Richard Loe: Gats emerges as a top contender for All Blacks coach

No matter what the result of last night's Air New Zealand Cup final, this inaugural year could well be remembered as Warren Gatland took a big step towards what seems a natural progression for him - to become All Black coach one day.

I am not seriously pushing Gats' barrow as All Black coach right now. He is doing the right thing now - the hard yards; two years as Waikato's provincial coach and next year he will be assistant coach of the Chiefs behind Ian Foster.

But, win, lose or draw in last night's final, it is obvious that Gatland has a way with him when it comes to coaching.

His work as coach of Wasps in London and their record, plus the way Waikato have played this season, are testimony to the fact that Waikato and New Zealand have a quality coach in their midst.

Gats, Graeme Purvis and myself played many games together and I'd like to think we made a pretty reasonable front row. Gats was always a good lineout thrower and, if he wasn't the biggest and most powerful scrummager around, he was very handy and a good man with ball in hand.

He was also, even in those days, a natural leader. That this shone through even when he was one of many hookers - Graham Dowd and Norm Hewitt being others - who had to stand behind Sean Fitzpatrick and wait their turn, speaks volumes for Gats.

He was originally a teacher by trade, just like Graham Henry, and that's what a modern coach is. They teach their players and the art of doing so is not only coming up with something new, but also having the skill and the determination to make it interesting and make it work.

That's been the big thing about Waikato for me this year. Gats had a wonderful record as coach of Ireland - remember, he nearly coached the Irish to an upset win over the All Blacks in 2001 - and of Wasps. But that was reversed at Waikato last year.

The rush defence that Waikato have employed so surely this year was laughed at last year, but I guess Gats has had the last laugh.

He has made his players understand what he was trying to do last year and has them executing it well. Because what they have learned is now working for them, Waikato this season have come on hugely.

You can see it on the paddock in areas like the rucks. Waikato are so good at getting numbers to the breakdown. The backs do not shirk the ruck and maul duties - they strongly contest the ball and then three, four or five forwards just bowl in and blast the opposition out of the way.

They have been the best in the whole competition at this.

That's the Gats influence; he has always been good at bringing in new things.

Even when he was in the All Blacks, he introduced to training a kind of Gaelic football, called "Jail", that was popular with the players. It was something new, they learned new skills and were able to enjoy something different.

His innovation was also seen when he came up with a training ground idea of putting down scrums without hookers. It sounds odd, but it actually enhances safety and teaches props and locks to push straight. I use it with kids' teams still.

Gats will do his time in Super 14, although it could get interesting if the All Blacks do not win the World Cup.

But, if matters go the way all New Zealanders hope they will, then he may have to wait his turn. Henry is almost certain not to carry on after 2007 and that means Steve Hansen will be favourite to succeed him.

However, there will be other contenders and I can see the NZRU wanting to hang onto Robbie Deans as well. A lot of people would say that he had his chance when he was with Mitchell but Robbie is a fine coach in his own right and I am sure that they would rather Robbie stayed here than headed off overseas.

It will be interesting watching him build almost an entirely new team - with all the All Blacks missing from Super 14 next year.

Wellington coach John Plumtree is heading off to coach the Sharks Super 14 franchise next year - and good luck to him. John has a South African wife and has succeeded this year in moulding Wellington into a more consistent team.

Previously, you would wonder which Wellington team would run onto the field. One day they'd be golden, the next day god-awful.

Gats must be a front-runner for the big job in the future. When he was in the All Blacks and bulking up from being a 90kg No 8, he was called "Sumo". As with all sumo wrestlers, it'll be hard work getting Gats out of the ring.