The 'little bit of concern' Gatland has with Six Nations Netflix series
New Wales boss Warren Gatland has revealed he isn’t 100 per cent supportive of Netflix filming its behind-the-scenes documentary on the 2023 Guinness Six Nations. The online streaming giant agreed on a deal with the tournament organisers earlier this month to embed crews with all six countries to film footage for a series that will be broadcast in 2024.
However, despite that long interlude between the crews capturing pictures and its slated broadcast date, Gatland has admitted to being currently stuck in a dilemma about minding his Ps and Qs.
The New Zealander is a veteran of starring in behind-the-scenes rugby documentaries. He was head coach on the three most recent British and Irish Lions tours and an assistant for the 2009 trip to South Africa. He was also the Barbarians boss versus Wales in November 2019 when RugbyPass spent a week filming his Baa-Baas.
However, whereas the Lions and the Barbarians had editorial control regarding the documentaries that were eventually broadcast on those occasions, Gatland is anxious that no such control has so far been agreed with Wales set to commence their latest Six Nations campaign at home to Ireland next Saturday, February 4.
For instance, Gatland has a history with the Irish as the IRFU sacked him in 2001 while the Anglo-Welsh rivalry always takes on a life of its own during the build-up to that particular match. With no editorial assurance, it means he is entering his second tenure as Wales coach wary that the cameras could misconstrue something that gets said in the dressing room about rival teams.
"Lashings of Guinness, belting live music from a busker, and of course the stars of the Six Nations now all under the watchful eye of the Netflix crew…"
– A colourful account of 2023 Six Nations media launch, with @heagneyl ???#GuinnessSixNationshttps://t.co/PAnS4viEuj
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 23, 2023
He explained that such barbs might not be true feelings but words get said to fire a team up emotionally before they play a match and he feared they could be misinterpreted if broadcast in the Netflix series. Asked for his thoughts on the streaming company being allowed in behind the scenes at Wales for the Six Nations and how comfortable he would be with the process, Gatland said: “That is a really good question.
“In the past experiences we have had with the crews involved, whether it is the Lions or it is Wales, it is your ability to create a relationship with the players and the coaching team that is seen as really important. It was almost like being an invisible part of it and then you find yourself just carrying on with your normal routine in terms of their involvement and the trust that you build up with them.
“That is the challenge with the Nexflix thing, that at the moment my understanding is we don’t have editorial rights – that is a little bit of concern. You want to be sure you are able to protect yourself because I can tell you now in a rugby environment when you are creating emotion, the language or the phrases used aren’t always appropriate.
“Sometimes you say something that is a little bit out of kilter or you are trying to get the best out of players or they are trying to get the best out of each other. So when you talk about nations playing against each other, some of the things said in the changing room might not be something that is always believed but it is part of getting the best out of your performance and then afterwards you are all friendly and matey again.
“Yeah, there are a few things that we need to be conscious of and iron out. The last thing that we need is for it to be bland in the way that it comes across, but I’m also conscious that we need to be able to protect ourselves too so that’s pretty important.”
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
39 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.
39 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
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 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
39 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.
39 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.
39 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.
39 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