Wales's coach has one eye on Friday's Six Nations opener with England and the other on his long-term plans for the team
As Warren Gatland relaxes in his chair, running a meaty hand through his spiky grey hair, the softly spoken New Zealander seems to be the opposite of a finger-pointing controversialist. The 47-year-old coach of Wales, who play England in Cardiff on Friday evening in a humdinger of a Six Nations opener, appears as amusing as he is thoughtful. And yet few other men in international rugby cause the stir a cheerful Gatland creates with his cutting words.
It makes for an intriguing mix whether Gatland is questioning the temperament of England's hooker, Dylan Hartley, a New Zealand-raised firebrand, or looking candidly at the flaws in his own team. Last year he blamed Alun Wyn Jones for Wales's defeat at Twickenham, when the lock was sent to the sin-bin at a vital stage in the match against England. More recently, in November, Gatland announced that he had stripped Ryan Jones of the captaincy after the final whistle against Fiji, when a disappointing draw had resulted from the flanker conceding a late penalty.
"We're trying to create an honest environment," Gatland says, acknowledging that Wales are in the midst of a terrible slump. "We don't want to be running away from things or trying to hide. We should be hunting out the challenges. And that's something that not all the players, or the Welsh people, are comfortable with: being self-critical or critical of others. But if we're going to improve that's something we've got to continually address.
"With Ryan it's portrayed as a knee-jerk decision but I'd informed the Ospreys [Jones's regional side] before the Fiji game. I didn't tell Ryan because it wasn't fair to give him that news before the game. Once the decision had been made you're not going to keep it in-house for long. So I told the press ? and people took it very personally."
Gatland shrugs as he remembers the outraged reaction to his blunt timing. "That facet of the Welsh psyche is something we've got to improve. We thrive on being written-off. But we haven't responded to the expectations of being favourites and we're not always comfortable with peer pressure. We shouldn't be afraid to point the finger and that's something we're working on as coaches and players.
"We've now got a really good group of youngsters who respond well. Look at Alun Wyn Jones. At the time he thought it was harsh when I pointed the finger at him but, a year on, he's said it was the best thing for him. When it comes to accepting personal criticism, that's the reaction I want."
Yet Wales won only two of the 12 games they played last year. Gatland admits that this dismal run is the worst he has endured in two decades of coaching. "Absolutely. I've normally been involved with successful teams. But I'm trying to be pragmatic and, looking at 2010, you have to accept there are going to be lean years. With a bit of luck those results could have turned around. We also could have taken the softer option and not chosen to continually play New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. But if we gave up doing that we wouldn't improve as a team. You need to play the best as often as you can."
After Wales lost a game they really should have won, against South Africa in Cardiff last November, Gatland said he could have hanged himself from a girder at the Millennium Stadium. It was a grim joke which still makes him smile. "I wasn't that low, really. We're not far away. I look at the stats and against the world champions, we had 60% possession. A couple of years ago we'd be working off 40% against South Africa. But, yeah, that defeat was very disappointing. We came close but in professional sport, it's all about results. Dominating possession and creating chances is all well and good but we've got to start converting them and winning games again."
As part of his efforts to restore Wales, Gatland has reverted to aiming apparently off-the-cuff barbs at the opposition. Last week he highlighted Hartley's potentially suspect mentality and said that, as one wry New Zealander talking to another, Kiwis have been "known to choke". Gatland smiles enigmatically. "I thought it would be interesting to put the focus back on England and see how someone like Hartley reacts ? and whether he is capable of rising to the pressure of the challenge.
"I actually think he's a fantastic player and, strangely, he reminds me a little of Lawrence Dallaglio ? someone who loves to be hated by opposition teams and fans. He's an interesting character but we'll find out on Friday if he fronts up to a big challenge."
