Gatland gameplan is not All Blacks’ way, insists Venter
WARREN Gatland will become rugby’s most wanted coach when he leaves Wales at the end of the World Cup, having won his third Grand Slam.
But as France, England and a number of top club sides start eyeing Gatland’s possible services, he isn’t receiving completely favourable column inches back in his New Zealand homeland.
Former World Cup winner Brendan Venter, one of the driving forces behind making Saracens heavyweights of European rugby, claims Gatland would be a ‘square peg in a round hole’ as coach of the All Blacks, although he expresses huge admiration for the job he has done with Wales.
Venter made his comments writing in New Zealand’s Rugby Stuff.
Gatland’s coaching stock reached new levels after masterminding Wales’ 25-7 victory over Ireland in Cardiff last Saturday, the 55-year-old already being linked with the England and French national teams.
With Steve Hansen also stepping down from his role with the All Blacks after the World Cup, Gatland has been touted as a possible contender as his successor.
But ex-centre Venter reckons appointing Gatland would be a ‘risk’.
He cites Gatland’s gameplan that has made Wales kingpins of Europe as being alien to the All Blacks way of playing.
Venter wrote: “Wales are not dissimilar to the All Blacks in the sense that they have a knack of digging themselves out of a hole, when required, which is forged by an unwavering belief.
“However, what made the Welsh performances so exceptional for me over the Six Nations campaign was that they played with so much intensity for so long but kept their discipline.
“Wales are genuine World Cup contenders in Japan, and the reason is very simple. It’s the way they are playing the game at the moment.
“The kicking game, and most especially the aerial battle, is critical and what makes Wales so dangerous is that all of a sudden they have a few players whoare effective in the air.”
But he continued of Gatland: “I have reservations as to whether he would prove the right fit for the All Blacks.
“When you look at the way Gatland has adapted his coaching style to suit the northern hemisphere, there is nothing in the Welsh performances which you can remotely relate to any All Black displays.
“I believe the suits would definitely be taking a risk if they were to appoint Gatland.
“It’s not that he is a bad coach,but you must understand that he had to adapt to win with Wales and has got used to employing a different style.
“Wales are limited offensively and don’t possess an amazing attack. In contrast, the All Blacks definitely boast the best attack in the game today and having Gatland coach them could be like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
“The point is not to put Gatland down - he’s a quality coach - but if you stick with people and keep them for a long period of time, in all likelihood you will be successful.
“Gatland boasts a brilliant management team around him.
“However, he’s not going to be able to take that management team with him to New Zealand, and a head coach is only as good as his support staff.”