Can Warren Gatland be the new Messiah Wales have been searching for?

Question

Can Warren Gatland be the new Messiah Wales have been searching for?

Answer 1

No-one wants Wales to win more than me, but on the whole that Welsh performance was dreadful. There is so much talent and pace in that team that they should be playing at a much higher standard. The basic errors were unforgiveable in my opinion. From a very young age in Wales, these basic skills are drummed into every young boy. Should be second nature. Football completely takes a back seat in the vast majority of Welsh towns and villages, and the basic errors just shouldn't be there.

The first half I had my head in my hands in frustration and disgust. We did it in every game in the RWC too - we didn't play at all in any first half, only showing fleeting bits of talent in the second halves. Look where it got us then. It's not good enough, I just hope that whoever we have as captain is able to recognise this trait when it happens on the pitch, and shove a rocket up the arrse of every player. That's what they need.

We've got the makings of a great side, but the players don't seem prepared to make the sacrifices. Hopefully Gatland and Edwards can sort them out.

Answer 2

Depends. He's good now because Wales won at the weekend. As soon as they start losing, he'll be public enemy number one, just like Gareth Davies.

Answer 3

Yes

It will take time. Wales has always had the talent.

But stringing 80 minutes of error free rugby together has be beyond Wales for nearly 40 years.

Disciplined, sustained performance from the kick off with perfect decision quality and multi-point leadership is what is needed to allow the Welsh to reach their full potential.

For so long it's just been scatty nonsense. Gats is one man who can get the Welsh on line and really play for a full 80 minutes - but he will need time. I doubt he can do anything worthwhile for this years six nations.

Took him two seasons to get Waikato humming, but when he got those boys all on the same page, no other team down here in NZ could touch them, despite many of the opposing teams having more past and present men in black.

And you need to know that he will be really missed down here, because he really was the difference in turning the Waikato team around - not the players - on paper they should have been out gunned. Winning was all Mr Gatland's doing.

I hope he does get Wales back to their winning ways, because if he can't, no bugger will.

But Welsh supporters have to know that good things take time. Given 24 months - your question will be much more pertinent.

Edit: Henry is still God. And the world will feel his wrath.

Answer 4

As with every team it is down to the players to play as a team a coach can only do so much, once they run out onto the pitch there is little a coach can do!

This happened on Saturday,  Wales played good rugby for 20 minutes and England did not know what hit them, but a game is 80 minutes long, and the coaches may need to bang that into them..............Graham Henry was a messiah once, but soon lost his crown!

Answer 5

A coach is only as good as his players.

Answer 6

i dont care they won against england thats all that matters!!

Answer 7

Gatland is but a man and he can only control who goes on the pitch he cannot play the game for them. The problem we have as a team is mindset, we start slow in a game because we allow the opposition too much possession of the ball, if he can break this habit we have the makings of a very good side.

Wales have to adopt a different game against Scotland though, they have a big and dominant pack, we need to play around the fringes and through the backs where they are not as strong, and run their forwards ragged.

Answer 8

I hope so !!

We had a Messiah in Mike Ruddock and under him we were playing the best rugby we've played since the 70s, and we all know what happened to him ?!?!?!

(allegedly)

Answer 9

Not necessarily. For a number of years now the Welsh have been a team of 1 half - the second half, and on Saturday they were exactly the same, c**p in the first but reasonable in the second.

Gatland can't stop individual players being numpties (like giving so many turnovers away as in the first half) when they are on the pitch.

There is so much talent in the Welsh team, if he can get them to gel they'll take anyone on and give them a run for their money.

To be born Welsh is to have rugby in the soul and music in the heart.

Answer 10

I believe he is a good motivator and I expect him and his coaching team to make Wales much harder and fitter. Whether we win the Grand Slam this season or not he has a very good chance of being coach for the next few years and will only finish when the NZ job comes available to him.

Answer 11

Well, we've only had 20 minutes of good rugby under him so far so it's not looking encouraging but you've got to give the coach the full four years between world cups for him to properly develop the team. Just as long as the WRU can ignore the press and have faith with one man, he could build a good team.

Answer 12

Wales has had awsome coahes in the past...

i think its the players that need to be doing their job.....after all they ARE the ones who go out and play the game!

Answer 13

Nope

Answer 14

Lets hope so !