SIX NATIONS: The Irish Times has teamed up with Media Wales ( www.walesonline.co.uk ) to provide the inside track from the Wales camp in the build-up to this Saturday's crucial Six Nations encounter at the Millennium Stadium, where the defending champions will attempt to stop Ireland winning their first Grand Slam in over 60 years.
Wales players dislike the Irish most, says Warren Gatland
by Andy Howell, Western Mail
WARREN GATLAND turned up the temperature ahead of the Six Nations decider with Ireland by talking of his players’ “dislike” of the opposition.
It is common knowledge that Munster, who provide more than half the Grand Slam-chasing Irish side, aren’t fond of big-spending Welsh region the Ospreys.
But, in a new twist, the Wales coach revealed: “We have spoken about all the teams in the Six Nations and it’s Ireland who the Welsh players probably dislike the most.
“Players’ experiences against Ireland haven’t always been the greatest, so they are very motivated to play against them.”
Gatland’s surprising claim is sure to increase the tension and stoke up hostilities further ahead of Saturday’s massive, sell-out Millennium Stadium showdown.
Championship leaders Ireland are coming to Cardiff in search of a first Grand Slam since 1948, while Wales want the Triple Crown and would lift the title for the second year in a row if they win by 13 or more points.
“At international level, when there has been that expectation either to perform in the Six Nations or World Cups, Ireland have sometimes faltered a little bit,” argued Gatland.
“It will be interesting to see how their coach handles that, and how the players handle that this week. They’ve performed well this Six Nations, but we’re at home with a massive crowd behind us.
“If you go back to the autumn, Ireland talked themselves up a lot before the New Zealand game – and performed poorly in that one.
“We’ve got to really concentrate on ourselves and put them under as much pressure as we can.”
The Wales coach, who will have thought carefully about his choice of words, continued: “Somebody told me, after the Scotland game, the Irish players were one-and-a-half hours in the changing room, singing and celebrating, so they are fairly happy with where they are.
“They are probably pleased with winning four out of four and playing for the Triple Crown and Grand Slam.
“We were completely the other way. The players went back to the hotel, did not drink and were thinking about this week.”
Gatland insisted he didn’t bear any grudges towards Ireland despite having been the victim of a coup in 2001 when he was controversially removed as their boss. He said he had buried the hatchet with the Irish a year ago when Wales triumphed 16-12 in Dublin to secure the Triple Crown.
“I had a couple of good experiences at Wasps going back to Ireland and last year at Croke Park with Wales. That, for me, was closing the book on Ireland,” he said.
“There’s nothing personal on my part. It’s gone, the door is closed. I had some great times, memories coaching Ireland but it’s gone.
“Saturday is about the two teams really. Firstly we will get a little bit of satisfaction by denying Ireland the Grand Slam and by us winning the Triple Crown.
“We do believe, if we play to our potential, and we have shown glimpses, we have a chance of overturning the points difference.”
The two countries named their teams yesterday with Gatland bringing back his stars, making eight changes from the side which struggled to win 20-15 in Italy, and Ireland three from the XV which disposed of Scotland at Murrayfield.
Gatland summoned tried and tested warriors – props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones, hooker Matthew Rees, lock Ian Gough, flanker Martyn Williams, and outside-half Stephen Jones – while Gavin Henson and Stadio Flaminio super-sub match-winner Tom Shanklin got the nod in the centre ahead of Jamie Roberts.
Mark Jones kept out youngster Leigh Halfpenny on the right wing while the under-fire Andy Powell was retained in the back row.
Blindside flanker Ryan Jones, who was a replacement in Rome, regains the captaincy from Alun Wyn Jones, Gatland maintaining that was going to occur irrespective of what had happened during Wales’ fumbling Italian job.
Shanklin is reunited with his 2005 and 2008 Grand Slam midfield colleague Henson, Gatland beaming: “It was a very strong partnership last year and did very well.
“Tom is our form centre this year in offence and defence. With the Irish midfield strength, we need a really strong combination defensively in midfield.”
Gatland was adamant the injury-plagued Henson’s lack of game-time for the Ospreys or Wales this season wasn’t an issue.
“He will get sharper. The pleasing thing about him is at the end of last week he was communicating a lot more,” said Gatland.
