Warburton: Gatland a genius
Warren Gatland’s mental genius is behind Wales’ timely resurgence in a World Cup year.
That’s the feeling of his former captain Sam Warburton as Wales kept their Six Nations Grand Slam hopes alive and killed off England’s.
‘‘If he tells you you are going to do something, you genuinely believe you are going to do it,’’ Warburton told the BBC as Gatland’s methods were dissected.
‘‘More often than not, when he says something, it works.
‘‘He genuinely believes he can beat anyone and everyone on his day, and the players feed off that confidence.
‘‘That is definitely his best trait as a head coach. He has changed Wales from a perceived underdog in 2008 to now expecting to be favourites.
‘‘He has got the boys genuinely to believe. He has changed the psychology.’’
Warburton also noted that Gatland was quick to apply World Cup pressure to England after Wales beat Eddie Jones’ outfit 21-13 last weekend, by questioning England’s ability to ‘‘win these big games’’.
‘‘He is very clever at planting things in the press and influencing the public image of Wales or the team they are playing – he does plan meticulously what he is going to say,’’ Warburton told the BBC.
‘‘It could come back to put a bit of pressure on an opposition team come the World Cup.’’
Warburton ended a distinguished career last year, retiring from international rugby with 74 caps to his name.
He has had a long and successful partnership with New Zealander Gatland at Wales and the British and Irish Lions, and said the hardest part about calling time on his test career was telling his coach and good friend.
‘‘Deciding to retire was the easy thing, the hardest thing was letting people know because I felt I was letting so many people down,’’ Warburton said, believing the mental stress of captaincy had finally taken its toll.
‘‘I was so physically and emotionally drained in my career I just didn’t have the emotional energy to keep going. Having to tell Warren Gatland felt like I was letting him down badly.’’