Gatland rues Six Nations mistakes
Gatland reflective over poor Welsh campaign
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By Sam Ross. |  |
Saturday, 20, Mar 2010 09:40
By Chris Cousens.
Warren Gatland was in reflective mood following Wales' comfortable win over Italy at the Millennium Stadium.
A free-flowing second half performance, including three tries, saw the Welsh to a 33-10 win. But despite the result Wales finished fourth in the Six Nations for the second successive season and any short-term satisfaction in the Welsh camp at the performance was underpinned by a deeper dissatisfaction at Wales' faltering campaign.
"We are frustrated at where we've finished. We think we're a better team than that and we've let a couple of results slip by," said Gatland.
"But the way the players responded this week was great. Today we played with some pace, some tempo and some purpose and an intensity that reflects where were capable of going."
Wales had been staving off claims during the week that an over-reliance on an expansive, running style of rugby was leaving them behind other nations using a more clinical approach. But after a second half of vintage Welsh attacking, defence coach Sean Edwards made no apologies for his team's rugby outlook.
"I think what we have brought is excitement to these championships. When we go out there, we have a go. We play high risk, high reward rugby," he said.
"We were playing against an Italy side with not much at stake and the place was nearly full so that shows that people want to get behind that kind of rugby."
Wales have been blighted by injury throughout the campaign but welcomed three British Lions back into the starting team for the match against Italy.
Gatland said after the Italy victory "Let's not underestimate that today [Saturday] we've got two world-class players (back) in Gethin Jenkins and Mike Phillips. That made a massive difference to us with their control and their experience in the way they operated. They gave everyone around them that belief and confidence."
Edwards added: "We had our world class players back and the difference was there for all to see. Today you saw the real Wales.
"We've always known that we have got a fantastic first XV. It's there for all to see; as soon as we get our key players back we're the Wales of 2008."
Welsh skipper Ryan Jones also commented: "We talked about giving everything and playing to our potential and we certainly did that today [Saturday]."
But he could not overlook the players' disappointment at a campaign dotted with indiscretions and missed opportunities. The ill-discipline of Alun-Wyn Jones at Twickenham and the fatal errors when trying to comeback against France are obviously still fresh in the memory.
"It's when you go away from here and reflect on it - that's when you have to deal with the disappointments. The frustrating thing is that two of those games are games that we could, and probably should, have won," Jones added.
Gatland also singled out 18-year-old debutant Tom Prydie who became Wales' youngest ever player at the weekend.
The Welsh coach said: "I was very pleased with his first start. He is only ever going to get better. If he gets a chance to pay some rugby in the next 18 months he'll be 20 by the time the World Cup comes around so we could potentially develop somebody who could be a bit special."