Gatland has sights set on ’Boks

Apr 15 2008 by Simon Roberts, Western Mail

WARREN GATLAND is putting together a dossier to cope with Wales’ two Tests at altitude in South Africa.

Wales’ Grand Slam winning coach is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to make sure his Six Nations Championship winners are prepared to take on the world champions in their own backyard.

Gatland’s players have been given the daunting task of trying to cope with the energy-sapping conditions on the high veldt.

He has revealed his coaching and backroom staff are putting a study together to cope with dealing with the rarified atmosphere high above sea level in Pretoria and Bloemfontein.

Athletes usually train at high altitude in a bid to improve their stamina and lung capacity.

Wales play two Tests against the ’Boks on June 7 and 14, but have never won a Test match on South African soil in six previous attempts

The Wales coach is in the middle of carrying out an investigation into South American soccer.

“Wales have never won in South Africa,” said Gatland.

“We know that playing two Test matches on the high veldt is very difficult.

“We have been looking at some comparisons with football. We haven’t looked at how any of the rugby sides have dealt with the conditions.

“We have found soccer teams in South America, who play at altitude, have won 70 to 80% of the games they play at home.

“We are trying to find out how that can help us.

“We know this tour is going to be a huge challenge and a lot depends on how we handle conditions out there.”

Gatland’s decision to garner as much information as possible about the conditions in South Africa shows how seriously Wales are taking their trip to face the world champions.

The tough-talking New Zealander is certainly aware Wales couldn’t have a better chance to end their dismal record in South Africa.

The ’Boks have lost Jake White, their World Cup-winning coach and host of key players, like Percy Montgomery and Os du Randt, while

Peter de Villiers hasn’t enjoyed his first few months in charge as White’s successor.

He has only just signed his new contract and had to fight to have the final say on who he selects for his side.

Gatland is clearly relishing the task of pitting himself against the best side on the planet.

“It’s now about how we take the next step,” he said.

“It’s a chance to see how much we have improved over the last three months.

“We know we have improved, everybody saw that in the Six Nations, but we have to build on that now.

“We are excited about the challenge, even though we know how difficult it is going to be, but it’s all about taking on the best.”

Gatland’s attitude to the tour is underlined by his decision to take the strongest possible squad on tour.

Only Mike Phillips, Wales’ Grand Slam scrum-half, who is out for six months with a serious injury, is not available.

But Gatland still hasn’t decided whether he will take flanker Martyn Williams and lock Ian Gough.

He will talk to the pair of them before he decides whether to rest them.

“I see Martyn has said he wants to tour, but I need to talk to him before we make a final decision on that,” said Gatland.

Wales’ last visit to South Africa, with Mike Ruddock as coach, was in 2004, when they suffered a humiliating 53-18 defeat to the ’Boks in Pretoria.

Gatland is expected to name his tour squad in the next couple of weeks.

“The squad will be about pretty much the same as it was in the Six Nations,” he said .

“We will take 26 to 28 players and the front-runners to tour will be the players in the Six Nations.

“But we will also have a look at a couple of players outside of the squad who have performed well.”

Richard Hibbard, the young Ospreys hooker, is one player in contention to make the trip, but so is Warren Fury, the London Irish scrum-half.

Hibbard produced an impressive display in the Ospreys’ EDF Energy Cup final victory over Leicester Tigers last weekend.

“Richard did very well in the final,” said Gatland.

“He carried very well and has become more professional in the last three months and is taking his rugby seriously.

“He still has some work to do physically.”

But Swansea-born Fury will be a new name to most of Welsh rugby.

The 22-year-old was signed by Gatland during his tenure in charge of Wasps, before he moved to London Irish.

Wales will take two scrum-halves on tour and with Phillips injured, Dwayne Peel is first-choice, but the second scrum-half spot could be a battle between Fury and Gloucester’s Gareth Cooper.

“Losing Mike is a huge loss,” said Gatland.

“Dwayne took a knock to his shoulder for the Scarlets against the Blues and Gareth hasn’t played much rugby for Gloucester.

“So scrum-half is a concern for us and we are looking around to see who else is available.”

Warren Gatland was speaking at the official launch of the release of a new DVD – Wales Grand Slam: 7 Days to Grand Slam glory. Price £15.99.