Six Nations: Warren Gatland hails Welsh team’s ‘maturity’

WALES head coach Warren Gatland hailed the maturity of his side after seeing them take a second step on the road to a potential RBS Six Nations Triple Crown with a 27-13 victory over Scotland at the Millennium Stadium.

Wales managed the victory despite having captain Sam Warburton ruled out before kick-off with the dead leg he suffered in Dublin last week, and lock Bradley Davies suspended following his tip tackle in the same game.

And it was his side’s ability to deal with those obstacles that pleased Gatland most.

He said: “We expected Scotland to be a lot tougher than maybe the public did. If you look at their numbers last week in terms of territory, possession and line breaks, they should have won that game against England.

“So we are very pleased with the result given the disruption of losing Sam Warburton, and having to adjust to the loss of Bradley Davies during the week, as well as being without three or four key players.

“That is a sign of the maturity of this team at the moment. They can handle these disruptions and it doesn’t seem to affect them psychologically, they just go out and play the game so there are some very pleasing aspects on and off the field with this team at the moment.”

But Gatland did not feel the period when Scotland had been down to 14 and 13 men had been the difference between the sides.

“I felt we were playing well anyway regardless of whether it was 14 men, or 13 at one point. We upped the tempo, scored three tries,” he said.

“I think Leigh Halfpenny is probably not happy with a couple of centres as there were a couple of occasions where if they had passed him the ball they would have put him in space and he would have scored.”

Scarlets flanker Aaron Shingler, whose brother Steven is at the centre of an eligibility row after being named in Scotland’s Six Nations squad, was handed the task of filling the boots of the talismanic Warburton, and produced a solid display to mark his first cap.

And Gatland praised the back-rower’s contribution. “He had a good game, he made a couple of good carries,” he said. “There was a moment in the second half after we had scored where he probably should have passed, but he took ball into contact and got turned over and conceded a penalty. But he has to be pretty happy with his debut in front of 74,000 at the Millennium Stadium, winning his first cap and getting a win.

“I hope he enjoys himself tonight and has a couple of quiet beers – he deserves it.”

Wales also picked up injury problems during the game as wing George North and hooker Huw Bennett were forced off with ankle and calf problems respectively. Gatland is hopeful of having the giant North available when his side go for a clean sweep of the home unions at Twickenham, and expects to have a handful of other players back as well.

He said: “George is hobbling around at the moment but it is just a rolled ankle. Ryan (Jones) has ice on his knee, he looks a bit sore at the moment but other than that it’s not too bad. “We hope Sam will be right for England, Justin Tipuric should be fit as well and one or two of the second rows might also be available. Huw Bennett might have a calf strain but Matthew Rees is hopeful of being fit for England as well.”