Saturday, March 13, 2010
WARREN GATLAND lit the fuse on the eve of today’s Six Nations showdown with Ireland by firing a blast back at his ‘personal and low’ critics.
Wales boss Gatland has suffered a series of stunning verbal attacks from the Irish in the build-up to the clash in Dublin with one reporter labelling the Kiwi as a ‘menopausal warthog’ while former Ireland lock Neil Francis suggested he could be sacked this summer following a run of indifferent results.
Francis also mounted a savage attack on Wales centre pair Jamie Roberts and James Hook, describing the Lions player of the series as an ‘average rugby player’ while lambasting Hook’s defence as ‘naïve’.
But former Ireland coach Gatland blasted yesterday: "If you look at what I have said in the past I have got myself in trouble because I have only given an opinion on what I thought.
"I have never talked about people personally and sunk to the lows that some people have this week.
"I have been quite surprised by some of the comments made but that’s why I have come here (to the press conference)
"I’d have thought that if someone is going to personally attack me that they might have fronted up and said it to my face. Everyone struggles with personal criticism. I was shown a couple of the articles early on but then I realised one was from someone who does not write about rugby. He’s more of a GAA man while another was from an ex-player. I take it all with a pinch of salt. All the players have found it funny that I have been referred to as a warthog. I’ve even had photos off the internet sent to me. But it’s just been treated as a joke."
Gatland is no stranger to controversy following his outburst prior to last season’s Grand Slam decider in Cardiff.
The Wales coach claimed his players ‘disliked Ireland the most’ which stoked up an already expected crowd at the Millennium Stadium but his comments back-fired when Ronan O’Gara booted the visitors to a dramatic last-gasp winner — and a piece of championship history with a first Slam in 61 years.
And the latest verbal attacks have threatened to over-shadow a huge personal milestone for Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll at Croke Park as he collects his 100th cap today against the head coach who handed him his debut in Australia 11 years ago.
But Gatland insists Wales are intent on spoiling the party following their win here two years ago.
Gatland said: "We are still looking to finish second in the championship. We are the only team in the Six Nations Ireland haven’t beaten at Croke Park and we want that to continue in probably our final match there.
"It will be another close encounter between the teams but we have trained well all week and we’re excited about the challenge ahead."
Gatland nonetheless hailed Lions captain and set-piece specialist Paul O’Connell who lines up alongside sidekick Donncha O’Callaghan in the second row.
Lions forwards coach Gatland added: "Paul has a great understanding of the game and is one of the best exponents of the line-out. It was a privilege to be involved with him last summer. I would put him up there with former All Black Keith Robinson. It’s Paul’s strength as well as his leadership."
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