Owens says Gatland deserves more credit
Warren Gatland is on the verge of bringing up a century of tests, but according to Wales hooker Ken Owens, his Kiwi coach does still not get the credit that he deserves.
Only former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry has taken charge of more rugby internationals
(103) for one country than Gatland, who will bring up three figures in the
Six Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin next weekend, then break the record when his side tour Argentina later in the year.
After taking up the Wales job in 2007, Gatland has overseen three Six Nations titles, two grand slams and guided the team to a World Cup semifinal in
2011, while his two series as British and Irish Lions head coach saw a series win in Australia in
2013 and the dramatic drawn series in New Zealand last year.
But, still, the 54-year-old - who will step down as Wales coach after next year’s World Cup in Japan - doesn’t get the recognition he should be afforded, Owens reckons.
‘‘Both inside and outside of Wales, for some reason, he’s always had to - not explain himself - but prove himself, despite helping transform Wales,’’ he told PA Sport. ‘‘You don’t stay in a job like this and do as well as he has without changing things up, changing your style of play, and I think you’ve seen that with Wales in the last few years.’’
Gatland has been Owens’ only international coach, with the 31-yearold having now earned 54 test caps, and also captaining the Lions against the Blues on his first tour with them - a tour which he said put Gatland ‘‘up there with the best’’.
Wales sit third on the Six Nations ladder after two rounds.