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Gatland: `We must win the mind games`

Monday 17th November 2008

Upstairs: Gatland believes beating New Zealand is all in the head

Wales coach Warren Gatland admitted his side needs to start winning the mind games if they are to beat the All Blacks this weekend.

Gatland, who threatened to quit his position due to player release problems last month, also knows the weight of history is firmly against his side.

Despite that, Gatland, who will lead Wales against his native country on Saturday, insists the biggest problem is for his players to have the self-belief to beat the All Blacks.

Wales have lost the last 19 meetings between the sides in a dreadful sequence stretching back to 1953.

"History is running against Wales and a lot of the stuff we are going through at the moment is in our heads," Gatland told The Western Mail.

"We have done the physical and skill work and have competed with South Africa, but this is all about self-belief and cracking a big one.

"But we are now dealing with the mentality and that has come much quicker than I thought. I thought we wouldn't be where we are now for another 12 months.

"We need to develop the leadership within the squad, players need to take more responsibility and drive the standards higher and higher.

"We need players to have a bigger expectation of themselves and their team-mates and we need more finger-pointing on and off the field.

"But we are starting to knock on the door and you only have to see we have put ourselves in positions to beat South Africa in the last two games."

Wales managed to get within five points of the Springboks, pushing them all the way only to let a golden chance slip away in the dying stages of the game.

Gatland, who has not even been in charge for a year, has had a huge impact on Wales, although he is far from happy at present and wants a lot more from his squad.

"The first 12 months was the easy stuff," said Gatland.

"There was no expectation and it was all about the values we wanted to adopt.

"It was about putting pride back in the jersey and earning the respect of the teams we play.

"I think we have started to do that and people are sitting up and taking notice of Wales. They know they can not turn up at the Millennium Stadium and roll us over.

"I would like to see us win a couple of these big games at home and then we can start thinking about winning one of these games away from home.

"We still have work to do but I do think the players realise we don't want to be second best anymore."

After two mixed weeks the test is now for Wales to raise their game for the All Blacks, and Gatland hopes his players can do themselves justice.

"I hope the All Blacks will know they have been in a game," said Gatland.

"Physically we have to compete with them. They have brought their best side over here for us.

"But if you play fantasy rugby, you don't win consistently. You have to be able to do the job up front, have the ability to change your game plan and be able to grind out a game.

"It's not always about being pretty. In tight games - semi-finals or finals - you have to be able to win the war of attrition. If you don't do that you're not going to win."