GATLAND CALLS FOUL OVER NEW ZEALAND TACTICS
Plus: Call-ups controversy – where does it leave Wales?
Q: Can you talk us through your thinking on the team selected to face the Chiefs? A: I spoke to the players beforehand and some of them will know they have an opportunity on Tuesday and that we are preparing for a Test match on Saturday. They have got to go out there and perform and know that a good performance will count for a lot towards the end of the tour.
If you look back at 2013, we made nine changes between the three Tests.
Players have got to stay on form, be positive and confident. These guys are up for it. We have lost two midweek games narrowly in situations where we have been in front on 70 odd minutes. The players are conscious that they want to get a good performance and a result. Q: How tricky is it trying to balance things for this game when you have a Test in mind? A: We have always said our priority out here is to win a Test series but you have got the players the time to prepare for Tuesday night and giving a performance, so they can put themselves in the frame potentially for selection for Saturday, because we may need some players to double up, and also for later in the tour too. Q: You’ve named Alun Wyn Jones in the 23 for Tuesday, but is he still likely to have a role on Saturday? A: We rested him for the last game because he had a quite significant part to play in the beginning of the tour and we needed to freshen him up, so he wasn’t involved against the Maori. He’s on the bench for this game. He may be used or may not, depending on the circumstances of the match. Q: Is there potentially a chance for a utility back from this game to make it into the Test squad? A: Absolutely. We are still not confirmed in terms of a number of the combinations, second row, back row, the back three and midfield too. So there is a great opportunity for players to play for spots. Q: How have you found splitting the squad in terms of preparing for two games this week? A: We only played yesterday, so today is the first day. We had a light run this afternoon in terms of those players coming on the bench. The hardest thing for these guys playing on Tuesday night is the limited time they get together.
The players playing on the weekend tend to have an extra day.
It’s chalk and cheese in terms of how tough that preparation is in having one light training session, sometimes a captain’s run. The team to face the Maori got a full training day on the Thursday and a captain’s run on the Friday. That’s an absolute luxury for them to have.
It’s tough but we want to continue with some of the confidence and momentum we have created and get a good performance and hopefully a result on Tuesday. Q: How important is it for you back here in Hamilton where you were born and raised? Does that make it extra special for you personally? A: If you cut me open, I would probably bleed red, yellow and black. I am very proud of my roots. It’s a great place to have grown up and gone to school here.
What I love about the Waikato people is they are incredibly loyal. The amount of support I have had personally has just been amazing.
I experienced that here in the World Cup in 2011 with the Waikato people that came and supported Wales when we played Fiji. That was incredible.
It’s nice to be back and catch up with friends.
Unfortunately we are only here for a short time. But it should be a great occasion on Tuesday night and a fantastic atmosphere in a proper rugby ground. The fans get close to it and it’s normally a great place to play. Q: Are you closer to cementing your Test 23 or are there still a couple of either/ors in your head? A: There are opportunities for players to perform. We won’t sit down as a coaching team to pick the Test team until Wednesday and I think that’s only fair on the players that are taking the field on Tuesday night. If someone has a great performance, there is always an opportunity, if not for this weekend then maybe Test two or Test there. There is still a huge amount for these players to play for. Q: Can I ask you about Stephen Donald who is playing No 10 for the Chiefs, who seems to have been around for a hell of a long time? A: Yeah, the Beaver. I was lucky enough to coach him for a few years. There was a period of time when New Zealanders either loved him or hated him, but he is a fantastic person, a great individual and a brilliant team man. It’s nice to see him play. Twelve months ago when Wales played the Chiefs here I said to the players whatever you do don’t take a dummy for Stephen Donald and the first time he touched the ball he threw a dummy and the Chiefs scored. That will be the message again for Tuesday because he loves to throw a dummy and run himself. I think Andy Farrell will be disappointed if we do get sucked in by a Stephen Donald dummy, particularly the way we have been defending. He is an icon around here. I heard that he recently got engaged as well, so I’d like to congratulate him on his engagement. I don’t think it was a traditional proposal. I think it was out fishing and suddenly the ring was offered at the back of the ute, in typical Stephen Donald fashion. Q: You seem to have a lot of knowledge of this engagement
process? A: I do have my sources of information as well! Q: How does Liam Williams playing at 15 fit into your thinking on the composition of your back three? A: The thing about a number of players in the back three is they are all pretty versatile. We could have left Liam on the wing and played Elliot Daly at full-back.
It’s an opportunity for Liam to impress at full-back. Anthony Watson did a good job there coming on against the Crusaders and has looked dangerous. We are giving players an opportunity to go out and impress from a counter attacking perspective. I hope Liam gets a chance to do that on Tuesday night. Q: So Liam is still potentially in contention for the Test 23? A: Yeah, he is. We have a difference of opinion with certain people. I think he is a winger and he can play well at full-back. He has done exceptionally well for the Scarlets in recent weeks on the wing.
There tends to be more of an opportunity for wingers to go hunting for the ball and get their hands on it, come off 9 and 10. You see someone like Jack Nowell do that for Exeter and England and cause a lot of problems.
With someone like Liam you can give him that licence when he does play on the wing. You tend to be a little bit more structured with your positional play and kicking game at full-back, so there is a chance for him to impress on Tuesday night Q: Can we read anything into Jonathan Joseph not being involved on Tuesday in terms of having him a good shot of being involved on Saturday? A: He has played pretty well for us. Q: With Dan Biggar starting, are you more confident than you were about Owen Farrell being fit for Saturday? A: I was always confident Owen being fit for weekend. Q: Can you give us a general injury update? A: Leigh Halfpenny obviously took a knock on the weekend and he is going through the HIA protocols. Apart from that it’s just bump and bruises with some guys a little bit sore.
We took George Kruis off relatively early because his calf was a little bit tight, a couple of boys have got tight groins, tight hamstrings and tight muscles, but nothing the doctor think is going to be of concern for too long.
Playing at this level you are always going to get bumps and bruises, but we are in pretty good shape at the moment. Q: How do you see Sam Warburton’s situation at the moment? A: There is no doubt there is some pressure on him because certain players and certain combinations have gone well. A lot of the guys that played against the Crusaders did exceptionally well and last night’s performance against the Maori in terms of territory and possession, we squeezed the life out of them.
It was an unbelievably talented back line that just went nowhere for the Maori. We were hoping Sam was going to be part of the 23 against the Crusaders but unfortunately he had rolled his ankle a little bit and hadn’t recovered in time. He had time against the Highlanders and last night again.
There will be some tough debates and discussions to have on what the final make-up of the back row will be on Saturday.