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Warren Gatland: Wales have 'forgotten how to lose'

Wales coach Warren Gatland. Photo / Getty Images.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has proudly claimed that his team have ‘forgotten how to lose’ after their stunning 24-19 comeback win against France in Paris.

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The Welsh trailed 16-0 at half-time after a poor first half showing, with Louis Picamoles and Yoann Huget dotting down to complement a penalty and drop goal from Camille Lopez.

However, the visitors responded outstandingly to run in three second half tries, including an opportunistic brace for wing George North, to come away from the French capital with four competition points.

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The win is the side’s 10th consecutive victory, equalling their second-best winning run of all-time.

Sitting on their longest winning streak in 20 years, the Welsh squad will head to Rome next week to attempt to notch a record-equalling 11th straight win.

Gatland acknowledged that his side were not up to scratch in the first 40 minutes, but gave his side plenty of praise for their second half showing.

“France were very good in the first half,” he said to Sky Sports.

“We made too many errors and tried to play too much rugby. We were much better in the second half and created some chances.

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“For me, the big difference between the two teams is that we’ve become a side that has probably forgotten how to lose and can dig deep like that.

“On the other hand, they are probably a team searching for some confidence, having not had a great run in the last seven or eight matches.”

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Wales are now unbeaten since losing to Ireland in last year’s edition of the Six Nations, and Gatland is hopeful that rich vein of form will help propel his side to their fourth title under his guidance.

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“We know that we get better the more time we have together,” he said.

“To win this tournament, you need a bit of luck. We look back on our victories and know that sometimes you have the bounce of the ball.

“It’s tough in the Six Nations when you come up against one of the big teams. France in Paris is a real challenge, and if you can win the first game then you have a good chance of winning the tournament.

“Hopefully we can build on this and start thinking about the rest of the tournament.”

France head to Twickenham next week to face England, who will be well-prepared after their colossal tournament-opener with Ireland in Dublin this weekend.

Head coach Jacques Brunel told Sky Sports the commitment his side showed, particularly in the first half, was commendable, but he was obviously disappointed with the result.

“We have to improve the control we lacked in this match,” he said.

“But facing England will be as difficult a challenge as facing Wales, and it will also be a mental test for us.

“We were fully committed, did lots of interesting things, especially in the first half. Even if we didn’t master everything, we managed to put Wales under pressure.

“We know they have a formidable defence, and unfortunately we didn’t start the second half well and they did.”

Rugby World Cup City Guides – Fukuoka:

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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