NZ aura gone: Warren Gatland
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Warren Gatland has thrown the first stone ahead of Saturday's clash with New Zealand by stating that the Kiwis have 'lost that aura of invincibility'.
The former black fern international, who was speaking to Wales on Sunday, may have been found slightly less confident after watching Graham Henry's men beat Australia 32-19 in Tokyo over the weekend.
But despite their comfortable win at Olympic Stadium, Gatland thought it best to stoke the pre-game fire ahead of the Cardiff showpiece, citing World Cup form as his ideal ammunition.
"New Zealand have lost that aura of invincibility," he said.
"I was lucky enough to be involved in that period when, from 1986-1990, we went all those matches undefeated, and it was there then.
"But like everything, over a period of time, that aura does slowly break down if you are not always successful.
"We've seen them lose in past World Cups, but this year they have gone through a couple of poor patches as well."
Wales have still yet to beat the All Blacks in 56 years of trying, with their most recent meeting on home soil seeing them come close for a large part of the contest.
But following a difficult season under Henry and his coaching duo of Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen, it seems Gatland believes that if they can win the mental battle, then the Welsh can finally break their New Zealand duck.
"That's why I say the top two inches still has a massive impact on the way a team or player can perform," he added regarding big-game mentality.
"If he [the player] has that belief and believes in himself and the others around him, that they are good enough to win, it can make the difference.
"We can take confidence from the first 50 minutes against the All Blacks last year and we beat Australia in the last game. Then there's confidence from the players who are returning from the Lions believing that they are good enough to compete with the best in the world.
"As coaches we have to use that to keep building the confidence and make sure the players are not in awe of the All Blacks. In the past that has been the case and they have put New Zealand on too much of a pedestal.
"Hopefully now they believe that, if we play to our potential, we can win on the day."
Comments
Dukie says...
This guys a complete idiot.
Wales been saying the same thing for like 50 years.
Eventually there gonna win one, and then everyone will say they have been proven right.
OR not, and every year we will continue to hear the same thing.
Its one thing for a "former all black" to say Nz have lost there "Aura" its another all together for the Welsh Team to claim it.
TO be 100% honest i hope Wales do win, so i no longer have to hear about it, at least not for another 50 years till they manage to do it again.
Posted 12:26 02nd November 2009