Warren Gatland sets England roof 'challenge' for Six Nations

Does it really make a difference?

Roof open - if it rains the ball becomes slippery.
Roof closed - the ball becomes greasy than a greasy spoon cafe fry up.

Why does he continue to play these mind games it's boring and does anyone from the opposing team take him seriously anymore?
Its Wales vs England in Cardiff, its going to be tight either way.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/30924040

They do seem a bit pointless. Farrell has already laughed it off. I suppose it stops the press asking other questions he may find more annoying, picking Anscombe over Williams and why etc.

Isn't it more based around the fact that the atmosphere is so much more intense with the roof closed (which it is?) Agree though with you both that these silly mind games seem a bit dated now and the timing seems odd too.

What's the playing surface like these days? Have they improved it significantly yet? That's a heck of a lot more important that the roof question.

Gats wins again! No matter what the England camp answer he wins. "open the roof" england scared "close the roof" advantage wales

TJ wrote:Gats wins again!  No matter what the England camp answer he wins.  "open the roof" england scared  "close the roof" advantage wales

Only if you're a bit naïve and get carried away with media drivel.

Yeah Farrell has already batted it back with a jokey comment.

Point missed totally. NO matter what the england camp says Gats can spin this as a victory for Wales either way. He is a very good politician. I can't stand the man and his tactics but there is no doubt he is very astute in stuff like this.

TJ wrote:Point missed totally.  NO matter what the england camp says Gats can spin this as a victory for Wales either way.  He is a very good politician.  I can't stand the man and his tactics but there is no doubt he is very astute in stuff like this.

But who exactly is he trying to impress with these comments? Its not going to have any influence on England and it isnt going to change much in Wales either

TJ wrote:Point missed totally.  NO matter what the england camp says Gats can spin this as a victory for Wales either way.  He is a very good politician.  I can't stand the man and his tactics but there is no doubt he is very astute in stuff like this.

No, I didn't miss your point. It's rather how the less gullible can see through this bullshine. The England camp certainly won't be bothered by it. If you want to see Gats as a mastermind of the media (and get excited by the spin) then that's your call. Remember how well Gats "wound up" Hartley a few years ago? One of his best performances for England soon followed.

TJ, if more people like you weren't taken in by it maybe Gats would stop

Point missed totally. NO matter what the england camp says Gats can spin this as a victory for Wales either way. He is a very good politician.

It depends on your viewpoint - for me it comes across a tad puerile, like a playground dare.

Anybody with any sense realises that this is just for the media's consumption.

And what do you mean by a 'good politician' somebody who's self serving, always avoids the issue and will lie to his own shadow?

Gatling Gob laying up his field of fire for later verbal salvos. Same old Gatling gun..

I quite like all the media stirring. Builds up the hype nicely.

Personally I see rugby as an outdoor game and whether the roof is open/closed should depend more on the weather. I don't think it'll make much difference, the atmosphere at the Millenium is always top class and invariably hostile to England. The whole kicking thing is a bit of a red herring as well, as both current sides keep the ball in play and go through the hands quite a bit. It's not like Gatland's comments are going to make England do something different. With George Ford at 10 England can vary their style of play a bit more.

Can't wait personally!

TrailApe wrote:

Point missed totally. NO matter what the england camp says Gats can spin this as a victory for Wales either way. He is a very good politician.

It depends on your viewpoint - for me it comes across a tad puerile, like a playground dare.

Anybody with any sense realises that this is just for the media's consumption.

And what do you mean by a 'good politician' somebody who's self serving, always avoids the issue and will lie to his own shadow?

Yup thats about it. good politician - one who stays bought ;-)

With this Gats has made it that no matter what the england camp do he can paint them ( in the welsh minds) as giving advantage to ~wales - and it wil be a boost to the welsh team ( altho i agree no difference to the english team)

If England say - "close the roof" then he can say - we made them dance to our tune - and we can build a hostile atmosphere. If they say " keep the roof open" he can say - they are scared of us and don't want to play a handling game.

I am not gullible - I see right thru him and can see what he is doing but its still a very clever move.

Well done Warran got the Nigel's upset already, mind you not that difficult to do. Mind you England got nothing to worry about, it was only 30 - 3 last time

TJ wrote:I am not gullible - I see right thru him and can see what he is doing but its still a very clever move.  

