Warren Gatland spelt out his plans for Welsh rugby as he faced the media at the Principality Stadium on Tuesday for his first in-person press conference since returning as Wales coach.
His return has got Welsh fans buzzing again after the woes under Wayne Pivac. Gatland addressed a variety of issues, including his backroom team, plans for the World Cup, why the Welsh public need to be dreaming - and even those links to the England job. Albeit his answer to that last one was rather brief.
Gatland was flanked upon his return to Cardiff by WRU chief executive Steve Phillips and new chairman Ieuan Evans. Together, they have to plot the way forward for Welsh rugby.
Here's everything Gatland had to say about the challenges ahead...
How does this challenge compare to when you first took the job in 2007?
"I think international rugby is always a challenge. One of the reasons when I spoke to Steve was remembering the good times of being here, in front of 75,000 people.
"There’s a lot of pressure and expectations but that motivates you and gets you excited. I don’t think things have changed from when I arrived at the end of 2007.
"There’s always been expectation and history in Wales, wearing that famous red jersey. For us as a team, it’s about working hard and preparing the best way that we possibly can to perform well and get results. Those are the expectations."
When you first left the job, you said that Wales returning to the doldrums would break your heart. Do you feel that has happened?
"I don’t think so. It’s always a bit of a rollercoaster. You have some success and good times.
"You’re judged on two things. One is the Six Nations and it’s probably been a little bit up and down. Potentially a Grand Slam could have been won, it’s just slipped by.
"There’s no doubt Covid has had an impact on things in the last few years as well. The Six Nations is incredibly important and to try and do well in a World Cup year.
"That’s my focus for this year, getting this team up and running for a good Six Nations and then France. It’s a tricky group to get out of next year, but that’s the challenge. If we can get out of that, you can go a long way in that tournament.
"It’s a busy 12 months, but I’m looking forward to it."
Has any decision been made on your backroom staff?
"I haven’t spoken to any of the coaches. There was a review process conducted by the union and I’m going through that process at the moment.
"I’ve spoken to a number of people. I’m trying to draw conclusions from the discussion I’ve had about whether we stick with everyone or if we make changes.
"That’s ongoing. It’s challenging for people and the roles they are in, but I’ve got to make sure that do the right thing and make the best decision for Wales and the team .That’s ongoing at the moment."
Given he's set to head to France, will Will Rowlands be available for next year's World Cup?
"I think those things are all ongoing at the moment, the discussions. The union are going through and doing a deal with the regions and hopefully that gets sorted out and we can get some final decisions on that.
"I think the challenge is not England, but France and Japan which is where the big money is. That’s where players are being targeted, not across the Bridge.
"The ideal situation, as I’ve always said, is we want players based in Wales being selected from the regions. That is always an advantage for players in terms of preparation for Six Nations, summer tours and World Cups in terms of their release.
"That gives them a huge advantage by being based in Wales. Hopefully we can keep as many as possible. But I’m also aware players get older and get towards the end of their career, they look for other opportunities.
"I’ve always been comfortable with players making the best decisions for themselves and their families. There’s a lot of things at stake in that, but the number one is hopefully getting as many players playing their rugby in Wales to help us having the best chance to prepare and perform."
You could be facing an Australia team with Eddie Jones in their coaching ticket at the World Cup - what sort of prospect would that be?
"Well, until that’s finalised… it would add a little bit of excitement though. We’ve had them before in our group and had some tight contests.
"Georgia as well and we can’t underestimate them, while Fiji will be tricky. The hardest thing with international rugby is the limited preparation time, but the beauty with the World Cup is the time you get together.
"It’s like being with a club side or regional team. Your preparation is so much better in terms of the depth you can go into and the fine-tuning in the time together.
"That’s what’s exciting with World Cups. We’ve had success with that in the past. We’ve been unlucky not to make finals.
"So hopefully we can continue in that vein. I know from past experience just how hard the players prepare for the Six Nations first of all, but also the World Cup."
Where does that win against Australia in 2019 rank for you in terms of your Welsh victories?
"It was a tough game that went down to the wire. For us, we had that hurdle that we’d lost a lot in the last minute against southern hemisphere teams, but once we got that monkey off our back, it gave us a huge amount of confidence moving forward.
"It was an important result to win the pool Looking at the draw, it looks like one side of the draw is easier than the other. If you can win your pool, it maybe gives you a potentially easier path."
You finished your last Six Nations with Wales against Ireland in a Grand Slam match. You start your first one back against them - albeit an Ireland team now ranked number one in the world. What sort of challenge will that pose?
"It’s probably good as they’re the best team in the world and rightly so. Getting them first up at home is not the worst thing.
"It’s a tournament of momentum. You win your first game and you’ve got a good chance of doing well.
"To get them first up, it’s probably the one game you want at home. Playing against the best team where there’s probably a bit more pressure on them. I think we’ll be pretty excited about getting ready for game."
Are you confident you can get results given the current state of Welsh rugby?
"How do you create an environment where there are no excuses? That’s what I’ve done in the past, a no-excuse environment.
"Roger (Lewis) and Martyn (Phillips) gave us the tools to create that no excuses environment, so when players come into camp, you can get the best out of them. That’s what we’ve prided ourselves on in the past, being able to do that.
"The challenge is doing that in the coming weeks so that players are excited about wearing that jersey and leaving everything on the pitch in terms of getting performances and results."
Will you be available to coach the Lions in 2025?
"I hadn’t even thought of that. I’m just thinking about the next 10 months.
"I’m well aware of how important the Six Nations and World Cup are. I don’t plan my pathway.
"I’m a believer of if you are in the right place at the right time, then opportunities come along. What will be, will be.
"I’ve been lucky with the Lions, but if you’re picking a Lions coach at the moment, I think there is only one person that I think is in contention, and he is across the water and in Dublin at the minute. If you are successful, those opportunities come along.
Can fans expect Wales to be competing for Six Nations titles and reaching latter stages of World Cups again under you?
"I look at success as not always about winning, but about over-achieving. What are the expectations at the moment?
"I’d probably need a discussion on that. You’ve always got to believe and dream.
"My upbringing in New Zealand as a Kiwi, we always believed if you work hard, you get results.
"That’s always been my attitude, never ever afraid to take something on and believe if you do something, you do something special. I wouldn't be here doing the job unless I thought we were capable of winning things."
Can senior players like Alun Wyn Jones and Ken Owens make it through to next year’s World Cup?
"These are things I need to find out about. I saw Alun Wyn here yesterday.
"He was here seeing Santa. I don't think age isn’t the issue, it’s about how you get through the next 10 months and how you manage those people.
"If I look back to 2011, we brought through some youngsters before that World Cup in New Zealand. It’s making sure I find the balance. Some older players might be important, but you have to get that right and players are able to perform."
Did England approach you?
"I’m only here to talk about Wales. You’d have to talk to them."
Is there enough time to get to where you want to before the World Cup?
"The advantage I’ve got is I’m pretty familiar with the place. I know my way around. I’m not coming in cold.
"There’s exciting players from when I was here last. It’s getting that balance of experience and development in place.
"The World Cup camps are in place. Hopefully we can get a group of players who are motivated to do well."
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