Coaches’ clash more than just a sideshow

ONE MIGHT have thought the focus would be on the battle between Ronan O’Gara and Stephen Jones at out half or the alleged animosity between Brian O’Driscoll and Gavin Henson.

No such luck. As far as the media is concerned, there is only one contest in town this weekend, that between my former management colleagues, Eddie O’Sullivan and Warren Gatland.

Having stepped down as Irish manger for the 2001 Lions tour, I wasn’t around when Gatland was released by the IRFU but recall being very surprised when I first heard the news. I didn’t see it coming and rang Warren to offer my commiserations.

To say he was stunned and disappointed would be an understatement.

What impact will all this have on the two teams when they run out at Croke Park next Saturday? Very little, in my view.

Much has been made over the past few days of Lawrence Dallaglio’s emotional outburst after Wasps beat Munster in that thrilling Heineken Cup semi-final in Lansdowne Road in 2004. Dallaglio made it clear to all and sundry that the Wasps victory that day was motivated by Gatland’s dismissal as Irish boss and the desire to exact revenge on his return to Irish rugby headquarters.

Circumstances were completely different at that time, given that it was only two years after Gatland’s demise and he had subsequently led the London side to Premiership glory. The dynamics of club rugby are different in that the players and management are together on a daily basis and have more time to build relationships. Dallaglio was also the type of captain who looked for something to generate a rallying call and Gatland’s early return to Dublin provided the perfect catalyst for him.

This time around, Gatland is in the Welsh job a wet week. It is ridiculous to suggest that he has built up anything like the rapport with the Welsh players that he enjoyed with Wasps in 2004. His selection policy of tweaking the side on a consistent basis, despite positive results, means that the current Welsh squad are still somewhat wary of him.

What is clear, even from a distance, is that Gatland has earned the respect of all and sundry in the valleys after only three months in the job. But the New Zealander is nobody’s fool and knows that in a business driven by results and with difficult games against Ireland and France on the horizon, praise is fickle.

IF GATLAND enjoyed a considerable dose of luck in his opening game against England, he has also achieved a huge amount with his new squad in a short space of time. Devoid of confidence after a disastrous exit from the World Cup at the hands of Fiji, Gatland has challenged and energised a talented squad previously lacking leadership and direction. He is very good at generating a positive team environment.

I remember travelling to see his Connacht side in the quarter final of the Parker Pen trophy over a decade ago (the first time for an Irish province to progress to a European quarter final) against Agen and visiting their dressing room after the game, having lost narrowly after a great performance. The players were standing in a tight circle, singing their team song and you just knew that Gatland had generated a special bond between that group of players. He is good at that.

Three key decisions off the field by Gatland have already had a big influence on the new Welsh set-up. His powers of persuasion in getting Wasps to release defence coach Shaun Edwards to work with Wales on a part-time basis was a major coup and immediately provided him with a trusted and loyal lieutenant. It also robbed England of the best defensive coach in the game at present and provided the Welsh camp with a valuable insight into several of the English players.