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Gatland eyeing up Super Rugby coaching roles

Wales head coach Warren Gatland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Kiwi coach Warren Gatland is keeping an eye open on possible Super Rugby coaching roles as he nears the end of his tenure with Wales.

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Gatland will finish his role with Wales after the Rugby World Cup and is keen on a return to New Zealand.

“There is nothing concrete,” Gatland told The Times.

“Maybe at the end of the World Cup I’ll be unemployed.

“I was looking to take a few months off and then start looking in the middle of 2020, potentially do some Super Rugby in New Zealand if there was an opportunity.

After transforming Wales into the number third-ranked side in the world and orchestrating a drawn series against the All Blacks for the British & Irish Lions, Gatland will be in demand. However, it remains to be seen how many coaching roles will be available for New Zealand Super Rugby teams in 2020.

John Plumtree has just been appointed as the Hurricanes next head coach after years of waiting in the wings as an assistant, Leon Macdonald has taken the reigns at the Blues for 2019, and Colin Cooper and Aaron Mauger are only entering their second years as head coaches of the Chiefs and Highlanders respectively.

Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has indicated his desire to coach overseas and with the All Blacks, which looks like the most promising option however still has a large degree of uncertainty.

“But I am also aware that there are not a lot of jobs in New Zealand.

“That might not be an option. So it’s whether it is back in club rugby in the Premiership or France or Japan or something like that.”

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As Wales prepares to make another run at Six Nations glory, Gatland said the annual tournament has always been the focus.

“This is the competition we really focus on,” he told The Times.

“We’re in no doubt that during my tenure we’re disappointed we haven’t had more success against southern-hemisphere teams, but that hasn’t always been our focus.

“It has been on the Six Nations and doing well there, where history and points and pride are at stake. I think we’ll do well in this Six Nations.”

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Since Gatland took over the side in 2007, Wales has won three Six Nations titles (2008, 2012, 2013) including two Grand Slams (2008, 2012). After going through the Autumn Internationals undefeated with four wins from four matches, Wales has begun to attract attention as a genuine World Cup contender.

“I take a lot of pride in the fact we go out there and it doesn’t matter who we play, they know they’re in for one hell of a tough game,” Gatland said.

“For me, it’s not always about winning, it’s about becoming hard to beat and if you do that you get a sense of pride in how you do things. Then it’s about winning more often and developing your game.”

Rugby World Cup city guide – Oita:

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Nickers 34 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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