Wales coach, Warren Gatland, has pledged to remain at his post and has said that he will ignore all offers until at least after the World Cup.
Gatland has been in charge of the Wales squad since 2007 and during this time the Kiwi-born leader has managed to create a strong reputation for himself as one of the most respected coaches in the game.
With the disappointment of Wales’ last few results there were growing fears that the coach would be forced from his role, which would have meant he would have to take on another job.
However, those Welsh fans that respect and admire him for the confidence that he gives the players and the fact that he makes them feel proud to wear the red shirt, will be happy by his apparent commitment to try and win the World Cup with Wales when it could have been much easier to get a job elsewhere.
Giving confidence to his players
The one thing Gatland does better than anyone else is give his players the confidence they need to approach every match they play in thinking they can win. He did this well when the side played South Africa and they were punished by a Kiwi side that would have been too good for many other teams.
Gatland is also very good at man management and this means he can often talk to players about matters off the field as well as on it—a useful attribute from a coach who previously played more than 140 games in New Zealand. This allows him to connect with the individual and it will make players feel more valued and respected within the squad, which is important with rugby at the highest level.
Not to forget the fact that Gatland can actually coach. There are a few areas of the coaching team who have attracted a great deal of criticism over the last few weeks but Gatland, as a coach, does not seem to be one of them. The systems he uses are very good, tried and tested but Wales have just come up against sides who are much better.
The Future for Gatland
There are many directions that Gatland’s future could go in and he will have to be very careful because he will receive some very tempting offers over the next few weeks.
Clubs will always be sniffing around the Wales couch because they can offer him a a nice cushioned role at a club with a good salary and positive possibilities for the future. However, there may also be a few international jobs on the go in the near future and Gatland will become just as susceptible to them as well.
The point Gatland has chosen to stuck with Wales shows he has an intense determination to make sure that the side succeeds at the very highest level. He is not likely to opt out until Wales either push him out or if the country has a truly terrible World Cup. Even at this point it is fairly obvious that whenever he decides to leave the Wales job he will be spoilt for offers over what to do next.
Advice for Coach Gatland
Wales have been one of the most inconsistent sides in rugby over the last few weeks. You are well advised not to back them as a team but to focus on the individuals in the side who will open up a variety of different options.
Track the progress of the team before you bet on them for the World Cup. If Gatland can get them turned around and playing well on frequent occasions then it will mean that the side can step forward in a positive manner and become a stronger unit.
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