Gatland explains 'outstanding' reason why Owens named Wales captain
Wales boss Warren Gatland has hailed Ken Owens’ “outstanding rugby intellect” after naming him captain for the Guinness Six Nations championship. Scarlets hooker Owens, who has won 86 caps, will lead his country for the first time against Ireland in Cardiff on February 4. While Gatland admitted that he considered appointing a younger captain, 36-year-old Owens has won his vote ahead of alternatives such as Justin Tipuric, Dan Biggar, Alun Wyn Jones and potentially Jac Morgan.
“Looking at the squad, if we are picking a team, if you look at the way he [Owens] played in the autumn and how he came back from injury, he is probably number one in that position,” Gatland said. “I did contemplate whether we picked a young captain and looked at that for the future.
“Talking to the other coaches, there are probably a few contenders post the World Cup where there will be a significant change to the squad. Ken has been picked to do that job, and he will do a great job. I have a huge amount of respect for Ken as a person and I’m sure he’ll be popular with the players. He wears his heart on his sleeve, has an outstanding rugby intellect and he relates well with people.”
There are a number of senior players among a 37-man Wales squad in the twilight years of their careers. Asked if he had considered getting rid of some of the old guard, Gatland added: “Yeah, I did. The thought process is that it was something that needed to be done earlier. I think we are running out of time. Some of that experience needs to be in that squad to help with the youngsters who haven’t got a lot of caps to their name.”
Gatland has named four uncapped players in his squad – Ospreys centre Keiran Williams, who he said reminded him of “a younger Scott Gibbs”, Cardiff centre Mason Grady, Ospreys lock Rhys Davies and Cardiff second-row forward Teddy Williams.
Elsewhere, there are recalls for 34-year-old Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb – who last played Test rugby in 2020 – Ospreys fly-half Owen Williams, Scarlets back Rhys Patchell, Cardiff prop Rhys Carre and Dragons back-row forward Aaron Wainwright. Selection absentees include Ross Moriarty, Nicky Smith and Ryan Elias, while injuries have sidelined the likes of fly-half Gareth Anscombe and lock Will Rowlands, but Gloucester wing Louis Rees-Zammit, who is currently out of action due to an ankle problem, has been picked.
Gatland has returned for a second stint as Wales head coach. When his first spell began in 2008, Wales won the Six Nations title and a Grand Slam. But they will begin this season’s tournament after a miserable 2022 under Gatland’s predecessor Wayne Pivac that produced just three wins and home defeats against the likes of Italy and Georgia.
“It (Six Nations title) wasn’t believable 15 years ago, so anything is possible,” he said. “I am incredibly competitive and I will do whatever it takes to get this team to a position where they can compete with the best sides in the world. That will take some time, but I can guarantee we will work extremely hard over the next couple of weeks. I am positive we will compete extremely well in the Six Nations.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments