O’Driscoll praises old pal Warren Gatland

Mar 6 2008 by Simon Thomas, Western Mail

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL last night outlined the huge rugby debt he owes to Warren Gatland and warned his own Ireland team-mates about the “devastating” impact Wales are having on the Six Nations.

O’Driscoll spoke in glowing terms about Gatland, even though the Welsh coach has been damning of O’Driscoll’s current boss Eddie O’Sullivan and the Irish set-up he left behind.

One London newspaper rehashed comments made by Gatland when he lost his job in Ireland, quoting him as saying at the time, “I just didn’t kiss the butts or massage the egos of the right committee guys.

“Ireland is about the only country in the world that is still amateur in the way it is run — with amateur committee men telling professional coaches and players what to do.”

O’Sullivan has steadfastly refused to react this week to fresh remarks from Gatland, who has accused his former assistant of a lack of loyalty.

And O’Driscoll declined to become embroiled in the issue, speaking only in the highest terms about Gatland, the work he did with Ireland and the job he is currently performing with table-topping Wales.

Gatland gave O’Driscoll his international debut against Australia in 1999 in Brisbane and the Lions skipper said, “I owe a lot to Warren as he did bring me into the international fray as a 20-year-old and gave me an opportunity.

“I’m sure he has developed massively as a coach since he was in charge of Ireland.

“He is giving Wales the scope to go and play the way that they know they can – to plan an open, expansive and exciting game.

“They are quite a skilful team with tremendous passing ability. They can be devastating at times.

“A lot of the time it’s just about giving teams the confidence to express themselves and I’m sure that’s what Warren’s done with the Welsh players.”

The Triple Crown collision at Croke Park on Saturday will be as much about the personalities on the sidelines as the conflict on the pitch, with Gatland driven by a sense of unfinished business.

The acrimonious manner in which he was dumped by Ireland in 2001 continues to gnaw at his pride, as does successor O’Sullivan’s role in his downfall.

O’Sullivan is entering his seventh year as Ireland boss and has enjoyed a higher success rate – 66 per cent compared to Gatland’s win ratio of 46 per cent.

But O’Driscoll admits Ireland’s talent pool has grown since Gatland’s time in charge.

“It seems like an eternity ago since Warren was coach of the Ireland team,” he said.

“Maybe I’ve taken too many knocks to the head over the years, but I don’t remember those days very well.

“What I do remember is how Warren knew how to get the best out of a side. I certainly don’t think we had the player capabilities back then as we do today.

“But we still managed to bring in some big performances, especially when we were against the ropes a bit.”

Wales have dispatched England, Scotland and Italy so far in the Six Nations, creating a momentum that O’Driscoll knows will make Gatland’s men formidable adversaries at Croke Park.

“The form Wales have shown is very similar to the year they won the Grand Slam in 2005,” continued O’Driscoll.

“Wales have developed under Warren and their momentum has really swept them on.

“They produced a big win in the opening game against England and ensured they started the Six Nations on the right footing.

“They’ve certainly grown in confidence and that’s very much the Welsh way. The more they are permitted to play, the better they get.”

O’Sullivan refused to become drawn into a war of words with Gatland, who in a TV interview this week questioned the “lack of loyalty” he was given from the coaching team around him.

O’Sullivan, who was Gatland’s former No 2 before landing the main job, insisted, “I don't think it brings any extra spice.

“It is a game of rugby between Wales and Ireland, we are just the coaches.

“I haven’t seen Warren in six-and-a-half years and I spoke to him for about 30 seconds during the Six Nations launch.

“It makes great lines for the press, but if you ask the players it’s about winning the game. If we get caught up in anything other than that, it would be very foolish.

“We must focus on the job and we want to win the match because it’s a Six Nations game. I’m not interested in anything else.”