Not sure how it's a clever move. Unless you're saying that the Welsh fans (or players) are pretty dim?

Ah HERSH, I have missed your constant Wales-whining based on your on-going and daft headline reading! Didn't take you long (only 2 days), you just couldn't resist the bait .

Sir Warren wrote:I'm interested to see whether they keep the roof open or closed because the atmosphere was pretty electric that night [in 2013]

So they may decide to leave the roof open to try and dampen down the atmosphere.

I hope they want to close it and are prepared to accept that challenge, but we'll wait and see."

Yep, better give nasty Gats the Alan Turing treatment then.

Cyril wrote:

TJ wrote:I am not gullible - I see right thru him and can see what he is doing but its still a very clever move.  

Not sure how it's a clever move. Unless you're saying that the Welsh fans (or players) are pretty dim?

Well ...

rainbow-warrior wrote:Well done Warran got the Nigel's upset already, mind you not that difficult to do. Mind you England got nothing to worry about, it was only 30 - 3 last time

The Saint wrote:Ah HERSH, I have missed your constant Wales-whining based on your on-going and daft headline reading! Didn't take you long (only 2 days), you just couldn't resist the bait .

Sir Warren wrote:I'm interested to see whether they keep the roof open or closed because the atmosphere was pretty electric that night [in 2013]

So they may decide to leave the roof open to try and dampen down the atmosphere.

I hope they want to close it and are prepared to accept that challenge, but we'll wait and see."

Yep, better give nasty Gats the Alan Turing treatment then.

To see if he exhibits intelligent behaviour equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human? Unlikely

I miss Hersh, hope he is on here somewhere. He used to bait we Gloucester fans too, but I did't mind.
Hersh ? you there mate ?
Bath are having a great season, although the ref ruined your visit to Castle Grimm, albeit you won the ugly spectacle.

Good move Gats, this is bound to get Hartley so fired up he'll miss a LO and punch the ref.

Is Gats compatriot Walshe playing again ?

That would top it off

played a blinder last time

Ah I didn't spot Hersh was back. Nice to see

rainbow-warrior wrote:Well done Warran got the Nigel's upset already, mind you not that difficult to do.  Mind you England got nothing to worry about, it was only 30 - 3 last time

Yes but no one has got upset have they. Gatland is getting his wums in early tho this year. kicking the leather off the ball, roof open or closed. What next?

Cyril wrote:

The Saint wrote:Ah HERSH, I have missed your constant Wales-whining based on your on-going and daft headline reading! Didn't take you long (only 2 days), you just couldn't resist the bait .

Sir Warren wrote:I'm interested to see whether they keep the roof open or closed because the atmosphere was pretty electric that night [in 2013]

So they may decide to leave the roof open to try and dampen down the atmosphere.

I hope they want to close it and are prepared to accept that challenge, but we'll wait and see."

Yep, better give nasty Gats the Alan Turing treatment then.

To see if he exhibits intelligent behaviour equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human? Unlikely

Sounds like you've had the experience. Given your past and present behaviour on these forums I can tell you're in the same boat as Gats and Hersh.

Why does Gatland want to play an out door sport in doors? ( THE ROOF CLOSED)

Will be pitch be better with the roof closed or with the roof open? (cutting up)

Surely it is the ground that needs to be up to standards First. Before the consderation on weather the roof is open or closed.

England assistant coach Andy Farrell says he is surprised the mind games have started so far in advance of the game.
"I'm quite surprised, he's thrown all his grenades two and a half weeks out," he said.
"I don't know what he's going to talk about for the next two weeks!
"He's just trying to direct stuff away from his own team and that's what he always does - and by you asking the question now he thinks he's won, he's laughing at us all!"

Seems like it hasn't effected the English team at all

Pitch will roll up like a soggy Axminster in a humidor.

Interesting that Clive Woodward says he'd pick Joseph and Eastmond in the centre, with Ford at outside-half, tell England to go out and attack, and have the roof closed for the best running and handling conditions.

optimist wrote:Interesting that Clive Woodward says he'd pick Joseph and Eastmond in the centre, with Ford at outside-half, tell England to go out and attack, and have the roof closed for the best running and handling conditions.

