No Slam for Ireland, predicts Gatland

FORMER Ireland coach Warren Gatland last night revealed the remarkable psychological ploy that ruined England’s last attempt to win a Grand Slam in Dublin 18 months ago.

England lost 20-14 in strong winds at Lansdowne Road, but conditions on the pitch were merely incidental for an Ireland team that had been convinced they were playing a bunch of money-mad individuals.

But Gatland, now director of rugby at London Wasps, accepts that Sunday's Anglo-Irish Grand Slam will be very different from the 2001 match.