Gatland says all this as if he's just popped a square of chocolate into his mouth while discussing what's on TV this Friday evening. But his demeanour cannot obscure the carefully crafted verbal bombs he keeps on detonating. "It wasn't premeditated," he protests. "He's a Kiwi as well ? so that's part of it, too. It gives me licence to say what I did. The press are always looking for a story and perhaps I've been guilty of giving them a few. I've been told I'm too honest and opinionated ? but that's a strength. I haven't shied away from speaking openly. But I've also realised that honesty and directness can get you into trouble."
As a feisty former hooker himself, who had the misfortune to be the All Blacks' perennial understudy to Sean Fitzpatrick, Gatland was robbed of the chance to carve out a Test career. But he never appeared to suffer from shyness or doubt as a player. So how would he have reacted if someone had tried to undermine him in the way he has targeted Hartley? "I'd have enjoyed the challenge. That excited me ? people challenging me. It tended to bring out the best in me." He suddenly laughs. "It may well do the same in Hartley."
Sidestepping Wales's serious injury concerns, Gatland considers England's strengths and weakness calmly. "They've suffered big losses with Lawes, Moody and Croft. But Foden, Cueto and Ashton are a really exciting back three. They're looking to play more expansively and they did that against Australia. But they came unstuck against South Africa. They got a bit of a shock because South Africa really went at them physically. So I'm happy playing England first. We've had a pretty good record against them recently."
Wales have beaten England twice in the past three Six Nations. "In 2008, [in Gatland's first game] we were a bit lucky. We hadn't won at Twickenham in 20 years so there was no real expectation and we came back from a long way behind. A more relevant fixture was the last time in Cardiff. We played well and won fairly comfortably. We could also have won last year ut the yellow card cost us and they got an interception. I spoke to some of the England players afterwards and they felt we were going to win. So we won't have any fear going into Friday's game."
His relish for the task should not blur the fact that he came close to committing himself to New Zealand rugby later this year ? only to backtrack and sign a contract to remain as Wales coach until 2015. "Absolutely. It was a hard decision. I probably got a little stubborn in the end but, to be honest, I was disappointed with the [financial] offer from the New Zealand Rugby Union. I was very tempted to go back and coach the [Waikato] Chiefs after the World Cup. Ideally, for all of us, it might have been better to see how the World Cup goes. I could have had more job security [on a lesser contract] if I'd gone back to New Zealand; but I've got a job to finish here with Wales."
The Welsh union has the option of terminating Gatland's new deal should the World Cup go badly. But he is determined to succeed for reasons that go beyond just sport. "I've given up a lot to be here. The kids are 17 and 15 and they're with my wife in New Zealand. There are definitely times as a family when it gets very stressful. But we're lucky that the international fixtures come in blocks and so I go home for decent periods two or three times a year. We get to share some very special times together. And, back here, at least we can Skype each other."
That separation from his family drives Gatland and his sincerity is obvious when he says: "It's been a testing life at times. I've been coaching 21 years and about 16 of those years have been in the northern hemisphere. But I feel a real commitment to Wales and when I do leave I hope I can say I made a difference ? not just in international rugby but in the way the game has developed across the board in Wales."
Two of Wales's World Cup games later this year will be played in Gatland's hometown of Hamilton. "That will mean a great deal to me. All the family will be there and that's what we're building towards. We play South Africa first in the World Cup and that's a huge game. If we win that we could top the group and get an easier quarter-final. That's what we're really working towards. It's also why I'm so excited about the World Cup. We'll have a long period with the squad ? almost like a pre-season ? and be able to go into a lot more finite detail. That will have a real impact on our performances."
Rather than deflecting attention mischievously from an intense showdown in Cardiff, Gatland sounds reasoned and persuasive as he looks towards a greater goal in his home country. "For all of us the World Cup is the pinnacle. If a team wins the Six Nations but bombs at the World Cup then that disappointment will be remembered more. So, even through the game against England is important, everything boils down to the World Cup. It's important to remember that."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/feb/01/warren-gatland-interview
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