Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'You find out about people in weeks like this': Gatland

By PA
Warren Gatland/ PA

Warren Gatland says he relishes the high-pressure stakes of international sport as Wales strive to avoid a first Guinness Six Nations wooden spoon for 21 years.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gatland oversaw Six Nations titles triumphs, Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-final appearances during his trophy-laden first stint as Wales head coach from 2007 to 2019.

He returned to the role as Wayne Pivac’s successor ahead of last season’s Six Nations, with Wales finishing fifth on that occasion.

Video Spacer

Boks Office on how physical France vs England will be | RPTV

Video Spacer

Boks Office on how physical France vs England will be | RPTV

The Boks Office crew preview France vs England in the final round of the Six Nations. Watch the full show on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

But if Wales fail to beat Principality Stadium visitors Italy on Saturday, then they will prop up the final table, which has not happened since Gatland’s fellow New Zealander Steve Hansen was in charge for the 2003 campaign.

Asked about the pressure, Gatland said: “I love it. You find out about people in weeks like this when you are under a bit of pressure, how you respond to that pressure, who is going to put their hand up, who is going to accept the responsibility.

Six Nations

P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Ireland
4
3
1
0
16
2
England
4
3
1
0
12
3
Scotland
4
2
2
0
11
4
France
4
2
1
1
11
5
Italy
4
1
2
1
7
6
Wales
4
0
4
0
3

“You find out so much more about individuals when you are under pressure.

“And that is what international sport and professional sport is all about, whether you are playing for Grand Slams or you are at the other end of the table and fighting for survival and fighting to make sure we get a win on the weekend.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I am still learning about the game, still asking questions about things that you would do differently and how you would prepare differently.

“If you think you know everything, then you are probably in the wrong thing. Things keep moving on, and it is looking at the game and the changes and trying to stay in front of those changes and being proactive about those sort of things.”

Gatland’s squad rebuilding process is under way, one that was underlined by Test retirements last year of Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny – their fellow cap centurion George North will follow after the Six Nations – Louis Rees-Zammit quitting rugby for a possible American football career, Liam Williams playing in Japan, plus injuries to players like Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Taulupe Faletau.

“You tend to go back and look a little bit at history,” Gatland added.

“You can go back as far as 2003, which probably wasn’t the best year for Welsh rugby, but two years later that team won the Grand Slam.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It does take a bit of time. You can’t coach experience. Players learn from being out in the middle. They make mistakes, but it is how you rectify those mistakes for them to be better the next time.

“We know where we are as a group. This group of players have worked incredibly hard and I can’t question the effort.

“Looking at some of the statistical data in terms of GPS numbers, they are very good. There is no way they are not trying out there.

“Both winning and losing become habits, and we’ve got to break that. We are desperate for a win on Saturday.

“We are desperate to go out there and start well and continue to play well for 80 minutes to show as a group we have been improving.”

Six Nations Six Nations
Six Nations Greatest XV
Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll

North will bow out of the international game following a career that saw him help Wales win four Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams, and play in four World Cups.

The 31-year-old back, who will play for French club Provence next season, has scored 47 tries for Wales – a figure only bettered by Shane Williams – and he is his country’s third most-capped player behind Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins.

Gatland added: “He was probably thinking to himself when was the right time (to retire) from a physical point of view.

“We would have loved for him to still be involved, but the conversation with him was that he didn’t want to continue playing for the next couple of years and then potentially leave us in a bit of a hole 12 months out from a World Cup.

“I completely understood his decision with him going to France and taking the family with him.

“It is not completely a surprise to me because we had already had a couple of conversations. We would have loved to have had a player of his ability still to be involved, but at some stage everyone calls time.”

Related

ADVERTISEMENT

O2 Inside Line: All In | Episode 5 | Making Waves

Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Tackling reasons for drop-out in sport | Zainab Alema | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Krakow | Leg 3 | Day 2 | HSBC Challenger Series | Full Day Replay

Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
R
Rugby 409 days ago

All Gatland’s quotes are cliches. he does not say anything of substance.

love this one

Both winning and losing become habits, and we’ve got to break that.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

C
Connor Nicolas 17 minutes ago
Waratahs turn to 'tough bugger' for captaincy with more history on the line

