Gatland's heart beats again
Wales coach Warren Gatland said that the overwhelming emotion after leading his side to their third Six Nations Grand Slam in eight seasons was relief rather than joy.
The Welsh side trumped France 16-9 at the Millennium Stadium to finish the tournament unbeaten for the 11th Grand Slam in their history.
Gatland said there was no immediate sense of jubilation as the whistle was blown for the end of the game, in which a nervy Wales dominated a conservative French side.
“It was more a relief, there was a lot of pressure and expections on us,” the New Zealander said.
The Grand Slam was won because of the “honesty and hard work” of the players, he added.
“These guys have been a real credit to themselves, Wales and Welsh rugby. They’re excellent professionals. They make our job as coaches easier as they do more than what we expect.”
Wales scored the only try of the game through winger Alex Cuthbert, with Leigh Halfpenny contributing the rest of the points with his boot. France could only reply with three penalties.
“They showed some great character, they know how to win and win ugly,” Gatland said. “They didn’t know how to do that in the past.”
Gatland added that this squad could not be compared to the Wales team that also won three Grand Slams in the 1970s and provided the backbone of the squads that starred for the British and Irish Lions in 1971 and 1974.
“It’s a different time, a different era,” he said.
“We are very aware of what it means to Wales as a nation,” he said of the Grand Slam, adding that a large part of the enjoyment was “putting a smile on people’s faces” during the current tough economic times.
The final nerve-wracking 10 minutes, Gatland said, were “pretty emotional”.
“I didn’t feel like we’d lose the game, just that maybe we’d concede something,” he said. “I felt we defended extremely well and we haven’t conceded a try in our last three games.
“The team showed character and you saw how hard they scrambled back in defence.”
Wales captain Sam Warburton said the result was “awesome”.
“People were always concerned that we would not be able to back up what we did at the World Cup,” he said in reference to Wales’ progression to the semifinal, where they lost 9-8 to France, with Warburton red-carded for a spear tackle.
“It’s easily the most enjoyable campaign I’ve been involved in,” he added.
France opened their Six Nations campaign with victories over Italy and Scotland but stuttered to a 17-17 draw with Ireland and then fell to a 24-22 defeat by England.
But coach Philippe Saint-Andre had no complaints about the result on Saturday.
“I think Wales deserve it. To win the Grand Slam is not easy,” the former Sale and Gloucester coach said.
“It was a tough game but they won, so congratulations to them. They have a young generation of players and a great staff.
“It’s good for the pubs in Cardiff!”
AFP
