Welsh rugby star George North admits it will be “weird” when Wales travel to Australia without Warren Gatland, but insists they can emerge victorious from the tour despite the absence of their coach.
Double grand-slam winner Gatland will miss the trip to Australia as he recovers from injuries he suffered in a fall at his home in New Zealand earlier this month.
The Kiwi, who is the favourite to lead the British and Irish Lions to Australia in 2013, broke both heels in the fall and Rob Howley has been handed the reins as caretaker coach while Gatland recuperates.
The Six Nations champions face a tough summer with a three-Test series against the Wallabies following on from a Millennium Stadium appointment against the Barbarians.
And Wales will head down under having won just one game against the southern hemisphere giants of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia since Gatland and his coaching team took charge after the 2007 World Cup.
But Gatland and his staff have made it clear that having conquered Europe for the third time in eight seasons, the time has come for Wales to upset the global game’s top three sides, starting in Australia in June.
And powerhouse North, 20, has every confidence that Wales can compete with the Wallabies, and is backing Howley to ably fill the void left by Gatland’s absence.
“It’s obviously bad news for Warren and we hope it’s a speedy recovery,” said the Scarlets three-quarter.
“But I am sure Rob will do a good job as all the other coaching staff will do.
“It will maybe affect us a little bit with the head coach not out there, but the quality of players we have now and the quality of the coaching staff is very high.
“It will be a bit weird not having him there but I am sure we can cope.”
Wales’ previous efforts to build on grand-slam success in 2005 and 2008 ultimately fell short.
But North says there is no lack of hunger in their impressive young squad following their latest Six Nations clean sweep.
“We have been guilty in the past of slowing down after a slam but the boys we have here are keen to push on to achieve more. We believe we can do that with the quality of players we have,” he said.
“Australia are a hard team to play wherever you play them but it will be tough to play three Tests in their backyard.”
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