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Gatland maps out title charge

Monday 09th February 2009

Long way: Gatland impressed by Irish and French

Wales coach Warren Gatland has warned his side that England will be tough to beat at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

The Grand Slam-winning boss, who watched his champions begin their crown defence with a comfortable 26-13 victory over Scotland on Sunday, believes Martin Johnson's men have slipped into a Leicester style of play.

"England have gone into a siege mentality and become a really hard side to beat," said Gatland, speaking to the South Wales Echo.

"It's like watching a Leicester team of old but there will be no complacency next week because there is no lack of motivation when Wales play England."

Despite avoiding a potential banana skin at Murrayfield with a four-try success in Edinburgh, Gatland has refused to get carried away with Wales' chances of repeating their 2008 feat.

"There is a long way to go," admitted Gatland.

"All teams started on zero points this weekend and it's not about us defending the title, but challenging for the Six Nations again.

"We have ambition to compete with the best teams in the world and we have said that a lot and we have had to go up a couple of levels to do that.

"If we do play to our potential, I think we have a good chance of retaining this title. The next two games will decide that - England in Cardiff and France in Paris.

"They are two tough games. I thought the Irish and France game was a fantastic game of rugby and a complete contrast to the first game we saw. Thankfully, the second game was a good advert for rugby.

"Ireland and France tried to play some rugby and we know there is a lot of experience in both sides. With Declan Kidney on board, it will make Ireland a tough side to beat."

Wales went into their opening 2009 game with a couple of key personnel, with Gavin Henson and captain Ryan Jones late withdrawals for the trip. And Gatland has remained cautious that the pair and wing Shane Williams, who limped from the action, can recover in time.

"We have come here [to Edinburgh] and have to be pleased with a start like that. Now we have a six-day turnaround and it will be tough," he said.

"But it gave us just a huge boost on the bus coming to the ground seeing how many Welsh supporters were here and hearing them sing before the game.

"If they can show that much passion and loyalty then they deserve to be paid back and I thought the boys did that well for them.

"[However] There were a number of key players who we didn't want to play those last 20 minutes, with one eye on next weekend."