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Gatland: English club struggles could spill into Six Nations
By Matthew Scott
Wales coach Warren Gatland believes a poor season in Europe for England's club sides could affect Eddie Jones' men during the Six Nations.
Reigning champions Saracens are the only English representatives in the last eight of the European Champions Cup, having scraped through as the bottom seeds, while Newcastle Falcons and Gloucester are through to the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
Sarries were pushed all the way by Ospreys in Pool 2, the Welsh side holding them to a kick-fest draw in Swansea, only for defeat to Clermont Auvergne in the final round to end their hopes.
The Scarlets won Pool 5 to reach the knockout stages, despite losing their opening group games, and though Gatland is facing an injury crisis in the backs, he is still bullish about Wales' chances.
"I see it from two different angles," Gatland said.
"I look back on the English club form and think that when they have five teams in the quarter-finals of Europe [in 2016], you are looking at a pretty strong England squad.
"You look now and they have got one team there and they qualified eighth. There starts to be some question marks from my point of view and, I hope, my players. We have not spoken about it but it gives you confidence and a bit of self-belief.
"On the other hand, Ospreys have improved in the last few weeks, good performances against Saracens away and at home, and the score last week [a 24-7 defeat at Clermont] did not reflect their performance, and we have a significant group of players coming into camp for the first time in six years having made the quarter-finals.
"They [Scarlets players] come with confidence and self-belief because of what they have achieved, only the third team in the history of the European Cup to lose the first two games and make the quarter-finals. The performance at Bath was outstanding and they showed character against Toulon, digging deep to grind out a result.
"Players are coming into the squad with a spring in their step and that filters through to everyone."
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Latest Comments
Yet Ethan Blackadder was one of our best against the World Champion Springbok. When he came back to the Crusaders later in the season , he made a huge difference, ( a long with others like Codie Taylor), we nearly made the Play Off's. Ethan has plenty of rugby left in him. His family , Dad Todd Blackadder must be very [proud of him. Todd Blackadder was a 3 time champion captain of the Crusaders, '98, '99 and 2000.An icon in this area. Also twice captain of Canterbury , '97 and 2001 when we won the NPC and Ranfurly Shield winning captain in 2000.
Go to commentsIt's the same criticism of Dmac and Mo'unga as well. Sadly the way the game has been heading recently it's the only way to break down a defence, and a player of Lawrences nature would have a very limited chance at doing that because he's too one dimensional.
Noah Lolesio is your sort of player and that worked OK, but only because his team is far more creative than Englands for example. The highly organized Irish attack was also another that didn't require much from the 10, but that is now changing with Prendergast who is in that league mold like the most new age 10's.
So it is in fact your two which would require even more change to make the most of than Marcus Smith.
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