GATLAND: THERE’S NOTHING PERSONAL
WALES v ALL BLACKS
WARREN Gatland insists he respects Steve Hansen, while the All Blacks coach says there’s nothing personal about the barbs they have aimed at each other in the past.
They may be doing their utmost to pour water on the fire which has been smouldering since Gatland’s Lions shocked the rugby world by drawing their Test series with New Zealand a few months ago, but, like it or, the stakes are massive during Saturday’s encounter between Wales and the back-to-back World Cup holders at the Principality Stadium.
Both men are winners and neither will stand the thought of losing. Hansen may deny it, but it’s a chance to get revenge over Gatland for the Lions, while it’s an opportunity for the latter to prove he’s the superior coach by masterminding Wales’ first victory over the men in black since 1953.
New Zealand are missing key men, having had a hugely-demanding year with facing the Lions a once-ina-lifetime challenge for their players and, mentally and physically, appearing to be coming to the end of their tether as they prepare for their final Test of it.
The problems they have had putting the Barbarians and Scotland away in recent weeks, coming on the back of defeat in Australia and a onepoint squeak against South Africa, have shown they are vulnerable.
Former Wales boss Hansen is a shrewd operator who will know that, so it’s no surprise he was spiky when asked about renewing acquaintances with the man who would love to be All Blacks’ coach.
Asked if he was looking forward to “locking horns” with fellow countryman Gatland this week, Hansen barked: “We’re playing Wales, not playing Warren Gatland ... so not really looking forward to seeing him ... but I’m looking forward to playing Wales.”
But they can’t hide from the fact their relationship has been frosty at times, with barbs being traded and Hansen going as far as to telephone a New Zealand radio station to dismiss Gatland’s claim the All Blacks had targeted Lions scrum-half and key man Conor Murray in the opening Test.
Gatland addressed their relationship, maintaining: “I don’t have any problem with the guy.
“I get on with him in terms of catching up if we have a beer.
“My dealings with him any time I’ve been coaching against him have been fine.
“But you have to remember you’re kind of in a war-zone. Everyone’s trying to manipulate things to their advantage where one call, one decision, can be the difference between winning or losing.”
“It’s hard from the outside because you’re not dealing with them on a day-to-day basis. You don’t really get to know someone in those circumstances.”
And he added: “Look, you can’t help but respect him. As to his comments about me tactically, I don’t know what his motives were, whether there was a double-bluff or not.
“Whether he was a little bit worried about the type of game we were going to play.
“I don’t know if they were feeling a little pressure.
“But there’s always a slight effort to try to wind you up a bit. I understand that. You’ve got to respect what he’s achieved.”
Wales have lost all 10 clashes with the All Blacks under Gatland, whose record against the southern hemisphere superpowers New Zealand, Australia and South Africa since succeeding Gareth Jenkins as coach nine years ago stands at a dismal won three, lost 33.
The All Blacks have averaged a 20-point winning margin in those matches with Wales, but nearly all the pressure is on them this week with Gatland having everything to gain after convincing many this autumn campaign is about development and experimentation, not results.
Hansen, for his part, although he pointed out Wales have “gone away from what he (Gatland) normally does”, insisted he wouldn’t be more fired up than normal for Saturday’s Test because of who was in the opposition coaching box.
“I always laugh when people ask is it more personal to you? It has never been personal. It never will while I’ve been a coach. It’s not about me versus Warren,” he said.
“Rugby is a team game. It’s everybody against everybody. Once you make it personal, you tend to drop the ball.
“For me, coaching is about creating an environment where you can help young men who are motivated and talented to express and improve themselves.
“Winning is just a by-product of all of that.”
As for facing Wales, he signed off: “Everyone is really excited about a week that’s going to be really challenging and this team always responds to good challenges.
“You media guys get all excited ... but it’s not about anyone pitting swords against someone else, it’s about a team versus a team.
“Are we looking forward to going to Wales and playing Wales? Yes, we are.”
But Hansen was clear with his answer when asked if he would be reading Gatland’s recently-published account of the Lions tour.
“I won’t read the book. I don’t read books about people I already know,” he said.