Welsh not exactly monks, says Gatland

Wales rugby coach Warren Gatland wants it known that his players are neither monks nor angels. It’s unusual for a national coach to stop a Rugby World Cup news conference to reveal that his players are not as well-behaved as has been reported.

Gatland did just that on Thursday.

He said rumours about the Welsh team’s good behaviour during the Rugby World Cup had been exaggerated ahead of Saturday’s semi-final clash with France at Eden Park.

There was no truth, he said, in reports of alcohol bans, rigid curfews and monk-like self-denial.

“I think we want to put a few things straight. There has been a lot made of us that we’ve been like monks,” he said.

“There’s been an alcohol ban … that’s completely untrue. There’s been no alcohol ban in this squad.”

Wales’ 23-year-old captain Sam Warburton is teetotal and Gatland said some Welsh players had chosen to limit if not entirely forego alcohol during the World Cup in the hope of giving themselves the best possible chance of winning the tournament.

“Some of the stuff has been self-imposed by players,” Gatland said.

“A lot has been made that we’re whiter than white. We definitely are not … I’d just like to say we’re no monks.

“There’s been a sea-shift in terms of the professionalism (in the Welsh team).

“Being here we realise all the hard work that’s gone in and these guys have known right from day one that we were in pretty good shape heading towards this World Cup.

“We thought if we looked after ourselves both on and off the field we could make an impact and I think we’ve done that.”

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