Revitalised Warburton ready for a new battle
Alain Rolland’s red card was bitterly disputed after the event but it was, as Warburton has admitted, the correct decision.
Wales’ World Cup dream was at an end without their captain as France, clearly second-best even against 14 men, won the semi-final 9-8. So it was that Warburton found himself in the dressing room at Eden Park wondering if he would return to Cardiff an outcast, accused of letting his country down.
He needn’t have worried. Instead, he and his side returned as heroes, with regular letters of support still arriving on Warburton’s doorstep. The flanker tries to reply to them all, but is facing more pressing challenges than putting pen to paper.
More is expected of Wales than any other side in the Six Nations. In times of evolution at England and France, they have taken the mantle from Ireland as the northern hemisphere’s most exciting young team. Now, Warren Gatland’s side must prove their achievements in New Zealand were no flash in the pan.
Warburton will be vital if they are to do so. But for their skipper as much as the country, past failures must be dealt with before the new challenge can be met head-on. And as he reflects on how life has changed in the past 12 months, he seems far older than his 23 years.
He told the Irish Examiner: “My first thought after the red card was ‘have I let the fans down, the players down, the management, everyone involved in Welsh rugby?’.
“There were horrible thoughts going through my mind. But I was reassured quickly by the players and management that it wasn’t my fault. It’s been overwhelming the support I’ve had — people writing letters to me just praising me and the squad.”
It helps that Warburton is not enticed by the bright lights and myriad temptations that come with being the captain of your country. Instead of being found at the bottom of a tumbler, Warburton looks forward to the rough and tumble of the pre-tournament training camps in Poland. As a moral leader, Wales have found a diamond.
“We have been talking a lot about the rules we’ll have towards alcohol for this campaign,” explains the forward. “The last thing you want is a squad disrupted with leaked stories to the press or incidents you don’t want. That has happened to us in previous Six Nations and it can affect you. We’re hoping for another campaign where we’re squeaky clean and can focus on rugby.”
The first Test for Wales is perhaps the biggest — Ireland, in Dublin. After last year’s controversial defeat in Cardiff, thanks to Mike Phillips’ ‘wrong-ball try’, as well as the World Cup quarter-final loss in Wellington, Ireland will need no extra motivation.
Warburton will not stoke the fires with incendiary comments, but Wales must fancy their chances.
“People didn’t expect us to do that well in the World Cup but this time round the expectation is there,” he says. “A couple of the players say Wales perform better under pressure anyway. I’m sure Ireland will want revenge. The quarter-final (defeat) was probably really tough for them to take and in the Six Nations last year we won with a controversial try.
“So they probably feel quite hard done by. We know they’re going to be very dangerous at home and we’re going to have to be at our best to combat that.
“We are in Ireland first and if we could get a result out there it tees us up quite nicely because three of the next four fixtures are at home.”
Don’t bet against the defining image of this Six Nations being Warburton lifting the trophy.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
