Quinlan lashes out at 'bitter' Gatland

Former Ireland international Alan Quinlan has hit out at Warren Gatland’s ‘condescending and insulting’ comments following Ireland 19-10 defeat of Wales in Dublin on Saturday.

In his post-match press conference, Gatland told reporters that Ireland had won the game after returning to a simplistic game plan, comments which have led Quinlan to claim that the Wales boss is still ‘bitter’ about his time in Ireland.

“Ireland went back to what they are traditionally good at,” Gatland said. 

“They just played phase, after phase after phase, see if they can get a penalty chance, kick the ball down the field and then try and squeeze you in your 22.”

Speaking on Irish radio on Monday morning, Quinlan fired back at the Wales head coach, arguing that Gatland’s side were by far the least ambitious of the two teams.

“What expansive rugby did they play? Where were they effective? They got one try in the game from an interception,” said Quinlan, speaking on Off The Ball AM.

“What does Warren Gatland expect Ireland to do? Throw the ball around the place and show their hand before the World Cup? He was never going to do that either.

“Ireland went back to what they’re really good at” #IREvWAL https://t.co/8BeDATLqow

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 7, 2019

“I like Gatty, but that stuff irritated me after the game. It was condescending and insulting.”

Quinlan, who won 27 caps for Ireland, suggested that Gatland’s experiences in Ireland have left the New Zealander bitter towards the country.

Gatland was sacked as Ireland coach in 2001 following three years in the job. He left with a 47% win rate as head coach.

Gatland has enjoyed a mixed relationship with Ireland ever since.

“I don’t know why he needs to say that stuff after a game,” said Quinlan, “I was more disappointed with that than any of the stuff Gatty’s said before.

“It was bitter, and there is a bitterness there in Warren Gatland about what happened to him a long time ago when he got shafted here.

“It would have been nice if he’d come out and given more credit to Joe Schmidt for what he’s achieved, and Rory Best in his last game there, but what he was saying is absolute b*******.”

Quinlan backed up his argument by addressing the manner in which Wales won the Grand Slam earlier this year.

“Wales won a Grand Slam in the Six Nations just gone by, [and] Ireland scored 14 tries and Wales scored 10.

“He’s talking about ambition. Winning a Grand Slam while scoring 10 tries – no bonus point in five games. What’s he talking about? What way does he play?

“His team are stopping teams from playing, they’re competing incredibly aggressively around the breakdown, putting massive pressure on teams.”

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