SM
Barcelona vs. Brann: 6 hrs
Upcoming predictions and previews
Six Nations | Group Stage
Mar 16, 2019 at 2.45pm UK
 
Wales
25-7
Ireland
Parkes (2')
FT
Larmour (80')

Gatland urges Wales to take Grand Slam opportunity

:Headline: Gatland urges Wales to take Grand Slam opportunity: ID:353401: from db_amp
Wales head coach wants his players to embrace Saturday's Six Nations occasion against Ireland.

Warren Gatland admits "the prize is massive" when Wales go for Six Nations title and Grand Slam glory against Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday.

And Wales head coach Gatland says it will be about embracing the occasion and "not running away from it".

Gatland has named an unchanged team as his unbeaten tournament leaders chase a first Six Nations title since 2013 and first Grand Slam for seven years.

Full-back Liam Williams has recovered from a shoulder injury that forced him off against Scotland last weekend to start.

There are three survivors in Gatland's starting line-up from the Grand Slam clincher against France in 2012 – captain Alun Wyn Jones, wing George North and centre Jonathan Davies.

Gatland will oversee his 50th Six Nations match and is bidding to become the first coach in Five or Six Nations history to mastermind three Grand Slam triumphs, while skipper Jones equals prop Gethin Jenkins' appearance record for Wales and the British and Irish Lions of 134 Tests.

If Wales slip up, Ireland will win the Six Nations with victory if Scotland beat England at Twickenham on Saturday.

Ireland were the last side to topple Gatland's men 13 months ago, since when Wales have embarked on a national-record 13 successive Test wins.

"We have spoken all week about embracing it and not running away from it," Gatland said.

"You get opportunities that come along in life, and you have to take it with both hands.

"I have said to this group of players you might never get a chance like this again and you don't want to let those opportunities pass you by.

"I have not seen a group of players as motivated as this before and this excited about playing in a Grand Slam game, wanting to win and put that jersey on and play for themselves and their families and Wales as a whole and what it means to the country.

"We know what is at stake, and the prize is massive."

Saturday's encounter will be the final Six Nations game for Gatland and his coaching lieutenants like Rob Howley and Shaun Edwards, as they all leave their posts after the World Cup in Japan later this year.

Gatland, centre left, with his coaching staff Rob Howley, left, Neil Jenkins and Shaun Edwards, right (Nick Potts/PA)

But Gatland added: "It is not about us, it is about the players for this weekend. We have done all the work we can, and I get more of a buzz out of seeing the excitement on players and seeing them celebrate afterwards.

"That's what I want to see, and for us it's about trying to stay level-headed over the next couple of days and be concise in what we deliver to the players so we are not too emotional.

"I can guarantee you on Saturday, if we do win, there will be plenty of emotion afterwards."

Gatland also paid tribute to skipper Jones, who will join Jenkins, Ryan Jones and Adam Jones as a triple Grand Slam winner if Wales defeat Ireland.

Alun Wyn Jones will lead Wales against Ireland (Jane Barlow/PA)

"He has matured gracefully," Gatland said.

"In the early years he was a bit hot-headed and temperamental, and he was the one starting the fights in training and stuff, and that is what a competitor he is.

"I just want to say what a fantastic job he has done this year in terms of leading the team.

"I know he was thinking potentially about when he was going to call time on the game, but he is feeling pretty good at the moment so Wales might get a few more years out of him.

"He has been very important to us, he is a player who does not pick up many injuries and he has been a constant."

amp_article__353401 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-03-14 15:04:47:
html db last update - 2021-03-06 14:28:34 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Warren Gatland

Click here for more stories about Ireland

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .