Wales coach Warren Gatland has revealed he considered cheating after his captain Sam Warburton was sent off in the Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat by France.
Gatland said he had thought about asking a prop to fake an injury which, with his team having already lost starting prop Adam Jones to injury, would have led to uncontested scrums, making it easier to cope without flanker Warburton.
“After we had already lost Adam Jones we discussed, ‘do we fake an injury to one of our props to go to uncontested scrums?’,” Gatland said.
“Morally, I decided that was not the right thing to do. I could easily have done that, but in the spirit of the game I didn’t think that was the fairest or right thing to do.”
However, any side trying to fake an injury runs the risk of being found out by International Rugby Board sideline officials whose job is it to check players are going off for genuine medical reasons.
Openside flanker Warburton saw red in the 19th minute at Eden Park on Saturday after Irish referee Alain Rolland sent him off for a dangerous “tip tackle” on Vincent Clerc.
Gatland again voiced his displeasure at Rolland’s ruling, saying: “I believe Alain Rolland made the wrong decision.
“I think the right decision was a yellow card.
“In terms of the rules, he is entitled to give a red card but every game is different,” the New Zealander added.
Wales, despite being a man down for more than an hour, scored the only try of the match through scrum-half Mike Phillips.
But France just did enough to win 9-8 and will now face hosts New Zealand in Sunday’s final at Eden Park.
Meanwhile Wales play Australia, beaten 20-6 by the All Blacks in the second semi-final, at Eden Park in Friday’s third place playoff.
Muzza
Guest
I've had it in Japan. And even considered it when when the tides were turned. But as Gats says, it is something to consider but not actually do.
AndyS
Guest
That was what I was thinking...that no-one was giving the IRB credit for a sense of humour. It is a set up for them to come out and say they thought about penalising him, so let that be a lesson to him!
Colin N
Guest
Gatland was Wasps head coach when they used to quite often go to uncontested scrums. Make of that what you will. Now they can't of course because they have two props on the bench.
ChrisT
Roar Pro
This makes so little sense in so many ways
ChrisT
Roar Pro
And you don’t think it might have been rejected as too blatant and obvious a stunt to pull in the circumstances. Or that Gatland wasn’t using the story to have another dig at a ref who made a correct decision he didn’t like? Come on mate, get real.
stillmatic1
Guest
yes david, despite all that, wales should have won. then again, if wales had of kicked ahead by a couple of points, the french might have woken up and played properly and put them away. being a neutral and initially going for wales, the send off definitely got me more into the game and got me barracking alot harder!! the couple of french fans in front of me didnt like it, but we all shook hands afterwards and they admitted it was a poor game for their team to win. no probs with the abs playing in the bogs, but those poor wallabies will need the hairdryers out i think!!
David
Guest
@stillmatic1: And what must make Wales really stink is that they would have won. They were all over it. It was a bloody tremendous performance. Maybe, just maybe, we should invite Wales to join the Super 15 or is it 16 now? And put Scotland in as well. Nice little holiday for the Green & gold and ABs to play away in Forth of Firth or Cardiff (boyo)
stillmatic1
Guest
its funny this came up. i was in the crowd and thought the exact same thing. after warburton went off and the 2nd or 3rd scrum was getting done, i was telling people beside me that he should fake an injury to a prop!! i was surprised that he didnt do it!! its simply amazing that we tell our children to be honest at all times but cant stop lying ourselves stupid as adults, and then when someone is honest, we want to slate him for it!! are we really that stupid!!
jeznez
Guest
The guy thought about it and didn't do it - what is the investigation going to be? Will they think about a punishment but not deliver one? Non-story.
orwellsnightmare
Guest
Weli if this just dont take the cake!! Gatland takes a shot at the IRB for their incompetance (absolutely justified), & now they want to investigate him for what he thought!! I taught I saw a puddycat!! This IRB old boys club has to go. I see Wales got "Wayne Barnes" for the play off game. I bet their over the moon with that choice, he has persucuted Wales for years, he even refused to look at the TMO when Hook asked for it, for that penalty against SA. If you dont believe me watch how he penalises us at the breakdowns & let Pocock (if he's playing) get away with murder, on the other end. I dunno we just keep getting em "Paddy O'brien" your firrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeed!!
