Gatland back to focus his attention on Wales’ summer tour Down Under
BACK in Wales after time in New Zealand and Australia, Warren Gatland’s attention will now be turning away from the Six Nations and towards the summer tour of Australia.
With a first wooden spoon for Wales since 2003, there’s plenty on Gatland’s agenda as he returns to the day job – with the Wales coach facing a scrutiny he’s perhaps never encountered before in this role.
Ahead of clashes against the Wallabies and South Africa, there’s a few things Gatland will have to check off the list before facing the world champions at Twickenham on June 22.
The first thing he has to do is get around the four professional sides. It’s no secret that he’s rarely been seen at any of the regions this season, with that relative lack of contact occasionally a source of contention.
When asked about his involvement at the regions following the Six Nations and how often he gets around them, he answered: “A reasonable amount. I’m away for the next couple of weeks, then I come back and I’ll be getting around the regions as much as I can.
“We have spoken about, in the offseason, is there a possibility of bringing in some of those players in for a few days, a squad of 34 or 35. Or bring a couple of teams collectively into the Vale and work with the regions and coaches.”
Clearly, bringing the regions into the Vale could be one way of doing things, but the onus will be on Gatland to get around the four sides – if, for nothing else, purely optics. Gatland is often seen as a delegator in his role, and the likes of defence coach Mike Forshaw have spent a fair bit of time around the regions this season, but the head coach might need to be seen working more closely with the clubs.
Welsh Rugby Union executive director of rugby Nigel Walker recently addressed how there was work to be done on that front, while discussing an internal review into the Six Nations. He said: “It’s one of the aspects (of the review), leveraging the knowledge we have at our disposal.
“Clearly Warren and his coaches are very good coaches otherwise they wouldn’t be in the position they’re in. Can they work more closely and collaboratively with the regions? Yes they can. Do we need to work out what that perfect format is? Yes we do.
“Those are the discussions we’re having and the open nature of those discussions where everything is on the table and we’re all putting our heads together to think what’s the quickest way we can turn this ship
around to the benefits of the regions and the national team.”
When it was put to Walker that in previous years, Shaun Edwards had held consultancy roles at two of the regions – yet, in a year when two regions didn’t have full-time defence coaches, nothing similar was put in place – he added: “That’s why we’re talking about it.
“Do I know exactly how it will play about? I don’t, but I know we’re talking about it and we’ll find a way for a ‘One Wales’ plan for Welsh rugby and our coaches will play a part.”
The review itself is something that Gatland will likely have to deal with on his return.
There’s not bound to be any major changes – his security in the job was strengthened in the minutes after the defeat to Italy when he revealed his offer to resign had been turned down – but there might be little things to address.
Getting around the regions will be one, judging by Walker’s comments. Not necessarily something to address per se, but the revelation that Gatland reports directly to WRU CEO Abi Tierney, rather than Walker as was previously stated by Walker himself, has surprised some in the Welsh game.
Any future Welsh head coach would answer to Walker, but Gatland’s contract states that he reports to the CEO instead.
Beyond the internal report following the Six Nations, the rest of Gatland’s time will be spent assessing things ahead of the summer. While he was away, he’ll have missed the Ospreys’ European knockout matches, but attack coach Alex King was present at Kingsholm.
But you’d expect to see Gatland out and about at matches in the coming weeks – culminating in Judgement Day in Cardiff City Stadium – as he deliberates on selection for Australia.
After a Six Nations that saw a number of young players blooded, Gatland will now be looking at who could come back into the picture.
A number of players missed the tournament through injury and the fitness of players potentially on the comeback could drastically change the complexion of the tour.
There’s also the likes of Gareth Anscombe and Liam Williams to consider, with the former joining Gloucester and the latter based in Japan.
It would make sense to bring them back in order to have a balance of experience and youth, but after balking at the suggestion he’d switch from bringing through young players during the Six Nations, the suggestion is that neither could tour this summer.
Finally, one other thing Gatland might be required to do is convince some players to stay in Wales. With budgets coming down, there’s the chance that more Welsh players could look for opportunities elsewhere.
Someone like Mason Grady is a player with international ambitions whose future is still up in the air. Cardiff remain confident of keeping him, but the odd word of wisdom from the Wales head coach could help influence matters.
That’s bound to be the case for others, too. Jacob Beetham is one Welsh youngster who has committed his future to rugby in this country, but Wales are perhaps fortunate that’s the case.
Prior to signing an extension with Cardiff, it was Scotland and Gregor Townsend who did all the chasing of the full-back.
Since then, he’s been invited in to train with Wales – suggesting lessons might have learned.