“The great thing about after the Italy game was the players decided to go back to the hotel and not have a drink. Gavin was straight down to the team room, having a look at the game.
“It was just a subtle sign a player’s mind is right and it was pleasing to see him go 80 minutes last weekend. Again, one of his strengths is defence. He is big and physical. The combination of him and Tom have played well together, they have done well for us in the past.”
London Irish rookie scrum-half Warren Fury will once again provide cover for Mike Phillips, with Gareth Cooper, Dwayne Peel and Martin Roberts injured.
Gatland admitted: “We have been very, very patchy with how we have played this season, but, if we had been having this campaign a year ago, people would have been delirious we have won three out of four games and beaten England.
“The players are going through a unique experience. First of all, we were favourites and every team is bringing their A game against us because they see Wales as a big scalp.
“They are playing at a 10 or 20 per cent higher level against us than in other matches. We are learning to cope with that and I think it’s a good experience.”
On the prospect of Wales winning outright back-to-back titles for only the fifth time in history, he said: “It’s always in the back of your thoughts. History is there for us.
“To win the title again would be a massive achievement.”
Ryan Jones: Showdown 'like being on death row'
by Gareth Griffiths, South Wales Echo
IF anyone wants to know what a Six Nations showdown means just spend a few minutes in the company of captain Ryan Jones.
This is the third year in the last five Six Nations series where Wales have come into the final set of matches still in contention for tournament glory.
And following the Grand Slam triumphs of 2005 and 2008, you might think the Welsh players will be totally relaxed going into Saturday’s epic encounter against Ireland at the Millennium Stadium.
But Jones has issued a candid admission into exactly what his players will go through in the next three days.
“The pressure is immense,” said Jones, talking from Wales’ Vale of Glamorgan base.
“It’s still midweek but we are already focusing on the game.
“It’s early yet and I’m a pretty relaxed character until Thursday or Friday – then it becomes tough.
“That’s when you go and see the doc and get your sleeping tablets out and try to get six hours’ kip at least. It’s like being on death row – waiting. It can’t come quick enough but as the week goes on, the slower time seems to pass.
“But it’s one of those things that when it comes around it flies by.
“That 80 minutes is a mere drop in the ocean compared to the work that’s put in before and after the game.
“So we just have to look forward to it and not wish it away at times.
“You have to enjoy the experience, too. If you don’t enjoy it there’s no point doing it and you might as well go and do something else.
“But playing in front of 75,000 people, with three million people at home all critiquing you is a very vulnerable place to be.
“You only ever find out how good you are when you play in the big games – it is the pinnacle of a sportsman’s career.
“This makes lacing up your boots on a crappy, wet, rainy Monday morning, when you’re carrying a few bumps, all the worthwhile.”
And Jones is reassured a lot of his squad have been in this situation before following the final weekend victories over Ireland in 2005 and France last year.
“Those are the sorts of experiences you draw on for an occasion like this,” added Jones.
“On Saturday afternoon we are fortunate that we’ll have a fair few boys who will have played in games like this in 2005 and 2008.
“Those are the sort of experiences and memories you draw upon in what is a very stressful week and they help you through.”
Compare this to Ireland. They have no championship winning experiences to dwell on having not won a Grand Slam for 61 years.
This has led people, most notably Wales coach Warren Gatland, to suggest all the pressure is on the men from the Emerald Isle.
“That is right because they are going into the game as favourites,” concurred Jones.
“But that is rightly so because they have played superbly well over the duration of this competition.”
The pressure Jones will refuse to buckle under is the weight of history. Throughout his career the Ospreys skipper has had little time for what has happened in the past.
The latest statistic that was thrown at Jones was that Wales have not beaten Ireland by more than 13 points since 1983, the target Wales will have to achieve if they want to defend their title.
But Jones said: “We hadn’t beaten England for 20 years at Twickenham before we went there and won last season.
“First and foremost we are going into this game to get a win.
“If we get to 65 to 70 minutes and we’re in contention that’s when things will come into focus.
“Then, you are looking for key decisions, the bounce of a ball, a refereeing decision, a moment of brilliance from someone to allow us to close that gap.
“That’s when you decide whether to kick for goals or not.”
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