Several weeks ago, my life was irrevocably altered by a crypto romance scam a cruel amalgamation of emotional manipulation and financial exploitation. A person I believed to be my partner, whom I had met on a niche trading forum, gradually ensnared me into investing in a purportedly “groundbreaking” decentralized finance (DeFi) project. Over several months, they meticulously cultivated trust, shared fabricated returns, and even orchestrated video calls with supposed “developers” to lend credence to the scheme. By the time I discerned the truth, a staggering $215,000 of my life savings had evaporated into a labyrinth of blockchain addresses, and the individual I thought I knew had vanished without a trace. The betrayal was paralyzing; I felt not only financially devastated but emotionally shattered.As a small business owner, I am no stranger to risk, but this was a domain far beyond my comprehension. I promptly filed reports with the FTC, collaborated with cybersecurity experts, and spent countless sleepless nights poring over Etherscan, desperately attempting to trace the transactions. However, the scammers’ adept use of privacy coins and offshore exchanges rendered the trail elusive, dissipating like smoke. Each dead end deepened my despair and sense of helplessness.In the midst of this turmoil, I confided in a family friend about my harrowing ordeal. After hearing my story, he referred me to GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES . Initially skeptical but driven by desperation, I visited their website and was struck by their no-nonsense commitment to transparency. Unlike other firms that promised miraculous recoveries, GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES provided a clear,breakdown of their process: forensics, collaboration with international legal networks, and direct engagement with exchanges to freeze illicit funds.From the moment I reached out to GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES , their team approached my case faster . They meticulously analyzed my situation, keeping me informed at every stage of the recovery process. Ultimately, they succeeded in recovering my entire investment, restoring my financial stability and also rekindling my faith in the possibility of justice in the digital age. This experience has imparted invaluable lessons about vigilance and the importance of seeking help when navigating the dangerous currents of cryptocurrency. GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES has proven to be a beacon of hope for those ensnared in the web of crypto fraud, demonstrating that recovery is indeed possible with the right support and expertise.You can reach them on whatsapp +18582759508, web at ( https://graywaretechservices.com/ )    also on Mail: (contact@graywaretechservices.com)

0 Go to comments
D
Dorita Scala 31 minutes ago
Conor Murray: French giants weigh up shock move for Ireland star

A few months ago, I was approached online by a so-called investment broker. Everything looked professional — flashy websites, fake but convincing reviews, even video calls with people who seemed legitimate. They promised unbelievable returns on Bitcoin investments, and I, eager to grow my crypto holdings, fell for it. Over a few weeks, I transferred Bitcoin worth around $360,000 to what I thought was a secured investment wallet. The “broker” kept assuring me my money was growing, even showing fake dashboards with fabricated profits. But when I tried to withdraw my funds, they demanded additional fees — taxes, account, activation, and release charges. That’s when the truth hit me I had been scammed. Devastated, I started searching for solutions. But then, a glimmer of hope. A cybersecurity contact muttered Try Dexdert Net Recovery. They hunt crypto ghosts. Dexdert Net had real testimonials, detailed explanations of their process, and most importantly, they didn’t ask for any suspicious upfront fees. After contacting them, their team patiently walked me through the steps gathering all evidence of the scam, tracking the Bitcoin transactions on the blockchain, and using legal recovery channels and cyber forensic methods. They kept me updated at every stage. 4 days later, I got the email I’ll never forget: Funds Recovered. Dexdert Net Recovery successfully traced and retrieved the entire $360,000 worth of Bitcoin from the scammer’s wallets. Thanks to Dexdert Net Pro Recovery, not only did I reclaim my lost Bitcoin, but I also regained a sense of justice — and a serious lesson learned. If you’re ever in a situation like I was, know this: there’s hope, and there are real experts out there who can help. Dexdert Net Recovery proved it to me.

CONTACT DEXDERT NET RECOVERY VIA INFORMATION BELOW

Telegram: (@Dexdertprorecovery)


WhatsApp: (+1 859 609‑4156)

8 Go to comments
D
Dorita Scala 32 minutes ago
Conor Murray: French giants weigh up shock move for Ireland star

A few months ago, I was approached online by a so-called investment broker. Everything looked professional — flashy websites, fake but convincing reviews, even video calls with people who seemed legitimate. They promised unbelievable returns on Bitcoin investments, and I, eager to grow my crypto holdings, fell for it. Over a few weeks, I transferred Bitcoin worth around $360,000 to what I thought was a secured investment wallet. The “broker” kept assuring me my money was growing, even showing fake dashboards with fabricated profits. But when I tried to withdraw my funds, they demanded additional fees — taxes, account, activation, and release charges. That’s when the truth hit me I had been scammed. Devastated, I started searching for solutions. But then, a glimmer of hope. A cybersecurity contact muttered Try Dexdert Net Recovery. They hunt crypto ghosts. Dexdert Net had real testimonials, detailed explanations of their process, and most importantly, they didn’t ask for any suspicious upfront fees. After contacting them, their team patiently walked me through the steps gathering all evidence of the scam, tracking the Bitcoin transactions on the blockchain, and using legal recovery channels and cyber forensic methods. They kept me updated at every stage. 4 days later, I got the email I’ll never forget: Funds Recovered. Dexdert Net Recovery successfully traced and retrieved the entire $360,000 worth of Bitcoin from the scammer’s wallets. Thanks to Dexdert Net Pro Recovery, not only did I reclaim my lost Bitcoin, but I also regained a sense of justice — and a serious lesson learned. If you’re ever in a situation like I was, know this: there’s hope, and there are real experts out there who can help. Dexdert Net Recovery proved it to me.

CONTACT DEXDERT NET RECOVERY VIA INFORMATION BELOW

Telegram: (@Dexdertprorecovery)

Email: (DexdertNetPro@mail.com)

WhatsApp: (+1 859 609‑4156)

8 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Quins shed more light on worrying Marcus Smith injury Quins shed more light on worrying Marcus Smith injury
Search