Warren Gatland works on a couple of subtle changes with his Welsh players to try to tactically neutralise the Springboks in Saturday’s quarter-finalThe days between the end of the World Cup pool games and the start of the knockout phase are some of the hardest to navigate. Most players are either relieved,tired, bruised or undercooked, and refocusing their minds is not easy.
An ability to seize teams by the lapels and jolt them into sudden-death mode is what separates the best coaches from the rest and Warren Gatland is consistently brilliant at it – hence the reason why Wales,who might have expected a few days’ mental respite following their brutal contest with Australia, have been on the receiving end of a few domestic truths this week. Gatland has been telling it like it is, or particularly highlighting his team’s failure to score when their opponents were reduced to 13 men last Saturday. The message has been blunt: fail to execute cleanly and judge clearly against South Africa and inevitable disappointment awaits.
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Source: theguardian.com