Now Gatland gunning for Boks

Mar 17 2008 Western Mail

WARREN GATLAND last night declared war on world champions South Africa by revealing he planned on taking a full hand of Grand Slam heroes to the republic for two summer Tests.

The Wales coach insisted he wouldn’t follow the lead of his predecessor Gareth Jenkins and leave a host of top players at home when they go on tour.

No-nonsense Gatland was adamant it was business as usual and Wales would be attempting to top their remarkable transformation from World Cup flops to European champions by winning the battle of the hemispheres.

Wales have never won an international in South Africa – their only victory over the Springboks was the inaugural match at the Millennium Stadium in 1999 – but, with confidence soaring following their astonishing Six Nations clean sweep, will fancy their chances of making history.

South Africa could be vulnerable with a top locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha among a host of big names likely to be unavailable.

Politics have also raised their ugly head in the republic with the future of new coach Pieter de Villiers under threat – before they have played a match!

He agreed to become World Cup-winning mastermind Jake White’s successor after being told he would have the power to select the team he wanted.

But the South Africans have allegedly back-tracked and told de Villiers he will not have the final say in selection.

He is considering his position and it isn’t clear whether he will walk out.

Gatland was unconcerned about the murky world of SA rugby politics, being more excited about taking the Springboks on.

“We have won the Grand Slam, but do not want to stop there,” stressed the ultra-competitive coach. “You’ve got to test yourself against the best teams in the world and South Africa are No 1 at the moment.”

Wales face the Springboks in Bloemfontein on June 7 and in Pretoria a week later.

Gatland was adamant Wales can make their mark against them if they continue their sensational improvement.

“I honestly believe that this team over the next 12 months to two years will become a very good side that will be difficult to beat and won’t be afraid to play anyone,” he declared.

“We have made a lot of progress in the last seven weeks. These players have given more than we, as coaches, have asked of them.

“If they do that then that’s all you can ask for really. They have improved from game to game, but we are still going to have to do a lot of hard work.

“It is the next step for us, testing ourselves against the world champions.

“We will not rest on our laurels. It has been a great start for us as coaches, but we need to keep improving. If we sit back, we will get caught.

“To win over there at altitude, I know how tough that is. The guys have delivered on the principles we have had in putting our bodies on the line, putting pride back in the jersey and it is about carrying that forward.

“We go to South Africa with no trepidation, saying ‘let’s have a crack.’ We want to take the strongest squad over there we can.”

The only player he is considering leaving behind is Martyn Williams, who Gatland persuaded to come out of international retirement for the Six Nations.

The 32-year-old proved the Kiwi’s judgement was spot-on by turning in official man of the match performances against Scotland and during the weekend’s Grand Slam and European title-clinching 29-12 triumph over France.

Gatland will leave the decision on South Africa to the Blues openside flanker star.

“I will sit down with Martyn and say, ‘Do you want to go or do you want a break?’”

Although Gatland claimed he never dreamt of winning a Grand Slam at his first attempt with Wales, he wasn’t entirely surprised by the success they have enjoyed in this Six Nations.

“Being selfish for a moment, one of the reasons I took the job was that Wales were 10th in the world and had a pretty average World Cup. There isn’t too far to go below 10th in the world,” he reflected.

“The disappointment Wales suffered at the World Cup probably came about through missing a couple of shots at goal against Fiji that cost them a quarter-final place.

“That’s how close games are in international rugby. They can turn and change careers.

“I saw the potential within the squad and the ability within the squad. You have always got to believe in your own ability that you can put the structures in place.

“I have kept a strong Welsh influence within the coaching staff which is really important, but I have also people around me who I know well. Their work ethic and desire to succeed is as important as my influence.”

Gatland revealed he wants to keep his coaching team of Shaun Edwards, Rob Howley, Robin McBryde, Neil Jenkins and Mark Bennett intact until the 2011 World Cup.

“I would like to. I think they are young and they are learning all the time. As a coach, I would like to think I am doing exactly the same. As coaches, we have got to be excited,” he said.

Gatland and right-hand man Edwards first worked together at London Wasps, where they won three Guinness Premiership titles, the Heineken and European Challenge Cups.

Their next coaching appointment could quite conceivably be with the British Lions during next year’s tour of South Africa.

Eddie O’Sullivan was pencilled in for the job of head coach, but Ireland’s World Cup and Six Nations flops have spiked his chances, and could see him lose his current post.

The vastly-experienced Ian McGeechan, director of rugby at Wasps, and the Lions winning mastermind in Australia in 1989 and South Africa in 1997, is coming up fast as the most likely candidate and a safe pair of hands.

But, if Lions bigwigs decide to open it up to a coach from outside the British Isles, Gatland would be firm favourite. Edwards has long harboured ambitions of being involved next year – it was a main reason for taking the Wales post – but Gatland has crept up on the outside as a significant contender.

Wales had their fingers burned in 2001 when Graham Henry led the Lions to Australia and it affected his relationship with his Wales players the following season, contributing to him quitting.

Wales do not have a senior Test tour in 2009 and any trip that does take place will be developmental, both for players and coaches.

Gatland didn’t rule out a desire to be involved with the Lions – but he stressed Wales must always come first.

“It is nice to be associated with that and it is something you might like to do. It depends how many Welsh players might be involved and if you had an influence there,” he explained.

“My first priority is Wales and making sure that is the most important thing going forward.”

The next stage in the Lions selection process is that the four home unions can nominate potential coaches.

The Lions are looking to make an appointment in the next month, but the WRU do not yet have an official position on Gatland’s potential involvement.

“We have a great relationship with the Lions because Gerald Davies in the Lions manager and a director of the Welsh Rugby Union,” said its group chief executive Roger Lewis.

“We will have a discussion within the union when the time is right to give a view to the Lions committee.

“The interests of Welsh rugby come first. That is what it has always been.”

View images from a glorious Grand Slam weekend click here