Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

The attitude Gatland would 'definitely take' in the Ireland camp

By PA
(Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

Wales boss Warren Gatland believes that Ireland counterpart Andy Farrell’s great understanding of a winning culture is integral to his coaching stature. Marginal title favourites Ireland kick off their Guinness Six Nations campaign against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday. They arrive as the world-ranked No1 team following a spell of sustained success that saw them claim a Test series triumph against the All Blacks in New Zealand, beat South Africa and Australia and also land a Six Nations Triple Crown.

ADVERTISEMENT

With the World Cup just seven months away, Ireland have moved impressively through the gears and Gatland is not surprised by Farrell’s success. “Having worked with him on a couple of Lions tours,he has got a great understanding of what a good culture is and what a winning culture is,” Gatland said.

“Having come from his rugby league background and his experiences with Saracens and England and then going on to become (Ireland) head coach, his understanding of that is important. You are able to encompass all those elements to get a culture where you can get the best out of your players.He has definitely got the skill and the ability to be able to do that.”

Video Spacer

Warren Gatland explains not including Liam Williams to start against Ireland rugby

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Warren Gatland explains not including Liam Williams to start against Ireland rugby

      Although Wales will go into the Principality Stadium clash as underdogs, Ireland know they can expect a huge challenge. Wales have claimed four successive Six Nations victories at Ireland’s expense on home soil, while the Gatland factor also cannot be ignored.

      His second stint as Wales head coach begins just over three years after the first one ended. When he last held the post between 2008 and 2019, Wales won four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams and reached two World Cup semi-finals.

      Related

      “I suppose the free hit for us is that the expectation and pressure are on them [Ireland] to win as favourites,” added Gatland, the newly reappointed Wales boss. “It hasn’t always been the easiest tag for Irish and Welsh teams in the past to carry going in as the favourites. You can get an upset because there is a huge amount of history and rivalry between those two nations and there have been a lot of close games.

      “The secret, and I am sure Andy will be talking about this, is that you don’t run away from that. You look to embrace the expectations of being the No1 team in the world. That is definitely the attitude I would be taking if I was in the Ireland camp. I have had that experience in the past with Wales, having to handle the favourites’ tag.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “There were probably one or two games in the autumn when they [Ireland] were under a little bit of pressure and they could have lost or it could have gone the other way, but they knew how to close the game down and manage it.

      “We had that experience in 2018 and 2019 with Wales. We went through 14 matches unbeaten and the thing about that is you have got a team that has composure, takes their moment and is able to manage games. That is probably the Irish team at the moment.”

      ADVERTISEMENT

      LIVE

      Singapore SVNS | Day 1

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

      Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

      New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

      Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

      The Rise of Kenya | The Report

      New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

      The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      f
      fl 51 minutes ago
      Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

      “A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

      Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


      “The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

      I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


      “Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

      I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


      “The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

      I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

      176 Go to comments
      J
      JW 5 hours ago
      French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

      Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


      They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


      That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

      9 Go to comments
      TRENDING
      TRENDING Harlequins sign 132kg England prop Harry Williams Harlequins sign England prop Harry Williams
      Search