You never get a second chance to make a first impression, according to the old adage, and Warren Gatland made sure he took his during the Kiwi's maiden squad announcement as Wales coach back in 2008.
More grenades were exploded than in the entirety of some small wars. Certain players were not deemed up to international rugby at that point, exiled players were informed they would be jeopardising their futures and there was a specific warning to then Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel that the new coach would find another Test No. 9 if the Scarlet left Wales at the end of the season.
There was a new captain named in Ryan Jones, while the decision to ask Martyn Williams to come out of retirement was explained and there were a few words about a bright young player coming through by the name of Jamie Roberts, with Gatland also saying the door hadn’t been closed on a couple of veterans he had left out.
