Gatland: The rugby coach who cried wolf
October 23, 2008
In many ways the majority of Warren Gatland's time coaching in Wales has been a rugby fairytale existence.
Now he could be accused of being guilty of emulating the Aesop Fable's 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' fairytale over his threat to quit as Welsh coach.
Gatland sent shockwaves through Welsh rugby on Wednesday morning (New Zealand time) when he revealed he was questioning his continued employment in Wales.
He said the questioning had to do with the ongoing and messy wrangle over player availability for a prolonged camp before Wales' upcoming test window.
He wants his players for 13 days before their first test of the season. It's a move I am sure Gatland wouldn't have liked thrust on him during his tenure coaching England's Wasps club.
The Welsh regional clubs, acting as a unit, are refusing, instead offering their star players up for just five days.
Their reasoning is that Gatland and the WRU only gave them late notice of their plans, something they believe contravenes the participation agreement between the rival bodies.
Gatland is signed with the Welsh Rugby Union through to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Gatland's exit would be a massive blow to their long-term planning.
But really, I can't see that happening for more than a million reasons.
The first is his salary, which is around the $1 million-mark per season.
On top of that, now isn't a great time for a prominent coach to find a job.
There is scant for him to return to New Zealand for, apart from the vacant Auckland and Otago berths.
And the fact that Gatland has accepted a role on the coaching staff for the British Lions' 2009 tour of South Africa means that he is going nowhere.
Of course, the cynic could argue that Gatland is already offering up possible excuses ahead of a likely defeat at the hands of the All Blacks.
After-all, he has had a lean trot since winning the Six Nations, losing badly in South Africa in June.
All Black head coach Graham Henry and Steve Hansen know first-hand how quickly Welsh rugby can turn on previously lauded coaches.
More outbursts like Gatland unleashed earlier this week will threaten to see him follow suit. And if he was to leave, it might not be of his own accord.
The predicament that Gatland, the Welsh Rugby Union and the UK principality's four regional sides are faced with also has a word of warning for New Zealand rugby.
And that is that the pathway should not be opened up for overseas-based players to be eligible for All Black selection.
If the NZRU changed its rules, it would lead to a further rush to the departure lounge at Auckland international airport from top-line players.
And they would only ever play for the All Blacks when it suited their cashed-up European club bosses.
What did you think of Gatland's outburst?
Was it a smart move? Or, do you too think he is crying wolf?
Now he could be accused of being guilty of emulating the Aesop Fable's 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' fairytale over his threat to quit as Welsh coach.
Gatland sent shockwaves through Welsh rugby on Wednesday morning (New Zealand time) when he revealed he was questioning his continued employment in Wales.
He said the questioning had to do with the ongoing and messy wrangle over player availability for a prolonged camp before Wales' upcoming test window.
He wants his players for 13 days before their first test of the season. It's a move I am sure Gatland wouldn't have liked thrust on him during his tenure coaching England's Wasps club.
The Welsh regional clubs, acting as a unit, are refusing, instead offering their star players up for just five days.
Their reasoning is that Gatland and the WRU only gave them late notice of their plans, something they believe contravenes the participation agreement between the rival bodies.
Gatland is signed with the Welsh Rugby Union through to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Gatland's exit would be a massive blow to their long-term planning.
But really, I can't see that happening for more than a million reasons.
The first is his salary, which is around the $1 million-mark per season.
On top of that, now isn't a great time for a prominent coach to find a job.
There is scant for him to return to New Zealand for, apart from the vacant Auckland and Otago berths.
And the fact that Gatland has accepted a role on the coaching staff for the British Lions' 2009 tour of South Africa means that he is going nowhere.
Of course, the cynic could argue that Gatland is already offering up possible excuses ahead of a likely defeat at the hands of the All Blacks.
After-all, he has had a lean trot since winning the Six Nations, losing badly in South Africa in June.
All Black head coach Graham Henry and Steve Hansen know first-hand how quickly Welsh rugby can turn on previously lauded coaches.
More outbursts like Gatland unleashed earlier this week will threaten to see him follow suit. And if he was to leave, it might not be of his own accord.
The predicament that Gatland, the Welsh Rugby Union and the UK principality's four regional sides are faced with also has a word of warning for New Zealand rugby.
And that is that the pathway should not be opened up for overseas-based players to be eligible for All Black selection.
If the NZRU changed its rules, it would lead to a further rush to the departure lounge at Auckland international airport from top-line players.
And they would only ever play for the All Blacks when it suited their cashed-up European club bosses.
What did you think of Gatland's outburst?
Was it a smart move? Or, do you too think he is crying wolf?
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