Having overtaken former Wales coach Graham Henry as the world’s most experienced international coach earlier in the season – he leads his fellow Kiwi by 143 tests to 140 – Gatland will become only the second coach in the history of the game to be in charge of one country for 100 tests.
Henry managed that feat with the All Blacks, adding 103 games to his 34 with Wales and three with the British & Irish Lions, while Gatland will reach that landmark with Wales in Dublin.
He launched his international career with the Irish, taking charge of them for 38 games, and he has coached the Lions in six Tests on the last two tours.
Another former Wales coach, Steve Hansen, has topped the 100 test mark. He was in charge of Wales for 31 games and has held the reins in New Zealand for 82 internationals. The only other coach in three figures is England’s Eddie Jones (130), who was in charge of the Wallabies for 57 tests, Japan for 48 games and to date has headed up the England team for 25 internationals.
“I knew 100 was potentially coming up. Last year Graham (Henry) asked me, ‘How many caps do you have?’ I replied, ‘Honestly, I don’t know’. He said he was on 140-something and with Wales, Ireland and the Lions, I was over 100,” said Gatland.
“I wasn’t quite sure, but reaching it with Wales is pretty cool and I think pretty humbling, too. I have been fortunate to have had two sabbaticals in that time and the years away with the Lions have been refreshing for the players. I think that has been really good from a Welsh point of view.”
Reflecting on his time with Wales, Gatland’s affection for his adopted nation is clear. An initial four-year contract will have ended up three times that length when he leaves after the 2019 World Cup.
It’s been a long period, one spent mostly on the other side of the world to his home on the banks of Hamilton’s Waikato River. Sacrifices have been made, including time spent away from his wife Trudi and their children Bryn and Gabby, who have grown up during their father’s tenure abroad.
“When I look back on it all, Wales came along and I thought it was a good opportunity to be away for a while then come back to New Zealand and do Super Rugby again,” said Gatland.
“That was my thinking and the initial plan was to go to the 2011 World Cup. The New Zealand Rugby Union had contacted me in 2011 and offered me the Chiefs job.
“I was pretty close to accepting that, but it was still a strong squad with Wales and we went on to win the Grand Slam in 2012 and then the Championship in 2013. I wouldn’t have been able to do this for so long, with my family being away, if I was at a club side.
“It has been tough, but it has not been unmanageable. It has not been about quantity, but quality time and that’s made it easier.”
Despite two Six Nations Grand Slams and a World Cup semi-final, as well as two unbeaten Lions tours, Gatland still comes under close scrutiny. But he is unequivocal in his belief that he has helped to make Wales a better team.
“I don’t think I’m undervalued and I think there is a huge amount of respect for what we have achieved. When people look back over the last 10 years, they’ll look back at what has been a golden period of Welsh rugby – the fourth one they’ve had in their history,” added Gatland.
“We’ve got a generation now who expect Wales to compete against the best teams in the world, but when you change expectations and perceptions, you possibly create a little bit of a rod for your own back.
“There is no doubt with the Welsh that when there’s agony they want the ecstasy and when you give them the ecstasy, they want the agony again.
“My focus now is on doing well in Japan in 2019. A group of our guys will know it’s their last World Cup – Alun Wyn Jones, Jonathan Davies, Sam Warburton, Ken Owens, Dan Biggar, Leigh Halfpenny.
“If they’re in the squad, and can stay fit, they will be pretty motivated to finish on a high. It’s the same for me.”
