Kiwi factor can give Wales winning edge

Jan 28 2008 by Paul Abbandonato, Western Mail

WARREN GATLAND has outlined how he plans to use the Justin Marshall and Xavier Rush factor to inspire Wales to their first win at Twickenham for 20 years this weekend.

Gatland believes the winning mentality New Zealanders Marshall and Rush have brought to their regions can rub off on their Ospreys and Blues team-mates ahead of the big showdown with England.

Marshall and Rush have been pivotal figures as the Ospreys and Blues have marched through daunting challenges to reach the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup.

The knowhow and confidence the tough-as-teak Kiwis have brought to their teams can rub off on the likes of Gavin Henson, Ryan Jones, Gethin Jenkins and Martyn Williams, according to Gatland.

The Welsh coach could name an entire XV made up of Ospreys and Blues players when he announces his team to face the old enemy tomorrow.

The Scarlets trio of Mark Jones, Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel are pushing for positions, but they could yet find themselves ousted by Tom James, James Hook and Mike Phillips for the big showdown.

Whatever the personnel make-up of the final XV, Gatland is adamant the Heineken Cup exploits achieved by Wales’ leading teams will have a significant impact at the weekend.

“Despite New Zealand’s disappointment in the World Cup, I still think as a country we produce influential players ... people like Marshall and Rush, whose confidence transfers to the Welsh players,” said Gatland.

“What they have is self-belief, the confidence whether they are playing home or away, that they are good enough to win the game.

“That’s what we need going to Twickenham, because a lot of it is going to be in the head, the belief that we can get a result.

“The Ospreys beat Gloucester in the Heineken Cup, and Gloucester are top of the Guinness Premiership. The Blues won comfortably at Bristol.

“I hope a lot of the Welsh players in those teams came away thinking they could do something similar for Wales at Twickenham.”

Gatland continued, “Professionally, I have always enjoyed the challenge of coaching teams that are not fulfilling their potential.

“Wales definitely fulfilled that criteria.

“We need to work on mobility, especially in the front row, but the position of 10th in the world rankings belies the talent in this Welsh team.”

Gatland warned he is ready to take on England’s big pack of bruisers up front, saying, “We don’t have any worries that we cannot compete physically.

“We have some big players of our own, like Ryan Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Gareth Delve, Alun Wyn-Jones and Ian Evans, and they are only going to get bigger.

“If we get something out of the England game, and then perform in the next two against Scotland and Italy, we have a real opportunity in this tournament.”

England’s big weekend injury scare, veteran hooker Mark Regan, linked up with Brian Ashton’s side last night despite leaving the field injured while playing for Bristol against Worcester on Saturday.

There were fears in the England camp that Regan would be out of the Welsh clash as a result of discomfort in his neck and arm following a tackle.

But a Bristol RFC spokesman said, “Ronnie was replaced as a precaution and, by full time, the discomfort had disappeared and he was able to move freely after the game.

“No further assessment was required. Mark will therefore link up with the rest of the England squad as planned.”

A 33-man England training squad assembled last night with Paul Sackey, Simon Shaw, Nick Easter and Lesley Vainikolo requiring assessments.

Jonny Wilkinson though, reported no problem after being the victim of a reckless high tackle by Leicester fly-half Andy Goode as Newcastle crashed 41-14 in the Premiership.

Reviewing the incident, Newcastle rugby director John Fletcher said, “It wasn’t pretty.

“I don’t know Goode personally, I don’t know his character, but you have to hope that wasn’t deliberate because it was a bad shot.

“Maybe it was just a reflex action after Jonny stepped off his right foot, but I saw him (Goode) do the identical thing last week against Leinster and it didn’t look good.”

One player definitely not involved on Saturday is 2003 World Cup winner Josh Lewsey, who was one of the surprise omissions from Ashton’s initial Six Nations squad.

And it could well have been a mistake, judging by his outstanding display for Wasps at Gloucester.

Newcastle centre Mathew Tait is set to wear England’s No 15 jersey against Wales, with Mike Tindall partnering Toby Flood in midfield, yet Lewsey can consider himself unlucky on current form.

Wasps skipper Lawrence Dallaglio mused, “Josh has gone from being one of the best backs in the World Cup to not being there.”

And Wasps coach Shaun Edwards, who will report for duty with Wales this week as part of Warren Gatland’s support staff, said, “If England can afford to be without Josh Lewsey, they must be one heck of a side.”

Meanwhile, Ashton himself admits that competition for Wilkinson’s No 10 shirt has never been greater as he prepares for the big clash with Wales.

Wilkinson, who starred in England’s run to the World Cup final, is the man is possession as England prepare to launch their Six Nations campaign at Twickenham.

But Ashton concedes that there are half a dozen players at his disposal who could take on the crucial fly-half role. Danny Cipriani, Charlie Hodgson and Toby Flood are in England’s Six Nations squad, while Ryan Lamb and Shane Geraghty are in the England Saxons squad.

“A few years ago there was Wilkinson, Hodgson and no-one else for fly-half, and now there are another four players who could step in and do a good job,” said Ashton.

He denied that Wilkinson is the first player he puts down on the teamsheet when deciding on his XV.

“We talk about every position every time before a game and, from that point of view, he is no different to anyone else,” he said.

“I’m quite excited by the squad of players we’ve got and, if I compare today to where I was ahead of my first game, my thoughts on who is going to play are a lot clearer.”