SIX NATIONS: The Irish Times has teamed up with Media Wales ( www.walesonline.co.uk ) to provide the inside track from the Wales camp in the build-up to this Saturday's crucial Six Nations encounter at the Millennium Stadium, where the defending champions will attempt to stop Ireland winning their first Grand Slam in over 60 years.

I meant Ireland comment as compliment, says Warren Gatland

by Paul Abbandonato, Western Mail

WARREN GATLAND has moved to defuse the “Wales dislike Ireland” row he ignited by insisting: “I meant my comments as a compliment.”

Gatland outlined why he made his controversial remarks as a storm continues to brew in the Emerald Isle with ex-Irish stars lining up to have a pop at the Wales coach.

British Lions Test hooker Shane Byrne labelled the remarks “stupid” and Eddie O’Sullivan, who succeeded the Kiwi as Ireland coach, claimed Gatland had just done Ireland’s team talk for them.

The rumpus, which has rumbled on the whole week, gives an even greater edge to tomorrow’s Six Nations title decider at the Millennium Stadium.

Gatland claimed the Welsh players disliked the Irish more than any other team, including England.

The comments, made at the Wales team announcement, have set the agenda for the big game and look like continuing to dominate the headlines right up until kick-off time.

Seeking to explain his remarks, Gatland said: “I meant it as a compliment.”

Although he also admitted: “I knew when I said it that it was going to get headlines. It got more of a reaction than I wanted. People have reacted rather than just take it with a grain of salt and as a backhanded compliment.”

Gatland went on to cite how regularly Munster and Leinster have beaten the leading Welsh regions in big Heineken Cup or top-of-the-table Magners League games recently.

He outlined Ireland’s dominance of Wales at international level in recent years – the men in green winning seven of the last nine meetings – five of them by more than 20 points.

“The Welsh players have had some defeats by Munster and Leinster over the last few years, and also some big defeats by Ireland,” said Gatland.

“They’ve had a few verbals and sometimes you can’t say anything, you’ve got to take it and wait for your opportunity.

“Yes, of course they want to beat England as well. Everybody wants to beat England, but when you’re playing sides on a more regular basis, that’s what builds up the rivalry.

“It’s not that they dislike them as individuals, it’s just that they’re a bit more passionate about wanting to beat the Irish at the moment.

“If you go back over history there were often times when Wales had the edge in this fixture, but what I was saying was in recognition of what the Irish provinces have achieved in recent years and what Ireland have achieved in the last decade or so.”

Gatland went on to make a comparison with intense club rivalry in Ireland and at regional level back in his native New Zealand.

“I don’t see it any differently from Galwegians playing Corinthians or the Shannon versus Garryowen rivalry, where each wants to beat the other,” continued Gatland.

“I wasn’t saying the Welsh players disliked them as people, they just wanted to beat them so much.

“It’s like when I was with Waikato, we always wanted to beat Auckland more than anybody else.”

Former Ireland hooker Byrne, who was the Test No 2 on the last Lions tour, wasn’t buying any of that, though.

“Trying to provoke a reaction by saying something like the Welsh have a problem with the Irish is just stupid,” argued Byrne.

“Warren is a New Zealander coaching Wales; you wonder how much he has his finger on the pulse of the nation.

“If you canvassed people on the streets of Cardiff or Swansea, you would be hearing about their dislike for the English, not Ireland.

“Gatland is a coach who wants to grab the headlines. He is not cracking under the pressure, he thinks he’s playing some sort of game.

“He got the selection wrong against Italy and the team struggled. Then there was the in-fighting with Gavin Henson over the decision to kick that penalty and this is Gatland’s way of dealing with of that ... introducing his own brand of New Zealand ‘wit’.

“The Gatland that was coaching Ireland was a lot different personality-wise. I think his self-belief has grown with the success he's enjoyed since leaving Ireland and that's what happened here. I think it will backfire.”

Byrne continued: “The Irish players will be aware of what Gatland has said, but they will make a joke out of it.

“They know what has to be done, they know what is at stake.

“There are likely to be press clippings up on the board, the type of things players would write on in response, having a laugh with it, but only in a way that will help focus their thoughts, rather than unsettle them.”

O’Sullivan, who took over from Gatland as Ireland boss, said: “Every coach, when preparing for a Test game, will look for some hook on which to hang his motivational team talk.

“With Ireland just 80 minutes away from a Grand Slam, it was never going to be a difficult to rally the troops. But, believe it or not, it has just got even easier.

“Warren Gatland’s outburst will send shivers down many spines ... and fortunately for Ireland those shivers will be in the Welsh valleys.

“The Irish players will not rise to the bait. They will just put it in their locker and keep it warm for Saturday. In these situations it is best to do your talking on the pitch.”

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