Gatland goads ABs
2 Nov 2009
New Zealand-born Wales coach Warren Gatland says the All Blacks’ aura is not what it used to be.
Wales host New Zealand in Cardiff this Saturday, and Gatland fancies the Dragons’ chances. The All Blacks were beaten in all three Tests against South Africa this year, and also lost at home to France.
Wales haven’t beaten New Zealand since 1953, but Gatland believes the bad run may be at an end.
‘New Zealand have lost that aura of invincibility,’ he told Welsh reporters. ‘I was lucky enough to be involved in that period when, from 1986-1990, we went all those matches undefeated, and it was there then.
‘But like everything, over a period of time, that aura does slowly break down if you are not always successful.’
Gatland also mentioned New Zealand’s inability to win the World Cup since 1987 as a sure sign of weakness. Gatland, who acted as forwards coach on the British & Irish Lions’ tour to South Africa, also believes victory in the final Test of that series stands the Welsh in good stead.
‘We’ve seen them lose in past World Cups, but this year they have gone through a couple of poor patches as well. We can take confidence from the first 50 minutes against the All Blacks last year and we beat Australia in the last game.
‘Then there’s confidence from the players who are returning from the Lions believing that they are good enough to compete with the best players in the world. As coaches we have to use that to keep building the confidence and make sure the players are not in awe of the All Blacks. In the past they’ve put New Zealand on too much of a pedestal.
‘Hopefully now they believe that, if we play to our potential, we can win on the day.’
25 Comments
2 Nov 2009, 14:40 pm
nice choice of words, Gats, “involved”. So, in how many games did you help create that ‘aura’ then ?
Gee, must have been so frustrating when your fellow Waikato frontrowers Purvis and Loe both got so much more gamtetime in the Black jersey than you, Gats. Gee, that could almost make a man bitter.
Anyways, far be it for us mere spectators to doubt your undoubted wisdom, but arent your fellas still looking for their first win sincethe 50′s ? If thats not an aura, perhaps you should bone up on the history books.
2 Nov 2009, 14:43 pm
Will Wales have all their 1st choice players available?
2 Nov 2009, 14:44 pm
I have to agree with Gatland….for the 1 st time since 1976 in my opinion the kiwis looked ‘human’
Definitley need a couple of players back from Europe….Hayman, Jack, A Williams a good start.
Gatland not being disrespectful…just honest.
2 Nov 2009, 15:05 pm
Gatland’s right, but he’s just going to look foolish when NZ beat Wales again.
2 Nov 2009, 15:10 pm
#4 Big Hit:
Altho seems a little inaccurate as a Wales coach
“But like everything, over a period of time, that aura does slowly break down if you are not always successful.’
Not always successful ?! the grey hair is now prevalent but exactly how old IS Gatland, is he Master Yoda in disguise ?
2 Nov 2009, 15:14 pm
“Gatland also mentioned New Zealand’s inability to win the World Cup since 1987 as a sure sign of weakness.”
Welsh inability to beat NZ since 1953 in 20 attempts trumps it.
2 Nov 2009, 15:16 pm
#3 grant10: Right. That’s why they are just 2nd now.
2 Nov 2009, 15:34 pm
#7 Nils:
and dont forget that the Boks have gone a whole year without one 1st XV player injured, only JPP once the TriN was already won. Every other team has been decimated by injuries.
Fair dues to SA, theyre the best team out there at the moment. But also the luckiest.
2 Nov 2009, 15:50 pm
‘Gatland, who acted as forwards coach on the British & Irish Lions’ tour to South Africa, also believes victory in the final Test of that series stands the Welsh in good stead’
It was a mostly English XV that won the 3rd test Gatman and little Shane’s tries were walk-ins
2 Nov 2009, 16:04 pm
#8 WakaNathan: Yes, this has been a very good year for them and all dices so far have rolled nicely – WC still theirs, now added elusive 3N and (somewhat fortunately) BIL. Plus successful S14. Very well done.
It remains to be seen how long this very high level will be sustained.
2 Nov 2009, 16:13 pm
Well the fact that he is talking about their “Aura” probaly means he thinks it is still a big factor in his players minds.
The welsh spend too much time trying to come up with new ways of facing the haka instead of just going out and playing rugby no wonder they sike them selves out.
2 Nov 2009, 16:23 pm
#11 Sonito: Of course, it is a big factor, big ****** on their backs, nagging doubts over themselves whether they can do it, no matter how brave faces they show or chest-beating phrases they say.
Deep inside they doubt their own ability – many generations have tried and failed. 20 times in a row.
Similar bogeyman exists in the ABs minds when WC time comes and with each next one that bogeyman grows stronger. There is a simple cure – win it at last and bogey will disappear for good. The same applies to the Welsh. One win on Saturday will do wonders to their mind.
I like Welsh but not at that price though.
2 Nov 2009, 17:47 pm
#11 Sonito: yeah their best chance of beating NZ is to keep things low key and surprise them but Gatland is always making outspoken comments and, in doing so, writes the AB teamtalk. The anti-haka stuff is just fuel on the fire too. Gatland is honest to a fault but he needs to realise the value of silence.
