31 pm
“they can beat SA/Aus/NZ at home at least.”…Big Hit, I think I misunderstood you, my apologies. I thought you were saying they’d beat SA/OZ/NZ in SA/OZ/NZ.
In front of 75 000 singing Welshman, that’s a different story, only marginally though
11 Mar 2008, 12:52 pm
15.
Yeah, I don’t think they could beat them away.
12 Mar 2008, 00:51 am
#16
Wales will not beat them away and they might get close at home,but thats it.But in the same breath NZ could put pass 40 points against the welsh at there home park,and that has happened alot before
#14
We were not out thought,we just didnt think.
Now you are saying the pass was marginal yet when it happened you said it was fine BH.Actually who cares now,its in the past.We will move on and play great rugby like the world knows we can
12 Mar 2008, 18:45 pm
Big Hit, youre a knobhead.
‘marginal forward pass’ my arse. I was sitting in Millenium Stadium right ON the line and it was obvious !!! I was surrounded by French and they all collectively *sighed* as soon as the ball left Michalaks hands. They were more astonished than I when it wasnt called back.
The only ‘marginal forward pass’ was the SECOND forward pass in the same movement.
NZ has played countless times in Cardiff, Ive seen them there the past 5 Tests. They played the Grand Slam team in 2005. They havent lost to Wales, anywhere, in over 50years. And yet its “50/50″ in your books.
You are what is known as an opportunist. The fact Wales beat England team at HQ does not mean Wales are currently a great team. What it does confirm is what we already knew – that this England team are woeful ! All credit to the Bokke for winning the RWC but they did so in 2nd gear against a team already beaten 36zip and without having to face the 3 teams they had a losing record to under White – France, NZ & Aus. But rest assured, noone was supporting the Poms but the English.
Wales are doing well in 6N but the quality of rugby is dire this year. Gatland has merely said that in the most diplomatic terms, certainly the Bokke and Blacks would destroy the Boyos whether it was played in Cardiff, Pontypool or Rhossili.
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