David
Guest
I think we have to be careful at this moment to fully comprehend the enormity of what has happened with Gatland's admission. Fact: the Wales coach said he 'thought' about cheating'; i.e., he had a naughty thought. He didn't actually cheat. He did nothing but, and here's the rub, the IRB has announced it will have an enquiry into Gatland's naughty thought. But on the other hand, the Poms were caught actually cheating, not just thinking about it, but actually cheating and nothing happens. That is so bloody northern hemisphere. Tinsdale is caught having a naughty thought with his head buried in some blond's bosom; do the IRB investigate. Not bloody likely. At that moment they were all having the same naughty thought. I think it's time to sack the IRB and start again.
HunterS
Guest
Pity the IRB is not investigating Paddy O'Brian and his handling of the referees. I bet you if he could he would take the whistle for the final. This entire World Cup has been a joke.
Face the Facts
Guest
Love the joke!
wainuiboy
Guest
The joke in NZ goes: Player: Sir, can I be penalised for thinking something? Ref: Of course not Player: Good. I think you're a c#<~!!! Investigate what IRB? He thought it, he didn't do it. If anything he is highlighting the games the more desperate team might play in a game they were losing. Didn't a NZ France game have uncontested scrums a few years ago? To put the tinfoil hat right on, hadn't Clerc been tip tackled twice in the RWC? Wouldn't it be a good move to get a floaty pass to him that he had to jump for, like the one he received v Wales, giving maximum potential for a lifting tackle... Hmmm *need more anti paranoia drugs!* -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Moaman
Guest
I think you are al lmissing the point; Gatland only brought the subject up-in a bizarre effort to highlight Rolland's decision to issue(correctly,imo)a red card! Is he trying to say...two wrongs don't make a right-or something? Gatland has a habit of saying interesting things about opposition teams/players.Now he has come out bleating about a Ref's decison-a decision that was taken in accordance with both the Laws and the Directive to all referees that,incidentally,all teamswere made aware of. Warburton made an almost identical tip-tackle on Ronan O'Gara in the quarter-final.Only in that instance-a second welsh player lowered O'Gara to the ground. I fervently hope WG never gets anywhere near an AB team...except to congratulate them ;-)
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Good on him for admitting it. I'm sure it goes through the mind of every coach, even if they would never act on it.
Johnno
Guest
My opinion is this. I applaud Warren Gatland for haveignthe guts to admit a dirty little secret that goes on rugby union. At least he was being honest, shows he has more integrity for being honest. All teams have considered that yes even your precious wallabies everyone. I have always strongly suspected John Smit in 2009 british lions test 1, he was subbed of after about 60 mintues,, then as the lions were gaining momentum and taking control of the game he came back on for last 5mintues to act as a claiming influence to the team, everyone at the time said the prop who went off did not look to bad. Smit came back on calmed the boks down and kept cool heads and they just won. So this sort of stuff gets contemplated in rugby all the time. Warren Gatland is just begin honest and opening up about it.
Hanzo
Guest
The most ridiculous thing is the IRB is launching an investigation into this. What would the charge be? Thinking about breaking the rules is not breaking the rules. More idiocy from the IRB. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Scarlet
Guest
Maybe he is just an honest man clearing the decks by telling thr truth of what he was thinking. I respect him for having said that he thought about it, but that he didn't do it because it was morally wrong. The belief is that Warburton was hard done by so any coaching team is going to run through the strategies available to them to reduce the damage of his loss. This was one scenario that was proposed, discussed and rejected for moral grounds. That is fine. By the way WQ, it is a lot different to trying to scheme to gain an advantage in a pre-planned illegal action by swapping balls during a match. This is an assessment of a course of action as a response to a sudden change of plans, that was rejected as morally wrong, a lot different so please don't tar us all with the same brush.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
What the???............Was he pissed when he said this?