Sir Clive must be going soft in his old age.

Doesn't the pitch get really greasy when the rook is closed?

Barney McGrew did it wrote:Good move Gats, this is bound to get Hartley so fired up he'll miss a LO and punch the ref.

Ha ha  - almost a certainty I would think!!

New pitch, never played under cover in Feb-March time, so it's all guess work as to what it will play like.

He's the only 6N coach whose interviews are worth listening to.
Only 6N coach with a CV to boast about.

He wants the roof shut and has said as much.
Would you rather him talk about how tough
England are going to be, and how he's not thinking about his lunch because he has to eat his breakfast first, and doesn't want to get ahead of himself?

Honestly, is there room for any FUN in the world any more??
Lest we forget it's a blydi game.

Higher_Ground wrote:He's the only 6N coach whose interviews are worth listening to.
Only 6N coach with a CV to boast about.

He wants the roof shut and has said as much.
Would you rather him talk about how tough
England are going to be, and how he's not thinking about his lunch because he has to eat his breakfast first, and doesn't want to get ahead of himself?

Honestly, is there room for any FUN in the world any more??
Lest we forget it's a blydi game.

Of course there is, but it's like he's the only having any with his comments

Gatland farts loudly in public. The press swoon in excitement and run over to Farrell to ask him the meaning. Farrell replies the farter may have shot his bolt too soon as it is still two weeks to go and will he have anything left to fart about by Showtime ? Pantomime season prolonged this January into February.

Gatland obviously hives the press what they want. I think you all give him too much credit.

nathan wrote:

Higher_Ground wrote:He's the only 6N coach whose interviews are worth listening to.
Only 6N coach with a CV to boast about.

He wants the roof shut and has said as much.
Would you rather him talk about how tough
England are going to be, and how he's not thinking about his lunch because he has to eat his breakfast first, and doesn't want to get ahead of himself?

Honestly, is there room for any FUN in the world any more??
Lest we forget it's a blydi game.

Of course there is, but it's like he's the only having any with his comments

So what? Why begrudge him some fun? Seems weird.
'We want the roof shut and hope England will accept the challenge'. If there has been a more benign comment in a build up to a game, I don't think I've heard it.

Let's not forget Martin Johnson came out with his super tough 'rugby's an outside game...etc', so England have previous when it comes to wanting the roof open.
I couldn't care either way frankly.

I quite like all the wumming before the game. I'd love to see what Lancaster could come out with but I fear we'd just get a long talk about how England are very, very prepared, taking nothing for granted, and all the players over came such adversity to be playing (and other media approved rubbish).

It could be argued that there are two main reasons for ever wanting to play rugby indoors.

1) Your team do not have the required skill levels to pass and catch when it is wet or windy
2) Your fans only make an "atmosphere" when the sound can reverberate off the roof.


Gatland is trying to die his insecurities behind typical SH bluster

Always a good atmosphere in the stadium. It's what comes from not being 98.7% corporate.

I'll try to read your posts with less scrutiny in future. Cynical old me.

Higher_Ground wrote:Always a good atmosphere in the stadium. It's what comes from not being 98.7% corporate.

LondonTiger wrote:It could be argued that there are two main reasons for ever wanting to play rugby indoors.

1) Your team do not have the required skill levels to pass and catch when it is wet or windy
2) Your fans only make an "atmosphere" when the sound can reverberate off the roof.

Few more:

3) It's cold. Especially for the back 3 if Farrell is playing.
4) The wind and rain will mess your hair (or beard, Mr Cole) up, especially if it's cold. (Does not apply to Mike Brown)
5) Your fake tan looks weird in the snow (is Henson playing for Wales?)

This 'challenge' is set every other year and loses a bit more of its sting every time. Just to keep it bubbling over, I'd probably respond with, 'Let Wales decide - they need all the help they can get' and watch Gatland's rising Yorkshire pudding face hit the floor.

The thing is, I don't really know anyone who genuinely cares one way or the other. The atmosphere is a bit more contained with it closed, but I love looking up at a blue feb/March sky when it's open.
It's not really a challenge, Gats just likes it closed.