Warren Gatland – Wales’ own ‘Iron Man’

Mar 2 2008 by Simon Roberts, Wales On Sunday

“Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope.”

– Margaret Thatcher on the steps of 10 Downing Street after her election victory in 1979

WARREN GATLAND is easily more popular than Margaret Thatcher will ever be in Wales – but he knows he is just a few defeats from dropping as low as her in the popularity stakes.

Such is the fickle world of Welsh rugby, writes SIMON ROBERTS.

Yet, world rugby’s new ‘Iron Man’ could easily adopt the Iron Lady’s famous steal from St Francis of Assisi for his own.

The difference is that Welsh rugby’s third tough-talking Kiwi appears to have delivered on the faith – and sizeable amount of cash – invested in him.

Gatland has certainly brought ‘hope where there was despair’ to a rugby nation on its knees after the World Cup.

Gatland was just 15 when Thatcher became the United Kingdom’s first woman Prime Minister.

Back in Hamilton, his rugby dreams were of becoming an All Black. He would have laughed off suggestions he would one day coach Wales.

But rugby, like life, has a funny way of taking you to places you least expect.

And young Gats, chasing a rugby ball around Waikato, certainly had no idea his return to Ireland would be one of the intriguing sub-plots of the 2008 Six Nations.

The Triple Crown may be up for grabs, Grand Slam hopes in the balance; but be under no illusions – Wales’ trip to Dublin on Saturday is about Gatland’s return to face his nemesis.

This is the story of his relationship, or non-relationship, with an Irishman. This is Gatland versus Eddie O’Sullivan, the Ireland coach who deposed him across the Irish Sea.

This is also the tale of a coach with whom a nation is falling in love – and another with whom a nation has fallen out of love.

While Gatland and O’Sullivan’s duel will hold the attention for most of the build-up, there is still a rugby match to be played at Croke Park.

A side full of confidence against an angry side which believes it deserves more respect from its own. Wales and Ireland couldn’t be in more different places if they tried.

Both nations were down with the dead men of Test rugby after miserable World Cup campaigns in France 2007.

Ireland’s failure, for a side billed as genuine final contenders, was more of a shock than Wales’.

But while Wales sacked Gareth Jenkins, O’Sullivan is still in situ, hanging on to a four-year-contract for all his worth.

Wales turned to his predecessor and Gatland has brought focus, intensity, clarity and, of course, Shaun Edwards to Wales.

They are now unrecognisable from the disparate rabble which strolled off after their shock World Cup exit in Nantes against Fiji.

But the burning question on everybody’s lips has been a simple and straightforward one – what has Gatland done?

After Wales’ victory over Italy he quipped, ‘It’s a secret’, but it really isn’t. He has opened up the lines of communication with his players but makes it absolutely clear he is in charge.

Everybody knows what their responsibilities are and the consequences if they don’t fulfil those responsibilities.

There is absolutely no hiding place.

Wales now train hard and in short, sharp bursts and with a matchday intensity, but they don’t train just for the sake of it.

More importantly, players who appeared at war with themselves and everybody else have found their place in Gatland’s tough and uncompromising regime.

They are being challenged and are learning, once again; and they are loving every minute of it.

Players are waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat because they know Edwards is going to give them a roasting. And that’s just in training! The transformation has been truly remarkable and where we once moaned about the lack of depth, we now have it.

Stephen Jones and Mike Phillips should start against the Irish, but James Hook and Dwayne Peel could equally do the job.

But the biggest factor in the Gatland-inspired revival has been what he has learned about the Welsh psyche.

He, like Kiwi predecessors Graham Henry and Steve Hansen, understands that we are a race that like to be led, rather than lead. A race that likes to talk, rather than do. Who would rather moan than find a solution.

Now the question is, can he lead his new crew to victory over the country which treated him so shabbily, but gave him his first opportunity to coach at Test level.

For Gatland, it would be the sweetest victory of this Six Nations campaign and secure his status in both countries.