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Chiefs coach Warren Gatland lays down early challenge to returning All Blacks
Chiefs coach Warren Gatland has laid down an early challenge for the All Blacks who will be returning to his squad.
With Gatland returning to New Zealand after a 12-year stint with Wales, he will be looking to build a new team with his coaching values – and he’s warned players who may be returning with a post-World Cup hangover that they won’t be allowed to coast back into the side.
“I think they’re the ones who are going to be a bit apprehensive,” he said when asked about how he would deal with returning All Blacks players into his squad.
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“Sometimes when you’re away from the game for a long time and you’ve missed four or five weeks with the team, then you come in thinking ‘where are they going to be, what stage are they at, how much work am I going to have to do to catch up’.
“And hopefully they don’t just saunter in to this environment and think they’re just going to step straight back into it and take charge.
“I hope we get enough work where they come back and go ‘this team’s in a good place and I’m going to have to switch on and get my head right to make sure that I fit seamlessly back in’.”
Last season’s controversial All Blacks rest protocols will continue next year, but Gatland will be welcoming those players back into the Chiefs on January 13, less than three weeks before the start of the Super Rugby season.
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The Chiefs will have several All Blacks returning to Super Rugby from the World Cup, including Sam Cane, Angus Ta’avao, Brad Weber, Atu Moli, Nepo Laulala and Anton Lienert-Brown.
Luke Jacobson and Damian McKenzie will be returning from injuries, while former All Black Aaron Cruden will also be back from his stint in Europe.
Meanwhile, Gatland – who turned down an opportunity to apply for the All Blacks coaching role – said he was happy to watch the battle between Scott Robertson and Ian Foster for the top job from the outside.
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“I’m just as interested as you guys are watching from the outside, and enjoying the show that’s going at the moment,” he said.
“But all I can say to whoever is the new All Blacks coach, is this environment is open 100 percent. We would welcome them at any opportunity to come in, them and their coaching team.
“What’s interesting, you’ve got an experienced assistant coach [Ian Foster] who’s been involved with the All Blacks for a number of years, so that’s continuity. And then you’ve got an outstanding coach who’s been successful at the Crusaders [Scott Robertson] and obviously been successful with other teams.
“So it’s a big decision for the New Zealand Rugby Union to make, and good luck to the person who wins that role.”
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and was republished with permission.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments