Thread: British Lions V Wallabies, the mind games begin, Gatland begins

I love it, the excitement is building, even this far out, Bob

British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland says Wallabies rival Robbie Deans misused Quade Cooper

Cooper is now secured for another two years and could become a key figure in Deans's plans to topple the Lions next June-July, but Gatland said if the two were not on the same page it would be curtains for Australia.
"People get frustrated, (but) what we've got to realise is that they're young men and young men sometimes make mistakes," Gatland said.
"I've been involved with a few who've made mistakes and the thing about that is if you're a coach with a bit more experience, you say, 'Let's accept that you've made a mistake, now how do we move forward from here, how do we improve the relationship?'
"If that's the case with Quade and Robbie, either they've had that conversation or they'll have that conversation in the future because if they don't, there will definitely be a breakdown. They need to clear the air."
Gatland has experience of managing difficult situations, talking Wales five-eighth Rhys Priestland out of premature retirement this year after scathing press coverage and social media attacks forced him to shut down his Twitter account and seek help from a sports psychologist.
"Rhys Priestland had a really good 12 months and then started getting criticised in the media and on Twitter, it really got him down, he felt like giving the game away and walking away from it all," Gatland said.
"I just said to him, 'Rhys, we've got a lot of confidence in you, you are only a young man'. I told him I was coaching Ireland when we lost the (1999) World Cup quarter-final, and I didn't get out of bed for three days.


"Sometimes it just affects us and it's how you respond and move forward from those experiences and challenges and disappointments."
Gatland refused to back away from comments that Australia would be an easier place for the Lions to win than New Zealand or South Africa, adding that his squad feared the All Blacks more than the Wallabies.
"Coming here you've got to come with that self-belief and confidence," he said.
"It's about subtly trying to send out that message that we believe we're good enough.
"It's also about not having that fear factor. For a lot of players - not from England - but from Scotland, Ireland and Wales, there's often that fear factor playing against the All Blacks, having never beaten them.
"I don't think there's quite that same fear factor about playing Australia."



Read more: Deans didn't use Quade right: Gatland | Rugby | Fox Sports

Folou will be in the Wallabies squad for the Lions tests, or I'm a bad judge. Bob

Israel Folau excited by Waratahs coach Michael Cheika's attacking approach, despite the outbursts

• By Jamie Pandaram
• The Daily Telegraph

Settling ... Israel Folau (L) and Michael Cheika at Waratahs training on Thursday. Source: Szilvasi Attila / News Limited

Israel Folau has only been training with the Waratahs for a week but he is already familiar with Michael Cheika's famous temper after the coach gave his side an almighty blast during training on Thursday.

Cheika makes no apologies for his hot-blooded style, and he scared Moore Park's birds off their perches with a withering lecture to his players in the middle of a training run observed by Wallabies forwards coach Andrew Blades.
Cheika is determined to introduce a free-flowing running game to the Tahs next season and he was furious with his halfbacks and support players for deviating from that plan during an opposed squad session.
"There's a certain way we want to play," Cheika said afterwards. "Sometimes the point has to be made that this is the way we play footy, that part is not negotiable.
"Sometimes you've got to make the point a bit louder," he added with a laugh.
"That's what it's about. It's not a job, it's fun, it is about passion and getting fired up to play.
"Maybe that puts a few peoples' noses out of joint, but so be it.
"That's the way I want to try to be. I love it, I've really enjoyed it so far."
Folau is thrilled at the prospect of Cheika's approach and believes he can have plenty of success in the Waratahs backline.
"He hasn't seemed out of place at all so far," Cheika said. "He's finding his position nicely.
"We ran some set-piece plays which he wouldn't have been used to and got his timing right. It's all about timing for guys like that.
"I think he's really enjoying himself. That's the important part. The wing is a big position, there's a lot happening out there."
Folau has not yet done full contact ruck-and-maul work.
"I've found it OK," Folau said. "The position I play out wide you don't have to be as involved in the rucks as the forwards obviously. That's something I'll keep learning.

"(I've been surprised by) different things in the ruck, in defence, but that will come over time. I'm not too worried about that stuff.
"It's been only a week, so as we keep training more I'll get more confident.
"I'm about 100kg at the moment. I don't mind if I put a couple of more kilos on, but I could definitely play at this weight now.
"I'm a bit more agile at this weight. It's just about trying to maintain it throughout the year."

Read more: Folau finds Cheika's tirade a blast | Super Rugby | Fox Sports