Gatland is free to add to coaching set-up, says WRU chief

THE WRU will back Warren Gatland if he decides to bolster his coaching staff ahead of the World Cup .

That’s the Christmas message from governing body chief executive Martyn Phillips following former Wales captain Gwyn Jones’ call for a consultant coach to brought in to work alongside Gatland.

Jones maintained it would aid Wales’ bid to catch up with other leading nations in evolving their current game-plan.

He claimed the coaching team of head honcho Gatland, assistants Rob Howley, Robin McBryde, Shaun Edwards and Neil Jenkins were “learning on the job” because they had coached one way – Gatland’s – for 10 years.

“I think they would benefit if they could invite someone in who has been through this process and transitioned a side to play a more expansive open style,” said Jones.

Phillips, speaking on the topic for the first time, responded: “My position is we have got a really good plan which takes us through to the World Cup.

“Warren is accountable for delivering it. He chooses his team and, if he wants to add to it, that’s up to him. One of my focuses is to deliver that plan.

“My philosophy has always been the head coach has got to pick their team or otherwise the minute I start doing that and I say ‘I can’t believe we lost on Saturday’, he says: ‘Yes ... but if you’d let me pick my team’.

“You pick your team and you stand or fall by it. That’s just life, you have got to be accountable.

“With Warren and his experience I would want him to be captain of the ship in the running up to the World Cup.

“If he comes along after the Six Nations and says: ‘I think I need some new thinking or some extra expertise in this area, can I bring another person on board for the World Cup?’ Then, absolutely yes, of course you would add to the pool at that point.”

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