Players' youth surprises Gatland

Waikato coach Warren Gatland says he is gradually trying to increase his players' competence. Picture / Amos Chapple

Since his return to coach Waikato, the most noticeable change to strike Warren Gatland has been the youthful landscape in New Zealand rugby.

He points to his own side where eight of the squad who played against Southland were under 21.

In the days when Gatland was roaming around for 140 games as a hooker in the famous red, yellow and black Waikato stripes, those players would have qualified only for the province's age-group side.

Now they are forming a fair chunk of the NPC, plying their trade as professional rugby players.

"There are so many youngsters in the game," Gatland said. "I suppose there are a lot of guys who get to 26-27 here and are uncertain about their future. They know they are not going to make the All Blacks, they worry about their Super 12 contracts and decide to go overseas. Their places get taken by the youngsters.

"That is the thing which really hits you. I suppose it hits me because the last Wasps side I had, five of the pack were in their early 30s and had lots of international experience.

"It is a bit of a role reversal, it was like the New Zealand provincial rugby scene when I left."

That trail took Gatland in the late 90s to coaching posts in Scotland, Ireland and England, before he returned this season.

Auckland and Waikato tendered for Gatland's expertise. In the end his old province triumphed, a result he would love to repeat tonight when the rivals clash in the fifth round of the NPC at Eden Park.

Auckland wanted a technical adviser in the NPC who could also help out with the Blues, Waikato needed an NPC coach who could offer technical help to the Chiefs.

"The Auckland offer was attractive because they had some immense talent to work with, but the thing about Waikato was I wanted to be coaching, I wanted to be hands-on, and that won the day," Gatland said.

"I also see my role over the next three years as developing players who can go to the highest level. We want all our NPC squad to be able to play Super 14."

A month into the NPC, Gatland is still finding his way.

"We have got a lot of young players . . . I am learning about these guys as I go. I like having teams with individuals. I don't like them to all be clones.

"I try and encourage them to be confident in their own ideas."

But he could not give his players experience. He could prepare them for games, take them through methods and scenarios, but some things were learned only by playing.

And other impressions of New Zealand since his return?

It was slow, it was small, but as a country it had grown up a lot.

"We think we are important on the world stage, but when you go overseas you realise we are a minnow economically and sporting-wise.

"So the results on the Lions tour were pleasing for me, but the thing I liked were the Lions supporters. I think New Zealand learned a lot from the way they behaved. I hope they did," Gatland said.

"I also think the English are maligned ... they are made to feel guilty about being patriotic and supporting their teams. But I found them really good to deal with, fair and honest and straight up."

The support from the Waikato Rugby Union had made it easy coming back. The board was ambitious about Waikato and Chiefs doing well.

"If I had been restricted with what I wanted to do I would have found that difficult. But I have not found any of that. There is a great environment, great facilities."

Gatland wanted the local council to push the NZRU to get more matches, such as the Maori game against the Lions. If Carisbrook was struggling to fill their ground, Hamilton needed to boost their capacity for senior tests.

As a coach, Gatland is trying to increase his players' competence. He said it was a gradual process, something only time would allow.

"We are conscious we do not want to over-complicate things.

"When we are ready we will add things as we go, but for now we have settled on four or five things to get right," he said.

Those included setpiece, defence and continuity. Gatland was still coming to terms with all the different players, teams and referees in his first NPC season.

"It is taking me a bit of time, but there is not a lot of that in the NPC.

"It is a sprint, a short competition, you have to be right for every game."

The competition was already halfway through and tonight's game at Eden Park was a huge match.

Gatland recalled being part of a Waikato team who upset Auckland in one of their great eras, something he would love to emulate in his Eden Park coaching debut.

* Eden Park, 7.30 tonight

Auckland
Brent Ward
Isa Nacewa
Ben Atiga
Sam Tuitupou
Tony Koonwaiyou
Tasesa Lavea
Taniela Moa
Jerome Kaino
Daniel Braid
Justin Collins (c)
Kurtis Haiu
Brad Mika
John Afoa
Derren Witcombe
Nick White

Reserves: Lance Poching, Saimone Taumoepeau, Bryce Williams, Angus MacDonald, Steve Devine, Jamie Helleur, Gavin Williams.

Waikato
Sosene Anesi
Richard Kahui
Mark Ranby
David Hill
Solo Korovata
Stephen Donald
Brendon Leonard
Steven Bates (c)
Marty Holah
Liam Messam
Sean Hohneck
Toby Lynn
Deacon Manu
Scott Linklater
P Toleafoa

Reserves: Aled De Malmanche, Nathan White, Marc Morunga, Steven Setephano, Isaac Boss, Dwayne Sweeney, William Ripia.