'It's always nice to get one up on him': Warren Gatland reveals the one coach he loved to beat
Former Wales head coach Warren Gatland has identified England boss Eddie Jones as the coach he “loved beating” during his time in Europe.
In a wide-ranging interview on Sky Sport NZ‘s The Breakdown, Gatland described his rivalry with Jones as “just a game” after the pair engaged in a war of words multiple times between Jones’ arrival in England in late 2015 and Gatland’s departure from Wales last year.
The most recent example of the duo’s press conference battles came during the 2019 World Cup in Japan, where Gatland suggested England might have peaked too soon after comprehensively defeating the All Blacks in the semi-final.
Jones batted the current Chiefs and British and Irish head coach’s claims away in the wake of Wales’ semi-final loss to eventual champions South Africa, saying: “Send my best wishes to Warren to make sure he enjoys the third and fourth place play-off.”
However, Gatland told The Breakdown that he and Jones enjoyed a good relationship off the field and would go out to dinner together ahead of a Six Nations campaign.
“I loved beating Eddie Jones,” the 56-year-old former All Blacks hooker said.
“We’ve been out for dinner a few times and the whole media thing is just a game.
“You’ll get asked a question and you might give a response to it. And they’ll use your answer which he’ll respond to.
“Before the Six Nations, we’ll go out to dinner and just have a laugh to what happens in the media.
“It’s just part of it. Before the Six Nations launch I’ll say ‘go in there Eddie and throw in a few grenades’ and he’ll say the same to me as well.
“But it’s always nice to get one up on him.”
Gatland also revealed that former Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus, who guided South Africa to their third World Cup title last year, was a coach he held in high regard.
After being awarded Pro12 coach of the season for his work with Munster in 2017, Erasmus took charge of a struggling South African side that had win rate of barely over 50 percent in the two years after the 2015 World Cup.
Within 24 months, the former Springboks flanker turned the inconsistent national side into world champions after they defeated Jones’ England 32-12 in last year’s World Cup final in Yokohama.
Now in a director of rugby role with South Africa Rugby, Erasmus and new Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber are set to go head-to-head with Gatland when the British and Irish Lions tour South Africa in 2021.
“Probably one of the guys I respect is Rassie Erasmus with South Africa,” Gatland said.
“I really like his philosophy with the game and his attitude, he’s got a huge amount of respect for the job he did at Munster and obviously he’s done a fantastic job since he went back to South Africa.
“I enjoy conversations and enjoy coaching against him as well.”
Gatland also floated the notion of settling the 2017 drawn test series with the All Blacks prior to embarking on next year’s tour of the Republic.
With the COVID-19 crisis putting rugby organisations around the world under intense financial pressure, Gatland suggested a clash between New Zealand and the Lions – potentially at Twickenham – could help bolster finances.
“I’ve spoken to Mark Robinson about a warm-up game for the Lions and he was potentially talking about the New Zealand Maoris,” he said.
“But is it something that the All Blacks go up there for? A decider before we go off to South Africa at the end of June next year.
“Potentially it’s an opportunity to make £4million or £5million from a game like that and put some money back into the coffers that we’re going to need.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Always 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!
12 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*_“I love watching bone-shuddering tackles, brutal clear-outs, monster ball carries, and crushingly intense scrummaging. I love it. These things make my heart rate spike. These aren’t the only things I love about rugby, but I feel no need to pretend I don’t love them, or to apologise for loving them just in case someone thinks I shouldn’t.”_* beautifully put Flats🔥
3 Go to comments