Rugby News: Warren Gatland urges Wales to earn respect against the All Blacks
New Zealand rugby team will take on Wales in their 2nd Test on Saturday at Hamilton. New Zealand defeated Ireland and Wales earlier this month and looks in the top form. Wales coach Warren Gatland will be looking forward for his team’s victory on Saturday. Wales previously lost their match with a score of 42-9 against the All Black’s only last Saturday. However, this Saturday’s match will be a tough one as Wales will be looking for a win to draw the series whereas the All Blacks have confirmed their victory. Gatland on Friday told that their victory at the Six Nation Grand Slam was nothing and it has no value. According to him, in order to get respect from the fans, one has to at least try and prove it on the pitch. New Zealand will host the Rugby World Cup next year therefore Gatland is anxious for a victory against the Kiwis in order to get the boys on the track.
Gatland was a former rugby player for New Zealand and played as a hooker for the Waikato regional side. On Tuesday, he took his team for practice at Hamilton Boys High School. After Gatland retired from playing, he started coaching the Waikato team. He also performed his duty as an advisor to the Waikato Chiefs. In 2007, Gatland was named as the Wales coach, replacing former coach Gareth Jenkins. Since then, he has been performing his duty as a coach for the Wales rugby team. After Wales faced defeat from the All Blacks in the first test at Dunedin, Warren is looking for both vengeance and respect for his team. Warren suggested his team to take their respect back from the Kiwis in this coming game on Saturday.
Wales would play their two pool games at the 2011 Rugby World Cup against Fiji and Samoa. In their Golden era of the 1970’s, Wales have won three Grand Slam titles, five “Five Nations” titles and five Triple Crowns. They also provided 13 of their players to the Irish Lions team. The team thus became the toughest in Irish Lions history as they beat New Zealand in a test series with a score of 2-1 in their home country. Barry Jones played an important part as Irish Lions won against the All Black’s including support from Wing Gerald Davies. Gatland on Friday declared his squad that all the achievements they gained in Europe have no comparison with it. This win will give respect and high morale which will help them in the Rugby World Cup in 2011. He also said that their success would bring pride to the entire team and will increase their chances for various victories in the upcoming season.
Team New Zealand is totally focused on their game against the Wales. Richie McCaw, the captain of All Blacks squad, has committed that a tough match is expected come Saturday, even though several changes are made by them in the side. Kiwi’s victory at Hamilton this Saturday will hold great importance to McCaw as he will surpass the record of Sean Fitzpatrick’s as skipper with the most wins. New Zealand head coach Graham Henry is also anxious about his team’s performance on Saturday. Henry told his team to score a strong victory in the first test to prove that it’s impossible to beat the All Blacks in their own back yard.
Gatland had won a Grand Slam for Wales but also did a good job against the London Wasps. For the Wasps, Gatland lead the team to a victory in the 2004 Heineken Cup. The Veteran’s only goal at present is to bring his team to victory over New Zealand on their home soil, as Wales have never defeated the Kiwis in their home country. Will Gatland’s team finally beat New Zealand on their home turf? Or will the All Blacks continue with their winning streak against Wales. All the questions will be cleared tomorrow when both the teams meet at Hamilton for the second test.
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