Here are the latest rugby headlines on Sunday, February 4.
Gatland: ‘That was in all probability the worst of my profession’
Warren Gatland has issued an apology for Wales’ first-half efficiency in opposition to Scotland, describing it as in all probability the worst 40 minutes of his teaching profession.
Wales have been a catastrophe within the opening 42 minutes, discovering themselves 27-0 down and with a mountain to climb. Gatland pulled no punches afterwards, describing what unfolded as “surprising”. Get the latest rugby information despatched straight to your inbox at no cost with our every day publication.
Wales proceeded to launch an almighty comeback, finally shedding 27-26 in an epic encounter.
“I feel I can apologise for the primary half, it is in all probability the worst first 40 efficiency in my entire rugby profession as a coach,” he instructed S4C in a stay TV interview.
READ MORE: Warren Gatland Q&A: Other groups might need thrown the towel in however Josh Adams’ dumb’ mistake cost us
READ MORE: Wales v Scotland participant rankings as Gatland finds his talisman after gamers hooked at half-time
“We have been horrible, surprising. Discipline was poor, did not nail some issues, so the message at half-time was to do what we needed to do within the first, carry some tempo, play with a little bit of depth and play some rugby, nothing flashy.
“I feel some guys got here off the bench and had some affect, we have been so sluggish within the first half, issues like alternatives for fast faucets to get us again within the recreation.
“When you do not nail some lineouts and provides away silly penalties, the Josh Adams one was dumb and when you consider it, that is the distinction between successful and shedding the sport.
“The gamers needs to be dissatisfied with the primary half however proud for the second half that they did not throw the towel in and will have gained the sport.”
‘We can win the Six Nations’
Jamie George is satisfied England can win the Guinness Six Nations however accepts they have to be taught quick after edging Italy 27-24 in Rome.
England have been outscored 3-2 on the strive depend and have been outplayed within the first half, which they completed 17-14 behind, however they rallied with an essential Alex Mitchell try to two penalties from George Ford.
It was the closest Italy had come to beating them in 31 Tests between the rivals and even permitting for the 5 new caps in Red Rose ranks, it was a shaky begin to post-World Cup rebuilding.
While England have been labouring to victory on the Stadio Olimpico, Ireland seemed sensational in a crushing win over France in Marseille the earlier night.
When requested is there’s sufficient high quality within the crew to problem Ireland, George stated: “Absolutely. I do not need anybody to be concerned on this squad if they do not genuinely imagine we are able to go and problem the most effective and win this match.
“Looking at Ireland, they have been very spectacular. Not many groups go to France and carry out like that. It’s a blueprint for us, and any crew, to have a look at how they approached that recreation.
“For us, we will be studying quick and we want to ensure we be taught our classes, being very clear about what we need to go after this recreation.
“We’ve obtained an important alternative to be again in entrance of our followers in opposition to Wales subsequent weekend and actually give them one thing to smile about.”
Townsend feared the worst
Phil Blanche, PA Sport
Gregor Townsend feared one other dramatic Cardiff collapse would cost Scotland their first win over Wales on the Principality Stadium for 22 years. Head coach Townsend was an assistant to Andy Robinson in 2010 when Wales scored 17 factors within the remaining couple of minutes in Cardiff to extremely flip a 14-24 deficit in to a 31-24 victory.
But this time Scotland – who have been 27-0 forward a couple of minutes into the second half – withstood a Welsh onslaught to win 27-26 and get their Guinness Six Nations marketing campaign off to a constructive begin.
“It was a bit like 2010 and it went into my ideas because the second half went on,” stated Townsend after Scotland had ended a run of 11 straight defeats in Cardiff stretching again to 2002.
“I keep in mind the environment that day when Wales had the momentum behind them and got here again on the scoreboard.
“The similar occurred as we speak, happily we stayed forward and we have been in a position to play nicely within the remaining 5 minutes.
“A variety of effort went into that final 5 minutes – we should always have scored a try to we felt there have been a few penalties that might have gone our means within the final passage – however it was previous 80 minutes and we obtained the win.”
Wing Duhan Van Der Merwe scored two tries and prop Pierre Schoeman additionally touched down, whereas skipper Finn Russell was flawless with the boot in touchdown 12 factors.
After Van Der Merwe sliced via for a surprising second strive simply after the restart, Scotland have been on the right track to eclipse final yr’s document win over Wales.
But that was to not be and Townsend was grateful to see Scotland hold on whereas cursing vital accidents to forwards Richie Gray and Luke Crosbie.
“Both are in lots of ache,” Townsend stated. “Richie and the medics knew right away it was a bicep harm. So that does not look good for this Championship.
“Luke was a shoulder harm. It’s a painful one and that may settle.
“Not for subsequent week (in opposition to France at Murrayfield), however let’s hope he isn’t finished any vital harm there. It’s a blow to lose two gamers from our beginning crew.”
On the nail-biting victory, Townsend added: “We have been correct and put Wales underneath stress within the first half.
“Those two tries have been actually good reward and to have that cushion ought to have made it a extra comfy second half.
“The incontrovertible fact that it did not is a priority for us, however lots of that was as a result of penalty depend (16 to 4 in opposition to Scotland) and the numerical benefit Wales had for 20 minutes.”
Wales made essentially the most of second-half yellow playing cards for George Turner and Sione Tuipulotu to show the competition on its head.
James Botham, Rio Dyer, Aaron Wainwright and debutant Alex Mann crossed, with Ioan Lloyd kicking three conversions, as Wales secured two shedding bonus factors. Wales head coach Warren Gatland, whose young aspect head to Twickenham subsequent Saturday to play England, stated: “Did we give Scotland an excessive amount of respect in that first half?
“They have been absolutely loaded and we’re a young crew. To do what we did, be 27-0 down, different groups might need proven much less character and begin interested by subsequent week, even throw within the towel.
“We did not try this. They saved combating and put themselves in a position to win. That confirmed actual character and we have simply obtained to play like we did within the second half.
“You cannot coach expertise. When you are on the market in entrance of 75,000 folks making that a lot noise and the tempo is faster than membership rugby, generally that takes time for gamers to get used to.
“We’ll want just a little little bit of leeway, however it’s nonetheless Test rugby and it is about successful. That’s what we have got to concentrate on.”
Borthwick sees positives
England head coach Steve Borthwick says his aspect seemed like that they had solely had three coaching classes collectively following their win in Rome.
The Red Rose got here from behind to emerge victorious of their opening Six Nations match.
It wasn’t a classic efficiency however it obtained their marketing campaign off to a successful begin nonetheless.
“I think there are certainly positives to pull out of it, but it looked clunky in bits,” Borthwick instructed ITV Sport. “It seemed like a crew which solely had three coaching classes collectively, however credit score to Italy.
“They had a sure a part of cohesion selecting gamers from one membership which sits second within the United Rugby Championship.
“But a successful begin with 5 debutants and the power to be in a tough position and discover your means out of it’s a large constructive.
“You are always looking for change. There are certainly things to be improved and we got exposed by an Italian team that moves the ball well, but we will improve on that next week.”
