VIEW FROM THE COACH
QUESTION: WARREN, WAS THAT ALL ABOUT THE POSSESSION STATS? WARREN GATLAND: Yes. Q: WERE YOU PLEASED WITH THE WAY YOUR SIDE MANAGED TO KEEP GOING? WG: We were the creators of our own demise.
In the first half, we were unlucky with a couple of things but against Ireland we spoke about discipline and not allowing them opportunities to get penalties, kick to touch, drive and to squeeze you They were very strong in our own 22. Our line defence wasn’t as good as it needed to be. We were 13-5 up with 38 minutes on the clock and we couldn’t manage that period to half time, which was disappointing.
But we just kept playing and scored some great tries. The guys were comfortable.
Even with that last play, you look at it and if the ball goes to Justin Tipuric out the back then it’s a three on one and you potentially win the game.
That’s how close the game is. Q: ARE TWO DEFEATS TOO MANY TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP? WG: Yes. Q: HAVING PLAYED AGAINST THEM BOTH, HOW DO YOU COMPARE ENGLAND AND IRELAND? WG: They’re both teams that keep the ball for long periods of time, they defend quite similarly.
Ireland are very accurate, when they get into your 22 they’re clinical.
They’re a tough team to break down. That last game of the Championship at Twickenham is going to be an interesting one. Q: HOW DO YOU SEE THAT PANNING OUT? WG: I don’t really care. Q: DID IRELAND DO ANYTHING THAT YOU DIDN’T EXPECT, DID THEY SURPRISE YOU IN ANY ASPECT? WG: No not at all. We spoke about how important it was to speak our discipline and muscle on runners off Murray and we weren’t good enough in that area.
They went to the air a lot and we were reasonably effective in that area. It was an improvement from the England game.
What they’re good at doing is squeezing sides and they squeezed us today.
They got the better of us. Q: THE GAME, IN SOME WAYS, TOOK ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN, IT WAS A CRAZY GAME. WAS IT HARD TO GET YOUR HEAD AROUND? WG: They went with a strategy in terms of coming hard off nine, getting in behind us and then little wrap arounds with Johnny and balls out the back.
They got some success out of that, they got in behind us a few times.
We were trying to keep the ball, play and be a bit more expansive. When we kept the ball, we were dangerous and scored points.
The teams played with quite different styles. Q: WARREN, HOW DO YOU USE THE REST OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP NOW? DO YOU USE IT AS A CHANCE TO EXPERIMENT? WG: We’ve already spoken about needing to see some players in the squad against Italy.
It’s important and we want to finish the Championship well. We want to finish in that top three.
There’s a chance to give some players in the squad (a game) and just see where they are at this level, without making too many changes but we will look to develop the squad. Q: DID YOU SEE FRANCE AGAINST ITALY LAST NIGHT? WG: I saw some of the game, yes. Q: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF THOSE TWO NATIONS?