Harder to retain Slam, Gatland warns Kidney

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL isn’t a man who is normally lost for words, but when asked whether it is harder to retain the Six Nations championship than it is to win it for the first time, he admits he hasn’t a clue. “I haven’t won it before,” he laughed, “so how can I know about retaining it? Ask someone who has.”

So who better to speak to than Warren Gatland, who 12 months ago was readying his Wales team to defend their Grand Slam title. In the end they came fourth in a tight tournament, losing to France in Paris and in that fateful game against Ireland on the final day.

Gatland admits his side found it difficult to cope with being prime targets thanks to their exploits the previous year, while the likes of Ryan Jones and Shane Williams failed to live up to their billing.