Rugby: Gatland stands by his lions

Wales coach Warren Gatland has kept faith with his British and Irish Lions Test half-backs for Saturday's Millennium Stadium appointment with South Africa.

But Gatland also accepts that Stephen Jones and Mike Phillips both "need a big game" as Wales target a first victory over the Springboks in 12 attempts since 1999.

Former Wales and Lions fly-half Barry John, now a Welsh newspaper columnist, called on Gatland to drop the pair following a lame attacking display during last weekend's 25-16 defeat against Australia.

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John was not alone in his criticism, with other media pundits urging Gatland to field Richie Rees instead of Phillips at scrum-half, and either James Hook or Dan Biggar ousting 92 times-capped Jones.

"Yes, we need to be a bit more creative and a little bit more expansive, which is something we want to add to our game for this weekend, but when you play South Africa you've got to have combative forwards and combative backs.

"There were two or three try-saving tackles by both Mike and Stephen at the weekend, which was important to us. Yes, they've got to add some attacking flair and improve that aspect of the game, and I am sure they are going to do that this weekend."

And that will undoubtedly help Wales in their quest to create opportunities and score tries under the stadium's closed roof.

"Some of the criticism of James sometimes is that he takes the game on too much himself. That's something he needs to get the balance right.

"He doesn't have to do everything himself and try to create something out of nothing, it's got to be accurate as well.

"James hasn't had a lot of rugby there, and at this stage to throw him up against the world champions at 10 is a little bit unfair on him.

"But it is something we may think about in the future. We have spoken to him about this on a number of occasions.

"The coaches have told the players they have a licence to be creative, to be confident with the ball in hand, to offload and to be positive in attack.

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Rugby: Gatland issues world cup warning

Head coach Warren Gatland has warned Wales players plying their trade in England they face missing out on a World Cup spot due to Premier Rugby's "ridiculous" decision not to release them until August 4, the latest date allowed, next year.

"The major concern is we have had a letter from Premier Rugby saying players in England will not be released until August 4," said Gatland.

"That is completely ridiculous to say the players will finish in May but not be available for national squads until August, two days before we play England in our first warm-up game.

"It's going to limit players playing in England being available in terms of preparation or being available for the squad.

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"Picking this squad we have looked at this campaign and the Six Nations, and if a player playing across the bridge is unavailable until August 4 it is highly unlikely they will be considered for the World Cup squad."

Ryan Jones, who was Gatland's choice as captain when he took over in 2007, has only started one game so far this season after recovering from a leg injury he sustained during the second Test of the summer tour to New Zealand, and there have been question marks about his form over the course of the last two seasons.

"I think our concern about Ryan Jones has been the amount of matches he has had," Gatland said. "I watched him for the Ospreys on Friday night and he was outstanding, but he needs a couple more games and when we announce the squad for Australia we'll announce the captain.

"I don't see any reason why we need to move away from someone like Ryan as he has done a good job. But he needs another game and to keep working hard in that first couple of weeks.

"If we didn't pick him for the first game because he may be a bit underdone there are plenty of guys that can step up and do a job if, for example, Ryan was on the bench.

"We have been happy with Ryan, he looks sharp and lean. We would like to see him playing in the back row a little bit more than he has but we will make that call before we face Australia."

"It was a tough decision because of my family, I have teenage kids in New Zealand so that was the big pulling factor about going back to New Zealand. But having spoken to them and having looked at the potential of this squad, and how I have been accepted by the people of Wales has been fantastic.

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Two-week ban for Martyn Williams is relief for Cardiff Blues and Wales

Wales coach Warren Gatland last night breathed a sigh of relief after Martyn Williams only copped a two-week ban for foul play.

It means the star flanker will be available for the big kick-off of Wales’ autumn campaign, against Tri-Nations runners-up Australia at the Millennium Stadium on November 6.

He accepted his wrongdoing but claimed his rash action had not warranted a red card – Paterson had been sin-binned for not releasing the ball.

But officials appointed by European Rugby Cup, the organisers of the Heineken Cup, took into account his good disciplinary record after deciding the offence was at the low entry point in its severity.

