Gatland: Croker’s no choker

DESPITE Ireland’s Six Nations clash with Wales being six weeks away, Warren Gatland has already started the mind games by claiming that Croke Park is not as intimidating as everyone seems to believe.

Gatland led Wales to victory at Croke Park in March 2008 on their way to the Grand Slam, but since then Declan Kidney’s side have made their Dublin home a fortress.

World champions South Africa, England and France have all lost there in the last 12 months, while Brian O’Driscoll’s last-gasp try held Australia to a 20-20 draw as Ireland ended 2009 unbeaten.

But New Zealander Gatland has refused to accept that the sides choke at Croker, claiming his team won’t be affected by Ireland’s crowd in what could be the pivotal game of this year’s RBS Six Nations.

“Croke Park hasn’t got that claustrophobic, intimidating atmosphere of other grounds,” said Gatland, whose side lost to Ireland in the final game of the 2009 Six Nations as the men in green collected their first Grand Slam in 61 years.

“I like Croke Park because it reminds me of a lot of grounds in New Zealand as it’s a Gaelic football ground, and if you’re in the crowd, you’re a long way from the field.

“If you’re in the crowd then it’s loud, but when you’re on the field it’s not the most intimidating atmosphere in world rugby because of the proximity of the crowd.

“At other grounds, real rugby grounds, the crowd are a lot closer. It’s a fantastic stadium, but as a player I would like it as you don’t feel the crowd are right on top of you.

“For me, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is a real, traditional rugby ground and I think people enjoy the atmosphere there, particularly when the roof is closed.

“But Croke Park strangely reminded me of somewhere like Eden Park (in Auckland) as that’s a cricket stadium and the crowd is a long way away.”

And he warned Brian O’Driscoll and company that they will find it far from easy to repeat their heroics of last season.

Asked how it feels to go into the tournament as the scalp every other team wants to take, Gatland replied: “It’s tough because there is so much expectation. Having won last year everyone is going to be gunning for Ireland this year.

“The Six Nations is about momentum. You can go into it with low expectation, win a couple of games and then suddenly become very hard to beat. But maybe you learn more from defeats than from wins.

“The tough thing for Ireland is to go away to play England and France.

“For us, we have the same schedule as two years ago and we’re confident we’re going to have a good Six Nations. People aren’t talking about us winning and that probably makes it easier for us.”

Meanwhile Irish front rows Marcus Horan and Rory Best returned to international action yesterday, lining out for Ireland A in a defeat to England Saxons at Bath’s Recreation Ground.

Best underwent surgery last year to correct a chronic disc condition in his neck but has amazed medics with his rate of recovery. The hooker was taken off at the interval as a precaution while prop Horan, who underwent a minor heart procedure before Christmas, also impressed. A coach Michael Bradley believes the duo could be in consideration for the latter stages of Ireland’s Six Nations defence.

He insisted: “It’s very important for Irish rugby that both Rory and Marcus are available for Declan Kidney and the Six Nations. They are not quite there yet and may not be considered for the Italy game.

“But there are four mighty games after that and the more games they get, the better. Rory did really well and we felt at half time he was running out of steam. It’s a big ask to play against a quality side like the Saxons for a full 80 minutes. There was no issue with the injury and it was just a match fitness decision.

“Marcus was good too and kept up his level of performance for the whole match. He was the man who was jumping on the ball at the end to get turnovers for us. It was good to see.”