All Blacks injuries no help to Wales – Gatland
Wales head coach Warren Gatland does not believe New Zealand will be weakened by their lengthy list of injuries when the two sides meet in Cardiff on Saturday.
Gatland oversaw the British and Irish Lions’ series draw against the All Blacks earlier in the year and will now be hoping to mastermind Wales’ first win in the fixture since 1953.
World champions New Zealand will be without captain Kieran Read, as well as the likes of Brodie Retallick and Dane Coles, for this weekend’s match at the Principality Stadium.
But Gatland insists: “It doesn’t make any difference. They’re still the best team in the world.
“They could put out a fourth, fifth or sixth strength team and still beat most teams because of the players that they have.
“They’re obviously missing seven or eight of their regular starters from 12 months ago, but in saying that it’s an opportunity for them to develop some depth.
“We’re going through the same process. We’ve got four or five of our key players out as well and it’s a good chance for us to develop some depth too.”
Gatland is, though, feeling more optimistic about his side’s chances than in previous years, pointing to the experience gained by some of his players on the Lions tour.
“The reason I’m excited is probably the way the players have prepared themselves,” he added. “We have a group of players in the squad, some of them have had success in a different jersey.
“I think in the past, and rightly so, the All Blacks having been the best team in the world consistently, you have that fear factor about playing them.
“The fact that some of these players have played them on a regular basis, there’s not that trepidation. In terms of familiarity, that gives you a little more confidence going out there, having played against those players on a regular basis you feel more comfortable.
“These guys have prepared really well this week. They just seem calm and not so nervous and uptight as they might have been in the past.
“I think that’s the experience of people like Alun Wyn [Jones], or Ken Owens in the forward pack and Taulupe Faletau, just having had that experience of playing against the All Blacks.”
Gatland also commented that he expected the Williams-on-Williams clash – Sonny Bill versus Wales centre pairing Owen and Scott – to be key to the outcome of the match.
“That’s huge. We saw last week some of his offloading threat, we saw that in the summer as well,” he said.
“His ability to get his arms free, offload and free up the back lines – it was a pretty special try they scored at the weekend from that.
“It’s something we have spoken about, trying to limit that threat that obviously we will be exposed to at some point at the weekend.
“There’s no doubt at some stage a player of his ability will expose us and get the ball away. We’ve just got to be able to react to that.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Owen Farrell is one of the most polarising figures in the game. His entire attitude on the field (and sometimes off of it) smacks of arrogance and he is about as brash as Donald Trump in a political debate. Yet behind that facade is a calculating, determined and powerful leader who drives any team forward with an Iron will. You are right in that he gets better in the heat of battle and in the face of overwhelming odds. He develops a narrow focus and he delivers his best in a way that few others can. He is one of Englands great performers who sacrificed alot for the team and who often bears the weight of responsibility of leadership alone on the field and in front of the media. Despite what many think of him he is a fantastic game manager with a good rugby brain. He will be sorely missed from the international stage
13 Go to commentsAlways proud of the effort, Sam. The All blacks never stop fighting, never just roll over. He didn’t get anywhere near the respect he earned, but that’s due to results, not commitment to the cause. Have fun dominating in Japan!
1 Go to commentsNot sure why Papali’i thinks Scott Robertson needs his help to select the next All Black Captain. In my view, Papali’i would be well advised to have a good hard look at his own game, and to reflect on how fortunate he is to even wear the black jersey. Rather than shouting at his team mates at every set piece, standing in the mid-field pointing and holding his arms out and flopping to the ground at the back of every second or third ruck, may I suggest he would be far better employed actually doing something on the field. Seriously, watch him for 10 minutes during a game - not much happens. When was the last time he was first to a breakdown, or actually made a turnover? If Robertson is half the Coach I think he is, Papali’i will not be anywhere near the AB’s this season.
11 Go to commentsHiding coming up for Saders.
1 Go to commentsDagg really does go down some rabbit holes doesnt he? In the name I guess.
6 Go to commentsHey Brett I’m one who is looking forward to seeing JS back on the rugby field. I was under the impression that a large portion of his contract was via a third party so RA isn’t having to foot the bill My big concern is around the Tahs and what is happening there, why are so many players bailing. Is it the program, the coaches or the culture. Joe Schmidt recently said he had been at the Tahs all week and DC is a good coach. Something doesn’t gel , 10 front row forwards in a season that’s not bad luck
13 Go to commentsIncorrect title. He hasn’t said Furlong is one of the best scrummagers. He said he is one of the best props.
1 Go to comments“_It seems like a crazy thing that he was counting them_“ Are you stupid, mate? Anyone with more than half a brain understands that he meant “a lot” or something similar. Do you really think he was counting? “*Goode*: Told you, Jim!“ No, you banana. You said, explicitly, that the Irish players didn’t say what EE said they did. Even though you weren’t there. Even though you didn’t hear a word they said. M0r0n.
107 Go to commentsI am sure that Scott Robertson did do the courtesy of telling Sam Cane that he was not in his All Black plans and NZR would support him if he wished to sign a lucrative pension playing out his career in the cream puff rugby that is Japan’s Top League. I fail to see this as a negative as Israel Dagg is trying to spin it. Razor allowed Cane to leave with dignity rather than being unceremoniously dumped as was Buck Shelford.
6 Go to commentsHey rugbypass can I also get involved with writing rugby articles?
1 Go to commentsHey rugbypass can I also get involved with writing rugby articles?
1 Go to commentsAT THE END OF THE DAY THE TEAM WITH 4 WORLD CUPS WILL ALWAYS GET TO TELL THE OTHER NATION TO SUCK MY BALLS. THIS IS A SCIENTIFIC AND IRREFUTABLE FACT.
107 Go to commentsWish him and his family the best in his retirement from International rugby and into the future.
1 Go to commentsSelf proclaimed expert/pundit Andy Goode and his very personal views on referees…Why recalling them in such an article as if he were an undisputed authority on the subject ? Only because fellow writer ?
1 Go to commentsLate growth spurts are a common problem over here. I’m well over 30, and I just started having a growth spurt too. Could be a world class prop soon.
1 Go to commentsas much as the challenge cup is a bit of a nothing competition, winning it would still mean something. last year it was won by toulon, who are now something like 4th in the top 14? The year before it was won by Lyon a season before they finished 3rd in the league. The year before that the final was contested by Montpellier and Leicester - 12 months before they both became domestic champions. That should give Gloucester fans some hope.
1 Go to commentsgreat article - although I can’t help wonder whether the more relevant debate over coming years will be between Ford and Fin Smith!
13 Go to commentsMaking Scott Barrett captain might be a masterstroke….will calm him down & stop brain fades and also take pressure off Ardie, so he can just play his natural monster game. Lets see how that all pans out🧐
8 Go to commentsI’m surprised Scotland are planning to rest key players this summer - I don’t think any other tier 1 nation will be doing the same?
3 Go to commentsGreat analysis Brett and what a shame that RA haven't spent more on the tight five instead. BTW I see the latest 8-9 Combo has dropped, looking forward to that. It's incredible the amount of damage that Hamish and Eddie's egos did in such a short space of time. From memory Eddie drove the initial drive to poach league stars way back in the 00s, with community rugby paying the price in reduced funding. Australia went from 15% of its income being spent on community rugby in 2002 to 2.4% in 2015, sheer madness and look where they are now. Hamish reminds me of Scrappy Doo. Always mouthing off, spoiling for a fight with bigger dogs who'd eat him alive. Sadly RA didn't have a Scooby Doo to bail him out.
13 Go to comments