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They decided on the recommended three-week suspension but knocked a week off because of his previous good record. He was ordered to pay the costs of the hearing.

The 35-year-old has only been sent off once during a long and glittering career, which has seen him pocket two Six Nations Grand Slam titles with Wales and an Amlin Challenge Cup winners’ medal with the Blues.

Last season the Pontypridd product was presented with a fair play award by ERC after being selected as the fairest and most sportsmanlike player in the 15 years of European Cup rugby.

He is free to play from October 27, making him available for the Millennium Stadium opener against the Wallabies. The ban rules him out of Blues’ Heineken Cup Pool One encounter with Castres in the south-west of France tomorrow night and next week’s Magners League derby with the Scarlets.

Scarlets’ utility forward Jonny Fa’amatuainu also appeared in front of disciplinary chiefs in Dublin, receiving a three-game ban for a dangerous tackle during their 43-34 home victory over Perpignan.

Former Scarlet lock Jamie Cudmore received 10 weeks for stamping during French champions’ Clermont Auvergne’s Heineken triumph over English club Saracens.

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France is one of the strongest rugby nations in Europe and is currently the highest ranked. Rugby was introduced to France in 1872 by the British, and on New Year's Day 1906 the national side played its first Test match against New Zealand in Paris.

France played sporadically against the Home Nations until they joined them to form a Five Nations tournament in 1910. France also competed in the rugby competitions at early Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal in 1900 and two silver medals in the 1920s. France came of age during the 1950s and 1960s, and won their first Five Nations title outright in 1959. They won their first Grand Slam in 1968.

Wales national rugby union team represents Wales in international rugby union tournaments.Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with 25 wins. Wales most recent championship win came in 2008. The International Rugby Board (IRB) regards Wales as a Tier One rugby nation, and ranks them eighth in the world as of 1 February 2010.

Wales play in red jerseys embroidered with the Prince of Wales's feathers. Their current home ground is the Millennium Stadium, completed in 1999 to replace the National Stadium at Cardiff Arms Park. Ten former Welsh players have been inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame, and two of the ten have been inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame.

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Rugby: Gatland waiting to be offered new Wales coaching contract

Warren Gatland last night said he has received no new contract offer to continue as Wales coach while revealing he is wanted by two other teams.

Gatland acknowledged he had been in talks with WRU group chief executive Roger Lewis but insisted he hadn’t received any concrete proposals.

“I have had criticism about my contract but it’s hard to make a decision when I have not got anything concrete in front of me. I can’t make a decision if I haven’t a contract in front of me. People have been telling me to make up my mind and asking me why I am stalling, but no-one has spoken about it before.”

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It is understood Super Rugby franchise Chiefs Gatland is from Hamilton where they play most of their home fixtures want him to succeed Ian Foster as their coach for the 2012 tournament. The Kiwi also has another offer on the table.

If Gatland wants to become coach of New Zealand he has to join Super Rugby as All Blacks’ regulations stipulate the successful candidate must be working in the southern hemisphere.

But he maintains he would like to continue at the Wales helm and take the team onto the 2015 World Cup in England.

“I think Wales is in a good state at the moment in terms of the participation agreement that is in place,” Gatland said recently.

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The shock twist over Gatland’s future came just three weeks after the former Ireland, London Wasps and Waikato boss revealed he had been talking to the WRU over a new deal.

“I have been talking to Roger Lewis and it is a case now of weighing up whether to stay or to make a personal, family decision to go back to New Zealand,” he said.

“As well as talking to Wales, I’ve had an approach from New Zealand about a position back there, so I am weighing up now whether to stay on or go back.”

Last month Lewis was adamant Gatland continues to be the right choice for Wales. But he acknowledged: “It’s not about performing, it’s about winning.”

Nevertheless, Lewis was adamant: “I think Warren Gatland is right for Wales. I have always believed that.

“We have not got to the position yet of asking Warren yes or no. This is a very complex decision based not only on the way we are developing professionally, but all of the personal circumstances involved as well.

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