Wales coach gives verdict on Gatland’s Law changes and view on fall-guy Webb

THE BIG WARREN GATLAND Q&A

Question: Warren, what is behind the change? Warren Gatland:

It’s something that I’ve been talking about for 12 months or so with the union.

It’s just to try and simplify it, as much as anything. Get it black and white.

With the wildcards and all the other potential exceptions it wasn’t so easy to understand.

And even from a player’s perspective, first it was two wildcards, then three, then four, then back to two.

And, typical of players, they backed themselves to be selected as a wildcard.

It’s just about getting it simplified.

Q: People will zero in on Rhys Webb and his predicament, what’s your verdict on that? WG:

I’ll be perfectly honest, I’m not comfortable with his situation. It’s the policy that’s been agreed. Given the opportunity, why would you limit yourself as a national coach? Why would you create a policy that meant, in the short term or long term, you’d be unable to pick your best players?

It’s a balance and we have a responsibility, not just what’s the best for the national team but long term for Welsh rugby.

We need our regions to be competitive and strong.

Part of that is to keep our best players in Wales for as long as possible.

When players reach 60 caps they have the opportunity to go outside of Wales.

I understand there is pressure on players to make the best decision for themselves and their family and their future.

We’ve got to recognise that there are market forces outside of Wales. There’s a balancing act between agreeing and making a decision that isn’t solely in the interest of the national team.

We’ve come up with a number that is reasonably high. But those players will have given a significant contribution to the national game and their region.

There was debate about 70 caps and that was a bit of a sticking block for a while. I was pushing for 60, the regions were pushing for 70.

That would have meant Dan Biggar would be captured as well. At the moment he’s still captured because he’s on 56. He may reach the number. I’d hate to see him get injured in the next game and we have to put him on whilst he’s on crutches to get two or three caps.

Q: Was Rhys aware of the changes to the policy before he decided to sign for Toulon? WG:

He can still get out of his Toulon contract. He’s only signed a letter of agreement. He hasn’t signed a full contract with Toulon.

This has been part of the debate. Market forces will dictate what a player decides.

I had a good conversation with Rhys. He’s 28 he’s had a lot of injuries, he’s thinking about himself, his future and his family.

He may have made that decision whether he was captured or not.

We see those decisions being made by international players in other countries as well. All Blacks make those decisions, South African and Australians make those decisions.

It’s a lifestyle change and security decision. That’s the challenge for us.

Part of the criteria is the desire to have five competitive entities, the national team and four regions.

This policy won’t work if we aren’t competitive in our regions and that’s important.

That’s the challenge for us as a union, a national and the regions. To attract players from outside of Wales and keep our best players in Wales and hopefully not be dictated to by market forces.

The best example of that at the moment is Saracens. They’re able to keep players, to attract people there and re-contract players for a lot less money than they’re being offered by the other clubs.

Because the environment is right and they’ve been successful.

Liam Williams went there for less money than he was offered here in Wales. He went for a lifestyle choice. You can understand that.

That’s the challenge we’ve got. Players will stay if the environment is right, coaching is right and teams are being competitive and successful.

That will keep people here.

Q: Would you advise Rhys Webb to try and get out of his contract? WG:

He’s got to make his own decision.

I don’t know whether you should talk to his agent.

We spoke to Derwyn (Jones, Webb’s agent) to say this policy was potentially going to be introduced. He’s well aware of it. He’s spoken to Rhys, I’ve spoken to Rhys – not so much about that. He just said it was a decision about his future.

He’s had a lot of injuries over the years, he’s 28.

For him to get to 60 caps might take three years and he may not get that opportunity again.

We’ve got to respect and understand that. Market forces on certain players could be dictated.

Would Dan Biggar have stayed around or would he have made the same decision to go? I don’t know the answer to that. That’s the unknown quantity over the next few years.

Do the players want to stay around for the future? We’ve got to do whatever we can to make Wales an attractive base.

Q: Another player who could be potentially affected is Ross Moriarty, I assume you want him to come back to Wales? WG:

There’s a few players. Ross Moriarty and Tom Francis.

Q: What would happen if Dan Biggar got injured tomorrow (and didn’t reach 60 caps)? WG:

England and the All Blacks don’t pick anyone outside their own country.

Australia is 60 caps, South Africa I think is down to 30.

We’ve introduced something and the best part of it is that it’s black and white.

If the regions came out and said that Rhys Webb should be allowed to play then that would be a different scenario.

Whether that happens or not, I don’t know. You’ve got to feel for him.

From my point of view, we’re not going to have the ability to pick a world class player.

That’s disappointing.

Q: How encouraged have you been by the start made by the Dragons? WG:

All the stuff coming from there is very positive, there are good vibes.

We’ve spoken a lot to Bernard, this is a three year plan.

We’ve seen what he’s doing, resting players and he’s thinking long term.

The pleasing thing is that with the union taking over they’ll have an increased spend on the salary cap next year, which means he’ll have money at his disposal.

Looking at that group of players, in