GAT NOT GIVING RIVAL ED START
Wales v Australia Stade de France, Paris, 8pm By BEN JAMES in Paris WARREN GATLAND is refusing to stick the boot into Eddie Jones after the Wallabies coach took a kicking of others this week.
But that won’t stop him putting the ex-england boss on the brink of a World Cup exit.
Both sides need a victory – Wales to secure a quarter-final place, Australia just to keep up their hopes of escaping Pool C - and it’s the deep need of both sides that interests Gatland.
Whereas Jones is perhaps fighting for his job, Wales are “desperate” to put a horrendous 12 months behind them.
They’ve seen coach Wayne Pivac sacked, a CEO resign, the Welsh Rugby Union accused of sexism, and a contract dispute that nearly resulted in strike days before a clash with England.
In that context, a run deep into the World Cup would surely be celebrated as one of Gatland’s finest achievements. He’s ready to see his side channel their desperation in the right way against a team likely to throw the kitchen sink at those in red.
“Sometimes, teams that are more desperate tend to, when that pressure comes on, go a little wayward or that pressure can get to them,” said Gatland.
“We’re desperate to do well for this team, but also Wales as a country.”
Other than admitting that he expects to win, Gatland steered clear of the type of grenades that have typified meetings between him and Jones.
“I think he’s been getting enough stick from everyone else, there’s no need for me to put the boot in,” he said.
Reverting to a starting XV that defeated Fiji, Gatland will be hoping for a similar performance.
A win would be a step closer to proving right his long-term declaration Wales will “do something special” in France.