Gatland to ring Welsh changes
Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:19
Future uncertain: Warren Gatland is the man charge of Wales
Wales coach Warren Gatland warned his players to expect "some pain" at training as he prepared to make changes after his side's disappointing defeat by Ireland.
This weekend sees Wales wrap up their Six Nations campaign at home to Italy, with Gatland desperate for a final flourish after a Dublin debacle that saw Ireland win 27-12 at Croke Park last Saturday.
The New Zealander, who is due to name his team to face the Azzurri on Tuesday, seems set to recall the British and Irish Lions trio of scrumhalf Mike Phillips, No.8 and captain Ryan Jones and prop Gethin Jenkins for Saturday's match at the Millennium Stadium.
Meanwhile former Ireland and Wasps coach Gatland has promised his squad a gruelling few days worth of preparation.
"The time has come when the players are going to go through some pain this week," Gatland said Monday.
"They will go through some pain at training that they probably haven't experienced before.
"For me, it is putting the players under a lot of pressure at training, and if they make mistakes or errors there will be a few punishments.
"I think we need to go through a bit of pain.
"The coaching staff are hurting, the players are hurting, and we've got to give a response and performance on Saturday that reflects how important this is to us.
"I've had a couple of bad days. I don't take defeat too easily, or performances I don't think are acceptable.
"I know the players have seen us as coaches going through some pain. We are desperately hurting, so if we are going to hurt this bad then so are they."
Wales were outscored three tries to none by Ireland with two of those scores coming while Welsh full-back Lee Byrne was in the sin-bin.
It was a depressingly familiar sight for Wales, who conceded two tries while a man down in last month's defeat by England after lock Alun-Wyn Jones was yellow-carded.
"We felt we had made such a big issue of it [yellow cards] after what happened with Alun-Wyn," Gatland said. "We've seen in this campaign how costly yellow cards have been.
"To see it repeated from our point of view is a concern, but then we are not out there in the white heat of the situation under pressure making those sort of judgments at the time.
"Lee is obviously very disappointed. It has been an instinctive reaction, and it has been very costly.
"To be honest, he was quite lucky he didn't get a red card in the end because the second incident of throwing the ball away Ireland flyhalf Jonathan Sexton kicked the ensuing penalty], the referee could conceivably have given another yellow card for that."
Wales can finish no higher than fourth, their current position, in this season's Six Nations and could yet end the season bottom of the table if Italy win in Cardiff and Scotland upset the odds by avoiding defeat away to Ireland.
"I am pretty gutted and disappointed with our performance [against Ireland]," said Gatland.
"We weren't good enough on the day, and on reflection, we haven't been quite hungry enough. That is disappointing.
"I think there will be a few changes. There are a few players coming back from injury, and I think we need to make a couple of changes.
"A bit of experience coming back into the side I think will be good, it gives a bit of confidence.
"I think, for all of us, this week is about finishing the tournament on a positive note and playing some good rugby. It's crucial. We need to make sure we finish this campaign on a real high."
AFP
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