French on a Friday doesn't faze Gatland
Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:18
Wales head coach Warren Gatland admits next season's Six Nations fixture list is a tougher proposition than the one which presented his side with the 2008 championship trophy and tournament clean sweep.
Gatland's second year at the helm of his newly adopted country sees him travel away on three weekends out of five and includes a first - a late Friday night clash with France on their home turf.
And the New Zealander knows if he is to follow his Grand Slam winning debut campaign with a successful title defence the hard work begins with the tour of South Africa in June and the November internationals at the Millennium Stadium.
"We have a gruelling trip to the home of the World Cup holders [in June] and further tough games against top Southern Hemisphere opposition to look forward to later in the year, before we have any hope of being able to assess our chances of defending the title," said Gatland.
"We'll go into the [Six Nations] championship as the holders and that automatically means other teams will be gunning for us from the outset, but that's a position we will relish being in.
"The fixture list is pretty much the flip side of the one that treated us so well this year, it offers us different challenges with three games on the road.
"But we are given the opportunity to go to both Scotland and Italy where the player's will feel they didn't get their performance right in 2007 and we'll have the chance to put that right.
"Travelling to France is always a tough proposition and playing on a Friday night will be interesting, but it won't faze us.
"We will prepare in the same professional way as we do for any other game and we are lucky to have an impressive band of travelling supporters who can help bring a home atmosphere to any away fixture.
"It's impossible to assess what form any of the sides will be in when it comes to competition time and there is plenty of rugby to be played before we get the chance to defend our title.
"Our challenge now is to continue to improve and there is no better way to start that process than against the World Champions in June," Gatland went on to say.
Meanwhile Scotland captain Mike Blair welcomed his team's draw, which sees them start with the visit of the current Grand Slam holders Wales to Murrayfield.
"It's always good to begin the championship at home as it gives you the better chance of starting with a win and then looking to build momentum," said Blair.
"We then face a tight six day turn around to face France in Paris so the balance between training and rest will be important that week.
"Following that we have successive home games at Murrayfield against Italy and Ireland and I believe that could stand us in good stead for our final game of the championship as we seek to retain the Calcutta Cup against England at Twickenham," added Blair.
2009 Six Nations Fixtures: (All times GMT)
Round One:
Saturday 7th February:
England v Italy 15.00
Ireland v France 17.00
Sunday 8th February:
Scotland v Wales 15.00
Round Two:
Saturday 14th February:
France v Scotland 15.00
Wales v England 17.30
Sunday 15th February:
Italy v Ireland 14.30
Round Three:
Friday 27th February:
France v Wales 20.00
Saturday 28th February:
Scotland v Italy 15.00
Ireland v England 17.30
Round Four:
Saturday 14th March:
Italy v Wales 15.00
Scotland v Ireland 17.00
Sunday 15th March:
England v France 15.00
Round Five:
Saturday 21st
March:
Italy v France 13.15
England v Scotland 15.30
Wales v Ireland 17.30
