No regrets as Gatland heads back to Wales
Warren Gatland insists he has no regrets on a Hamilton homecoming which promised plenty, though ultimately delivered little.
With Wales coming calling after sacking the man they had replaced their former coach with – fellow Kiwi Wayne Pivac (13 wins from 34 tests at 38%) – just nine months out from the World Cup, it was yesterday announced Gatland had been granted a release by New Zealand Rugby and was headed back to his former role.
In a highly touted return following the 2019 World Cup, Gatland had been signed on a fouryear deal to the Chiefs, with major ambitions of turning the franchise back to a title-winning one. In the end, he coached them for one season, leaving with a 4-9 win-loss record (31%) in Super Rugby.
While part of Gatland’s deal had allowed him leave to lead the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa last year, the success of Clayton McMillan in his absence meant he was then instead transitioned into a director of rugby role for 2022, also helping out with the team’s defence, alongside David Hill.
Fair to say it’s not exactly the script the 59-year-old had in mind when making the call to leave Wales, who in his 12 years (twice as long as the next-longest-serving Welsh coach) he guided to 85 wins from 151 tests (56%), four Six Nations titles, the world No 1 berth, and two World Cup semifinals.
‘‘Everyone’s focused on that run that we had,’’ Gatland said in reference to the Chiefs’ miserable 0-8 showing in the inaugural season of Super Rugby Aotearoa.
‘‘But when I look back on that, before Covid, we were flying as a team, and sitting pretty. Then obviously Covid had an impact, we had some close games – it probably didn’t help with my son [Bryn
Gatland] kicking the winning drop goal in the first game [for the Highlanders], that was a kick in the guts.
‘‘And when I thought, ‘We’re not going to win this’, I used that as an opportunity to play a lot of the youngsters – Tupou Vaa’is and Kaleb Trasks. It didn’t work out how I wanted, but that’s professional sport.
‘‘But I kind of look back and go, ‘Actually, probably the Chiefs are going to benefit from that longterm’.’’
Similarly, Gatland said his change of role on return from Lions duty did in no way feel like a demotion, and that he was just motivated to do what was best for the Chiefs, which was to keep McMillan in the driver’s seat.
‘‘That was my decision,’’ he said. ‘‘I said to [then chief executive] Mike Collins I don’t have to come back, obviously Clayton’s done a good job, and I didn’t want to upset that. And in fairness to Mike, he said, ‘No, we want you back 100%, and if you want to take that role on then it’s yours.
‘‘I just didn’t feel that was appropriate . . . they were settled, they’d shown some progression after that poor season, had finished strongly, and I didn’t want to come in and upset their apple cart, and I just thought continuity at that stage was the best decision for the Chiefs.
‘‘So I just said, ‘Look, why don’t I come in as a different role as a director of rugby? He said, ‘We could minimise your role if you want’, but I was heavily involved in the coaching and there to support Clayton and the other young coaches in the environment. I really enjoyed that.’’
However, nothing quite beats the ‘‘buzz’’ of test rugby, and being involved in the prestigious Six Nations again, not to mention a fourth trip to the World Cup.
‘‘You kind of get the itch again,’’ admitted Gatland, who will fly to Wales on Sunday for four days, spend Christmas back in New Zealand, then jet out again early in the New Year.
‘‘There’s a lot of pressure and expectation in international rugby, but there’s no better feeling than being involved in a stadium with 75,000 people there with the roof shut. That’s what I get kicks out of.
‘‘It’s agony or ecstasy, there’s nothing in between . . . and I love that sort of stuff.’’