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Warren Gatland admits All Blacks coaching ambitions despite turning down current opportunity
By Online Editors
Warren Gatland has not ruled out the prospect of coaching the All Blacks in future despite having ruled himself out of consideration for the vacant role due to his British and Irish Lions commitments in 2021.
Speaking to The Guardian, the 56-year-old revealed that coaching the side of which he played 17 non-internationals for is "absolutely" an aspiration of his, but he couldn't apply to be Steve Hansen's successor due to the dual roles he will hold with both the Lions and Chiefs from next year onwards.
2020 will provide Gatland with a change of scenery as he returns to Hamilton for the first time in over a decade to take the reigns of the Chiefs after having served 12 years as head coach of Wales.
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He couldn't sign off from his time as the Welsh boss with World Cup glory in Japan last month, falling short to South Africa at the semi-final hurdle, but he believes that should his side have emerged victorious over the Springboks in Yokohama, he would have backed his side to defeat England a week later.
"There wasn't that fear factor against England. It would have been different if the All Blacks had won their semifinal," Gatland told The Guardian.
"For some of the Welsh players the All Blacks are still on a pedestal because New Zealand's the one team we haven't beaten.
"But against England, psychologically, we would have been confident because the guys have had success and we had an effective gameplan. The results have been 50-50 and knowing you're capable of beating them makes a massive difference."
"In our semifinal South Africa kept taking three points to keep the scoreboard ticking over. But there are times when, with momentum, you're better off going for the scrum or the lineout.
"We got the try and it was 16-16 with six minutes to go. But then South Africa got a penalty. [Handre] Pollard kicked it and it wasn't to be. But I can't question the effort of our players. I likened it to a sponge. We squeezed every last drop out of Wales."
Gatland said it was similar to what England implemented against the All Blacks in their semi-final clash, which Eddie Jones' side won 19-7.
"It was one of the best performances by England I've ever seen. They were outstanding. Controlled the game. Defended exceptionally well. Attacked well. It was pretty much the complete performance."
Speaking about the forthcoming Lions trip in South Africa in two years' time, where he will stand down as Chiefs coach for a season to take control of the British and Irish side, Gatland said that facing the reigning world champions would add value to what would already have been a special tour.
"That adds to the importance of this tour. I thought about the Lions after this World Cup final. It would have been great if England had won from a northern hemisphere point of view. But, looking at it selfishly, would it have been good for the Lions? I think it would have added to the pressure," he said.
Gatland will kick-off his Chiefs career against the Blues at Eden Park on January 31 in his side's Super Rugby opener for 2020.
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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