gatland started coaching long before the end of his playing days. he was
in the all blacks squad from 1988-94, but started his coaching career in
1989.
he was a hooker behind the legendary Sean fitzpatrick in the pecking
order. While fitzpatrick earned himself 92 caps, gatland pulled on the all
blacks jersey 17 times without ever earning a full international cap.
it is something which appears to drive him forward on the coaching side,
but perhaps not in the way people would expect.
“shaun is able to be a bit more bullish
and direct”
“i was always involved and always had an appetite for being a coach with
an insatiable appetite for knowledge,” he commented.
“i felt i had a really good understanding of the game. in my school days
and until i was about 20 i played loose forward to a high level and then
realised i was not going to be tall enough so i turned myself into a hooker.
“i made it internationally as a hooker but had that understanding from
being a loose forward, as well as being a front row player. also i felt i had
a handle on back play, i liked throwing the ball around with skilful and
accurate players.
“i always felt the game should be tough, but i am very much into being
hard but fair. i was proud of my own record as a player that i was never
once penalised or yellow carded for foul play, but people would think of
me as being pretty physical.
“as a player and then a senior player i had a pretty good relationship with
coaches and was asked my opinion in terms of the team and the way we
should play.
“When your opinion as a player is asked for and respected then the
obvious next step is to become a coach yourself.
“a lot of people have asked if i was disappointed to be behind Sean
a winning
fitzpatrick, but i have a huge amount of respect for him as a player, a really
combination -
Warren gatland and tough competitor, and i also was privileged enough to be involved in a
Shaun edwards
great all blacks era when they went undefeated for more than 50 games
from the 1987 World cup.
2009 rbS 6 nationS Week 3 Week 5
(all kick-offs gmt)
21 / 22 February - free 7 / 8 March - free
Week 1 Week 2 Week 4 Week 6 Week 7
saturday, 7 February saturday, 14 February Friday, 27 February saturday, 14 March saturday, 21 March
england v italy - 3.00pm france v Scotland - 3.00pm france v Wales - 8.00pm italy v Wales - 3.00pm italy v france - 1.15pm
ireland v france - 5.00pm Wales v england - 5.30pm Scotland v ireland - 5.00pm england v Scotland - 3.30pm
saturday, 28 February Wales v ireland - 5.30pm
sunday, 8 February sunday 15 February Scotland v italy - 3.00pm sunday 15 March
Scotland v Wales - 3.00pm italy v ireland - 2.30pm ireland v england - 5.30pm england v france - 3.00pm
sportingwales
maytwothousand&eight
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