After guiding Wales to a 16-9 victory over France at the Millennium Stadium to claim the 2012 RBS 6 Nations championship, Gatland will no doubt become the red hot favourite to guide next year’s British and Irish Lions team to Australia.
Wales have now claimed 11 grand slams and are hot on the heals of England who lead the way with 12. Alex Cuthbert’s well taken try proved the difference between the two sides in a contest. A year ago the Blues winger wasn’t even playing club rugby as he was travelling the world with Wales on the sevens circuit. Now he has cemented his spot on the wing along with several other players who have yet to reach their peak despite this afternoon’s heroics.
“These guys have been a real credit to themselves, Wales and Welsh rugby in how they have prepared themselves.
“They are excellent professionals and they make our job as coaches easy as they do more than what we expect and what is required, and when you have players doing that and looking after themselves and doing all the extras it goes a long way to making us coaches look good.”
Gatland predicted a great future ahead for the squad. He said: ” It would be interesting to see the teams of the 70s if they were playing South Africa, Australia and New Zealand every year.
“We are not at that level yet, but our big aim is to be consistent in beating the southern hemisphere sides and we have a young enough side that over the next few years hopefully we can do that.
“We have been down in games during this tournament and we have learnt how to win ugly and in the past that may not have happened.
“We have accepted the tag of favourites which has not always sat well on our shoulders. For a young side they have coped incredibly well and I think it can be good for us as a team over the next two or three years.”
