Wales coach Warren Gatland. Pic: Getty Images.

Warren Gatland Tells Wales To Keep On Trucking As He Pumps Pressure On Ireland

Warren Gatland is happy for Ireland to have to deal with the pressure of being Six Nations favourites as he vowed Wales will keep on trucking on all the way to the World Cup.

Wales’ head coach is confident his side can make an impact in what he reckons will be the most competitive tournament for many years.

Although he admits that might all hinge on the opening game against France in France on February 1st.

“Ireland deserve that pressure,” said Gatland of Ireland being favourites after their epic victory over New Zealand in the Autumn series.

“There is a lot of talk in Ireland at the moment about them being potential World Cup favourites and going on and winning the tournament.

“What is going to be challenging for them is it is going to be an interesting quarter-final against South Africa or New Zealand.

“We just concentrate on ourselves and doing the right thing and not worrying about the external stuff which we can’t control.

“The more you guys talking about other teams the better for us. We just keep trucking on.”

After the game in Paris, Wales will then travel to Rome before the crunch home game with England on February 23.

A tough trip to face Scotland then follows before the final home game against the Irish on March 16 when the Six Nations crown could be at stake.

Warren Gatland had dinner with Eddie Joes ahead of Six Nations launch and they had plenty to chew over. Pic: Getty Images.

“My expectation is always high,” added the Kiwi. “We finished second last year and had a really good year. If we can win that first game in Paris it will give us a really good chance of winning the Six Nations.

“But what is brilliant about the tournament is that a lot of teams will think like that.

“It is as competitive as I can remember and that’s brilliant for the tournament.

“The conversations used to be about just England and France and the conversations is why don’t they play the last weekend of the Six Nations because they were the only two teams were going to win it.

“Now you are talking about five teams and Italy are still a work-in-progress. All the teams think on their day they can beat each other.”

Gatland is relishing the clash against the Red Rose when he will pit his wits against old rival Eddie Jones.

“I had dinner with Eddie Jones on Tuesday night,” said Gatland who has revealed he could return to the Premiership when his tenure as Wales boss ends after the RWC. “We went out to a restaurant and had a nice catch-up.

“We spoke about everything really. Japan, New Zealand rugby. We paid for dinner. I don’t think England’s finances are great at the moment so we said we would pick up the bill.

“We were joking they were going to throw a few bombs out there but he has been doing that already.

“There is a bit of banter and stuff but we all understand the pressures of the job and what comes with it.

“There seems to be a good relationship with the coaches and I have been here the longest. There is no animosity there.

“What is good you are always talking about how the way the game is changing and it is important you share that information and keeps you up to speed.

“If you look back at the autumn it was great for the northern hemisphere teams and the best campaign collectively that we have.

“We feel as if the gap with the southern hemisphere has definitely closed and it really sets it up for the rest of the year.

 

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