Gatland switches focus to going out on top in Japan
WARREN Gatland says he’s already planning for the 2019 World Cup with Wales after leading the Lions to a drawn series in New Zealand.
After the brutal 1-1 stalemate with the All Blacks, Gatland hopes to end his time as Wales coach on a high by leading his team to victory in the tournament in Japan in two years’ time.
The 53-year-old, who has been Wales coach since 2007, will leave his position in 2019. He says the experience of the Lions this summer can help the likes of Sam Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones to further success over the course of the next two seasons.
“I can take my Lions hat off now and start plotting and planning for the next couple of years with Wales,” Gatland said.
“Hopefully we can transfer in the confidence and experience that we’ve got from the Welsh players who were on the Lions tour and understand a little bit more about some of the opposition we will come up against over the next couple of years.
“For me it’s about the autumn, the Six Nations and building towards the next World Cup.”
While Gatland was on Lions duty, Wales produced an underwhelming Six Nations campaign last season under interim boss Rob Howley. A fifth-placed finish was their worst since 2007, but the performances of Wales’ stars this summer has got Gatland excited about the future.
Centre Jonathan Davies was named players’ player of the series by his Lions team-mates, while Taulupe Faletau, Liam Williams, Warburton and Jones all impressed against the world’s best side.
Their performances bode well for Wales’ autumn campaign which will see them take on Australia, Georgia, New Zealand and South Africa. Facing the three best sides from the southern hemisphere, plus emerging outfit Georgia will be a stiff test for Wales, but Gatland believes the games on four successive weekends will help Wales get to the next level.
Under Gatland’s leadership, Wales have made a semi-final and quarter-final at the last two World Cups before falling to defeats to France and South Africa respectively.
“I get excited as an international coach about the World Cup because it is the only time you get a lengthy period together with the players,” Gatland said. “Normally it is so tough and you have to prioritise because you don’t get a lot of preparation time.
“With the Lions we had six or eight weeks together whereas with a World Cup you get two or three months and you feel like you can plan properly. I’m looking forward to the challenges of the next couple of years.”