Warren Gatland: Wales have 'forgotten how to lose'
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has proudly claimed that his team have ‘forgotten how to lose’ after their stunning 24-19 comeback win against France in Paris.
The Welsh trailed 16-0 at half-time after a poor first half showing, with Louis Picamoles and Yoann Huget dotting down to complement a penalty and drop goal from Camille Lopez.
However, the visitors responded outstandingly to run in three second half tries, including an opportunistic brace for wing George North, to come away from the French capital with four competition points.
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The win is the side’s 10th consecutive victory, equalling their second-best winning run of all-time.
Sitting on their longest winning streak in 20 years, the Welsh squad will head to Rome next week to attempt to notch a record-equalling 11th straight win.
Gatland acknowledged that his side were not up to scratch in the first 40 minutes, but gave his side plenty of praise for their second half showing.
“France were very good in the first half,” he said to Sky Sports.
“We made too many errors and tried to play too much rugby. We were much better in the second half and created some chances.
“For me, the big difference between the two teams is that we’ve become a side that has probably forgotten how to lose and can dig deep like that.
“On the other hand, they are probably a team searching for some confidence, having not had a great run in the last seven or eight matches.”
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Wales are now unbeaten since losing to Ireland in last year’s edition of the Six Nations, and Gatland is hopeful that rich vein of form will help propel his side to their fourth title under his guidance.
“We know that we get better the more time we have together,” he said.
“To win this tournament, you need a bit of luck. We look back on our victories and know that sometimes you have the bounce of the ball.
“It’s tough in the Six Nations when you come up against one of the big teams. France in Paris is a real challenge, and if you can win the first game then you have a good chance of winning the tournament.
“Hopefully we can build on this and start thinking about the rest of the tournament.”
France head to Twickenham next week to face England, who will be well-prepared after their colossal tournament-opener with Ireland in Dublin this weekend.
Head coach Jacques Brunel told Sky Sports the commitment his side showed, particularly in the first half, was commendable, but he was obviously disappointed with the result.
“We have to improve the control we lacked in this match,” he said.
“But facing England will be as difficult a challenge as facing Wales, and it will also be a mental test for us.
“We were fully committed, did lots of interesting things, especially in the first half. Even if we didn’t master everything, we managed to put Wales under pressure.
“We know they have a formidable defence, and unfortunately we didn’t start the second half well and they did.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Utter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to comments