2 Nov 2009, 19:05 pm
He is right in the fact that the All Blacks are vulnerable at the moment, but he’s said that prior to every game involving Southern Hemisphere opposition for which he’s coached Wales. The man’s an egotistical twat, and should learn to keep his mouth shut before games. An insular, self-affirming form of motivation works far better than slandering the opposition, it just serves to psyche them up. The Kiwis will beat the Leeks, it won’t be a pounding, but it’ll be fairly one-sided. And when they lose, Gatland will say it was the closest they’ve been in years and that they were unlucky, or cheated.
2 Nov 2009, 19:26 pm
#13 Big Hit:
No, he’s just trying to break that Wales mentality of putting the Blacks on a pedestal. Yes, it takes more than Talk to do that but its the best place to start. He’s also reminding Wales that this is THEIR home turf so their right to set the challenge. Crafty bugger, Gatland, and he knows they must have a genuine chance because the team is stacked full of experienced players.
#14 SimiJan:
Large egos dont seem to have been a hindrance for the Springboks ever, let alone this year. Talking big is about setting the right psyche for playing big because beating the top teams is mostly about the Top 2 Inches. Notice also the reference to ‘New Zealand’ and not the ‘All Blacks’.
2 Nov 2009, 19:27 pm
Lol! Last year didn’t the Boks outscore them 3 tries to nil then take the foot off the pedal. The Boks confused by two sets of laws in one year then proceeded to give away a few penalties which kept Wales in the game. Afterwards Gatland said Wales were unlucky to lose, what a moron!
2 Nov 2009, 19:38 pm
#16 Lions_Soutie:
why is that when other teams have strong games/halfs against SA its solely because the ‘Boks take their foot off the pedal’ ?
Like the Lions 1st Test ? which they would have lost were it not for cheating Smit back on to the field.
or in Perth when a superb Wallabies win was put down to Barnes cheating ?
or in Hamilton when the ABs blew them off the park in the 2ndH ?
and some would say that its Gatland with the ego problems….
2 Nov 2009, 20:09 pm
#17. Thats the secret to our low injury rate. Lol! Just kidding, I’m as biased as sh1te
2 Nov 2009, 22:13 pm
#1 WakaNathan: Ja gotta agree iwth you Waka – there is not a hope in hell that the Welsh will win this. The AB’s may have started teh season badly, but they seem to have found their feet angain with some new blood (locks).
3 Nov 2009, 11:31 am
Gatlands just sour he didnt get the AB job
3 Nov 2009, 13:08 pm
#19 SjamBok:
Actually, thats not what I said. I think the Boyos have their best chance ever on Saturday, esp if DC remains injured (as looks likely, he didnt train yest and not expected to today either). The Boyos have a strong experienced lineup bar the TH prop, the ABs have 3-4 players who have less than 5 caps each. And if DC is out, then that means we play Donald Duck which means that even Italy would consider themselves in with a chance.
What I said is that the ABs still demand an ‘aura’ in Wales given that undefeated record of 56yrs. And everything Gatland has said this week, incl above, and bringing in a psychologist, confirms it. They would be more confident with Jones/Phillips/Byrne there but the ABs have virtually left a full team of injured at home, or suspended, or unavailable overseas, so there’s no reason why the Boyos cant be jumping in the Taff come Saturday pm.
Hope they arent tho. My neutral hat says it would be great for rugby tho (and I reckon Welsh fans are awesome).
3 Nov 2009, 13:39 pm
#19 SjamBok:
and now confirmed by this quote from Gatland in todays press:-
“The challenge for me as a coach is to make the players believe they can beat New Zealand,” said Gatland.
“Part of my job is to try and instil and create that belief.”.
Its ALL psychological for the Welsh. Which just proves, for them, that the ‘aura’ most certainly does exist no matter how often they say it doesnt. Gatland looks like he’s doing a good job, you gotta talk the talk before you walk the walk.
3 Nov 2009, 14:18 pm
#15 WakaNathan: then why not do it privately instead of publicly? all he’s doing is focusing the ABs better on the task at hand. The guy says what’s on his mind but sometimes he’d be better off keeping it himself.
3 Nov 2009, 14:51 pm
#23 Big Hit:
Agreed, but the ABs hardly need ‘focussing’ vs Wales as they have 4million shareholders at home to remind them of that. Gatland is just trying to break the mould and lead from the front. He does make the odd mistake, as on Lions tour in SA, but Wales are at home and he’s just trying to instil that belief. Talk big, play big.
Besides, they all talk ‘privately’ like that anyway but what good does that do. If you read the Sunday Times (Im sure you did given your mentor SJ was presiding) then Dallaglio said Wales/others should do & say exactly what Gats is now implementing.
Gats is a good coach and an even cannier b@st@rd.
4 Nov 2009, 04:45 am
#24 WakaNathan: He is a good coach, I remain to be convinced by his media utterings. He said too much before the game with Ireland this year too and nearly jeopardised his Lions coaching place.
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