Warren Gatland faced the media on Tuesday afternoon less than an hour after his Wales team announcement for Saturday's England game was postponed.
Here's everything he had to say on why he made the call and the threat of strike action that could yet see the game cancelled.
What was the reason for not naming a team today?
"Just I think the uncertainty of what's happening. There's been a lot of meetings going on, so I just wanted to make sure we got clarity in terms of the boys have got a day off tomorrow and they come back in on Thursday and we will announce the team on Thursday."
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Have you had any assurances that the game will go ahead?
"Not at the moment but I'm confident that with the discussions taking place hopefully something will get resolved today."
How many meetings have players been involved in during the last few days?
"There have probably been half a dozen meetings over the last few days. Today was supposed to be a double session but we have kept it to just this morning so we are not training this afternoon. Hopefully those things get resolved and the boys turn up on Thursday raring to go for Saturday."
Have you ever known such chaos before a game?
"It's been a bit of a challenge, but sometimes that galvanizes people and brings them together. I wanted to get things resolved hopefully today and we can just focus on the game for Saturday."
Are you hopeful of the game taking place?
"Yeah."
If the game does go ahead how confident are you that they will have the right frame of mind?
"It has been a challenge but in fairness to the players at training and even this morning they put their training heads on and trained well.
"We had a good week last week in terms of working the players hard and they responded well. There has been a lot going on behind the scenes and we are aware of that but when it has come to training they have applied themselves very well."
Do you understand player's concerns over performance-related pay?
"My understanding is that the players have requested a number of things to be looked at and there are discussions taking place today. I hope those issues will be resolved and the players will be happy with the outcome."
Where do you stand on the 60-cap rule?
"That's one of the things being reviewed and discussions are taking place today. Hopefully there's a resolution and player are happy with that."
Do you believe you still need a law even with reduced caps?
"Possibly, and that's part of the discussion with the regions and in term of supporting the regions. Everyone has spoken before about the 60-cap rule and it does give the players in Wales a greater opportunity.
"There's no doubt in that in terms of the extra preparation they get, not having to go back to their clubs in fallow weeks. There's an advantage in being based in Wales and being part of the set-up to get more preparation time."
Any regrets in coming back amid this mess?
"No, it's been a bit of a whirlwind and it's been challenging. You've got to accept what you're faced with. Hopefully there'll be a resolution today and concentrate on the game when we come back to training on Thursday."
Are you confident the game is going ahead?
"I'm hearing positive things from both sides. Hopefully the discussions will be acceptable to both sides in terms of getting some compromise and we can get on with the game."
Do you expect a resolution today rather than tomorrow?
"Hopefully it'll be sorted out today."
Has it been tough as a coach?
"It's been a challenge. You have to put those things behind you and focus on the game.
"Today was supposed to be a double session. We went a bit longer this morning with training because there's been so many things outside of rugby so it was an opportunity for players to get away from it and refocus individually ahead of Thursday, ready to go."
Are there any contingency plans in place?
"No, I haven't."
Were you aware of this issue before you came back to Wales?
"I wasn't aware of any of the issues that were taking place at all."
When did you first learn of it?
"Probably last week. I think it just came to a head. Everyone needs to take some responsibility and I think people are well aware these negotiations and discussions have been going on for too long.
"I think the players were given assurances on a number of occasions it would be sorted out, and the unfortunate situation (is) that they haven't been able to come to an agreement in terms of the PRB, Union and regions, and it finally came to a head.
"I think we have all been asking for things to get sorted. I wasn't aware of any of the issues going on when I took the job.
"I wish I had have known a few things that were going on, actually. It has been a challenge. It is what it is, and you have just got to take it on the chin and focus on your role and your job in terms of preparing the team."
Is it a genuine threat to strike if the issue isn't resolved?
"I think it is a genuine threat, there is no doubt about that. Having spoken to a few people today, I am confident that we wil get some resolution."
Have you got a good idea on what the team will be once you name it?
"We'll name the team on Thursday."
What was the reason to not train this afternoon?
"I made the decision, which was there has been a lot of things that have been going on outside of rugby, and that has been a part of the focus. Rather than train this afternoon, we did a longer session this morning, and give players an opportunity to go and rest, and hopefully that resolution takes place. There has been no discussion from the players about not taking part in training."
Does this demonstrate there's a growing crisis in rugby as a whole?
"It's not just in Wales, but everywhere else as well there needs to be a re-set and balance in making sure that people aren't over-spending in terms of the money that is being paid.
"We are well aware of a number of stories over that and there are a number of issues in Wales, obviously, in terms of keeping within our means. There's probabaly been an over-spend compared to money generated in the game and the players are aware of that.
"They know that going forward there probably needs to be a little bit of a reduction in salaries to make sure that the regions are doing things within their means.
"There's no doubt that there's some issues in England as well, in terms of their clubs with the same sort of problems."
Is there a worry about rushing to make changes and making things worse?
"No, I don't think so. What the players were asking for is definitely reasonable. There needs to be some negotiation. It's like everything, you have to find some middle ground.
"Hopefully, in the discussion today there will be some middle ground, where the players are happy and the professional game board are also happy with some of the decisions they make as well.
"The thing is, when you are in discussions, it's not always about win-win for one side. You have to find some compromise. Hopefully, that will be the case today."
Will there be a fired-up team on Saturday?
"I don't think there is going to be any lack of motivation for a player playing against England. The boys have got a day off tomorrow and I'm sure if things are resolved they will come back and they will be completely focussed on the game."
With the regions' income going down, it seems likely their chances of success will too. Is that an area of concern for you?
"I don't think that's an issue. The players have said it's not about the money. They are well aware that the regions have probably been operating outside of their means a little bit and they're aware there is probably going to be a re-set on the contracts.
"Hopefully, that means as players they are staying in Wales and we get the opportunity to develop some more depth and talent. I think we would all like to see our regions being more successful and hopefully that can be the case going forward."
Read more:
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