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Warren Gatland confirms his stance on impending All Blacks vacancy

(Photo by Getty Images)

Warren Gatland is the latest coach to remove his name from contention as a potential candidate to succeed Steve Hansen with the All Blacks.

Gatland – just like Ireland’s Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt – will step away from his role with Wales after this year’s World Cup in Japan and is undecided when it comes to his future.

In an interview with The 1014 Rugby, Gatland commented on the impending vacancy.

“I’ve seen the speculation like everyone else,” Gatland said. “To be honest with you, I’m finishing with Wales after the World Cup and the plan was to come back home, I’d love to come back and coach in New Zealand and do some Super Rugby if there’s an opportunity.

“That’s where I see that being important for me: to come back and to get involved in some level of New Zealand rugby, not at All Black level, but ideally if there was an opportunity at Super Rugby, to spend my time there and reintegrate into New Zealand Rugby and then if you’re successful other opportunities might come along in the future.”

Gatland has been in charge of the Wales national side since 2007, with a winning rate of around 55 per cent and two Six Nations Grand Slams to his name.

He has also been in charge of the British and Irish Lions for their last two tours.

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He led the Lions to victory over Australia in 2009 and drew his series against New Zealand in 2017.

Rugby World Cup City Guides – Oita:

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Tom 42 minutes ago
Eben Etzebeth staring at huge ban after another red card

Well… I'd say the modern Boks are not a particularly violent team but it's impossible to getaway with much violence on an international rugby field now. The Boks of yesteryear were at times brutal. Whether or not the reputation is justified, they do have that reputation amongst a lot of rugby fans.

As for point 2.. it's a tricky one, I don't want to slander a nation here. I'm no “Bok hater”, but I've gotta say some Bok fans are the most obnoxious fans I've personally encountered. Notably this didn't seem to be a problem until the Boks became the best in the world. I agree that fans from other nations can be awful too, every nation has it's fair share of d-heads but going on any rugby forum or YouTube comments is quite tedious these days owing to the legions of partisan Bok fans who jump onto every thread regardless of if it's about the Boks to tell everyone how much better the Boks are than everyone else. A Saffa once told me that SA is a troubled country and because of that the Boks are a symbol of SA victory against all odds so that's why the fans are so passionate. At least you recognise that there is an issue with some Bok fans, that's more than many are willing to concede. Whatever the reason, it's just boring is all I can tell you and I can say coming from a place of absolute honesty I encounter far, far more arrogance and obnoxious behaviour from Bok fans than any other fanbase - the kiwis were nothing like this when they were on top. So look much love to SA, I bear no hatred of ill will, I just want to have conversations about rugby without being told constantly that the Boks are the best team in the world and all coaches except Rassie are useless etc



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