Warren Gatland issues major warning ahead of Six Nations as ‘written off’ Wales tap into ‘siege mentality’
Warren Gatland during Wales' Six Nations clash with France in 2024.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has issued a defiant warning to the rest of the Six Nations and feels his side can get off to the perfect start in Paris if they tap into a siege mentality.
Gatland’s side come into the Championship off the back of a rotten 2024 Test season in which they lost all 12 of their Tests and finished bottom of the Six Nations.
Warren Gatland issues stark warning
Wales face the unenviable task of facing France at the Stade de France on the opening night of the Championship, but Gatland feels his side could cause an upset if they come with the right mindset.
“It’s a challenge for us, although as Fabien Galthie said the expectation is all on them,” Gatland told the WRU website. “Going to France at the start of the tournament is something we’re familiar with.
“We’ve been there a few times first up. We did the same in 2019 when we went to Paris and then had Italy in Rome, so we’re excited about that. We feel people are writing us off.
“We need to create a siege mentality going to Paris. It’s going to be a tough challenge, but we’re playing in the best rugby tournament in the world. The games aren’t just games, they’re big occasions.”
The Kiwi coach also issued a stark warning to the rest of the Championship, feeling his side shouldn’t be universally written off.
“I said before the World Cup ‘write us off at your peril’, and I’ll say the same again now,” he said. “We’ve got to build our confidence, both physical and mental, and prepare properly.”
After their trip to Paris, Wales go on to face Italy in Rome in round two.
Returning experience
Gatland has, admirably, blooded in plenty of promising players throughout 2024, including the likes of Archie Griffin, Josh Hathaway, Tom Rogers and Blair Murray, but this Six Nations he has called in some more familiar faces which he thinks could help turn the tide of the national side.
“We lost so much experience after the last World Cup and we had to bring young players through, which has been tough. But we’ve got some experience back in terms of Toby Faletau, Josh Adams and Liam Williams, as well as Dafydd Jenkins,” he said.
He added: “That’s got to be a real positive and we’re in a nice position – there is no expectation and people are writing us off. This is such a tough tournament to win, so hard.”
But, Gatland has also made some bold calls elsewhere in his squad. Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn – two players many thought would start this Championship – have missed out on his 34-man squad entirely, and he has also only selected one out-and-out fly-half in uncapped 21-year-old Dan Edwards. Elsewhere, WillGriff John has earned a shock recall to the Test squad.
