Gatland upbeat despite setbacks
February 05 2010
Warren Gatland is excited about Wales' prospects in this season's Six Nations Championship despite sensing a feeling of "negativity" around his side team's hopes.
Gatland remains positive about his side's chances in the competition despite losing two British and Irish Lions front-rowers for Saturday's Twickenham opener.
Hooker Matthew Rees' recurrence of a groin problem meant he was sidelined from Gatland's selections plans and Wales were dealt a further blow by the news they would be without their 72 times-capped loosehead prop Gethin Jenkins, who is suffering from calf trouble.
Given that Gatland had already seen injured Lions scrum-halves Mike Phillips and Dwayne Peel disappear off his radar, the coach could be excused for cursing his luck.
Gatland, though, can still field a side containing nine members of last year's Lions squad in South Africa, including a new-look centre combination in Jamie Roberts and James Hook.
The bookmakers have installed England as favourites for the match, while there are some pundits who believe Wales will do well to improve on last year's Six Nations finish of fourth.
There has also been a degree of what Gatland terms negativity in Wales surrounding his team's Six Nations hopes.
"We think this team has been developing over the last couple of seasons, and will continue to develop, and I am excited about how we can do in this Six Nations," Gatland.
"Everyone is entitled to their opinion - I have no problem with that. Wales is an incredibly knowledgeable nation about the game.
"Part of my job is to try to limit the negativity and keep building the players up and giving them the confidence that they are good enough.
"I struggle at times with how pessimistic people can be.
"As a Kiwi, I would like to think we are eternal optimists in terms of we go out there and not care who we play against whether it is rugby, cricket or whatever.
"It's a case of "bring it on, we will go out and give it a go" and I would love for Wales to be a little bit like that as well. I think we are a little bit too quick to criticise.
"In international rugby, you don't have the benefits that you do when you deal with a club side and you can actually go through a period where you fail a little bit as you try to develop and improve.
"You don't have that luxury in international rugby - it's either all or nothing."
Central to Welsh ambitions will be how Hook performs in a fourth different starting position for his country.
After full-back Lee Byrne's successful appeal against a two-week ban earlier this week, Gatland was able to name Hook at number 13 rather than 15, and he is relishing seeing him in action.
"The thing with James and his ability and talent is trying to find somewhere on the field for him," added Gatland.
"We know what a job he can do at 10, particularly if the game loosens up a little bit. He can play 12, and he did a great job for us in the autumn at 15.
"He's just a talented footballer, and I am excited about the combination of James and Jamie Roberts, and what an attacking threat they could pose to England."