IT’S ALL ABOUT GATLAND EVEN IF HE TRIES TO DODGE PRAISE

‘IT IS not about me, it is about those players,’ said Warren Gatland answering his first question after Wales had won their Grand Slam in Cardiff against Ireland. The question from the BBC television reporter was about him making history, the first coach to complete three clean sweeps, and what that meant. But, he deflected the praise away. It was the only thing Gatland got wrong all day. When it comes to Wales and their rugby team, the wins they have had and the glory they have basked in, in recent times, it is all about Gatland. The fact that Wales, with four Grand Slams and another outright Championship win since 2000, are now the most successful team in this expanded tournament is almost entirely the New Zealander’s doing. Gatland the galvaniser, Gatland the great. ‘I don’t want to be too romantic about it,’ said his captain Alun Wyn Jones. ‘He’s been pretty prolific not just with Wales but with the other red jersey as well. ‘When you have someone who is so confident at the top of the tree, that filters down. ‘It’s easy to say off the back of the win but we’ve also come under pressure over the years. ‘We’ve had good performances and wins when we’ve had our backs against the wall. ‘It takes a certain type of character to be able to come through the mire. ‘He’s got a bit left on his contract, so he can’t take his foot off the gas yet — but his record speaks for itself. ‘Three Grand Slams and another Championship.’ Of course, he told everyone this was going to happen. ‘Beat France and I think we’ll win the Grand Slam,’ he said with a smile before the tournament. ‘It’s nice when my predictions come true!’ he beamed again after it. Adam Beard, Ross Moriarty, Gareth Anscombe, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams — these are not players likely to make many people’s World XV — but in that team, in that stadium, wearing that shirt, with that coach they’ve become unstoppable, unbeatable, utterly outstanding. Unquestionably, that is the Gatland effect. In the Grand Slam game: Beard, part of the Ospreys region that lose more than they win, became Mr Tickle, his arms extending through the mauls to pilfer vital balls; Moriarty, who with the Dragons has barely an idea what winning feels like, was the masher, and Anscombe played like Dan Carter and Parkes like Brian O’Driscoll. The latter two combined for the first score a few seconds into the second minute. Anscombe’s audacious chip found his Kiwiconvert pal, and Parkes scored. Then, from God knows where, Parkes found a new yard of pace to hunt down Jacob Stockdale and perform an incredible try-saving tackle soon after. Anscombe kicked every goal and Wales routed the reigning World Team of the Year. In red, Gatland’s guys become supermen. Soon, Wales will be shorn of their great twin talents. Wales must enjoy Gatland and Jones while they can — with them in the red corner the nation will continue to punch above its weight. What about the World Cup? ‘We’ll be in great shape,’ said Gatland. With him in charge, of course they will be.