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Warren Gatland's hilarious alternative to bronze play-off match against All Blacks

By Online Editors
Jonathan Davies leaves the pitch with Wales coach Warren Gatland after defeat to South Africa (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

It’s not only the All Blacks who are struggling to come to grips with the idea of signing off on a failed World Cup campaign with a bronze medal play-off.

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Outgoing Wales head coach Warren Gatland had admitted that he is no fan of the fixture either – cheekily suggesting an alternative way of deciding who finishes third in Japan.

Kiwi-born Gatland, who will be returning to New Zealand to coach the Chiefs next season after 12 years with the Welsh, gave his support to settling thing the old fashioned way – with a drinking game.

“I think Steve Tew (New Zealand Rugby CEO) made a joke to Martyn Phillips (CEO of the Welsh Rugby Union) that maybe both teams should have a boat race (beer on the table race) and we could settle it that way. I could see the relevance in that,” said Gatland to rapturous laughter from reporters ahead of Friday’s clash against the All Blacks in Tokyo.

“It’s the last game you want to be involved in but it’s been on the calendar, everyone has known about it.”

(Continue reading below…)

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Wales were narrowly beaten in their semi-final against South Africa, a little over 24 hours after England stunned Steve Hansen’s team 19-7 in the other.

On Thursday, All Blacks half-back Aaron Smith admitted it wasn’t the match the All Blacks wanted to play in, but was eager to make amends for the semifinal defeat.

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“I was very happy to get a go again to rectify last week. I’m very grateful and I hope to show that in my performance,” Smith said. “My energy levels are perfectly fine… everything this year was to get to this week. We’re lucky to play another game even though it’s just not the game I wanted to be in.”

According to Gatland, who has made nine changes to the team that lost to the Springboks, the Welsh have put the disappointment of semi-final defeat behind them and are ready to claim their first win over New Zealand since 1953.

“We have got a game (to play). You put the disappointment behind you, you think about the chance to play against the All Blacks and that kind of gets you excited,” he said.

“Hopefully, you put that disappointment behind you in the first 48 hours and you can start getting excited about the next 48 hours, go out there and perform well at the World Cup. We want to go out there and be positive in the way we play. I think the All Blacks will be the same.”

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New Zealand Herald

WATCH: Warren Gatland spoke to the media ahead of Wales’ play-off game against New Zealand

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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