Gatland's eyes on Judgement Day

 

Gatland and his fellow national squad coaches have booked their seats at the national ground to watch the Cardiff Blues take on the Ospreys and the Newport Gwent Dragons take on the Scarlets in the third Pro12 double-header to be held in the Welsh capital.

 

The Wales head coach is flying back from a short break overseas this week and is keen to ensure he does not miss the Pro12 clashes which he says will from a vital part of his selection process ahead of the World Cup. 

 

"Judgement Day is not an event any fan of rugby will want to miss and we are expecting both contests to be equally revealing," said Gatland.

 

"We have been planning in earnest for this World Cup for some time now, but there are some things you cannot plan for.

 

"The regions are approaching the business end of the season and when we name our preliminary World Cup squad in June, form is going to be a major factor in our decision making process.

 

"All of the national squad coaches will be watching even more closely on Judgement Day this year.

 

"There is nothing like a derby match to put players under pressure to perform and with the added extra factor of being played out at the Millennium Stadium it should be a revealing day from a coach’s point of view.

 

"We have a good idea of what our best team is at the moment and we have been really happy with the players in the Six Nations and particularly with the performance against Italy in that final weekend when they did everything that was asked of them.

 

"But there are always players that time it right and come into consideration at World Cup time when form becomes an incredibly important factor.

 

"You only have to look at Sam Warburton who was named captain ahead of the 2011 World Cup after Matthew Rees missed out through injury and the partnership formed with Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau in the back row, to see that.

 

"The door is open for someone to not only play themselves into the squad but even into the starting line-up and all eyes will be on Judgement Day on Saturday to see if someone can put their hand up.

 

"Judgment Day is a great concept and a hugely popular event with the fans, but in a World Cup year it is just the kind of event which the coaches need to help inform the decision making process."