New Zealand vs Gatland: ‘It would break my heart to see Welsh back in the doldrums,’ says Warren Gatland

Wales head coach Warren Gatland said it “would break my heart” to see the national team slide “back into the doldrums” after his 12-year reign ended with defeat in the third-place play-off of the Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand cruised to a dominant 40-17 victory over the Welsh in Tokyo, with Ben Smith, Joe Moody, Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga all running over for the All Blacks.

The result meant there was to be no fairytale finish for the Kiwi, who has led Wales to four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-final appearances during his time in charge.

Gatland now steps down from his position with Wales to join the Waikato Chiefs in New Zealand, though the 56-year-old will take a year’s sabbatical to lead the British and Irish Lions against South Africa in the summer of 2021.

Having transformed the Welsh into one of the game’s heavyweights over the past decade, Gatland said in the wake of Friday’s defeat that he feared the prospect of seeing the side return to a state of mediocrity.

“I really hope what we’ve achieved in the last 10-12 years and the respect that’s been put back into Wales as an international team, that the new coaches come in and continue to build on that,” said Gatland. “I think of what we’ve done and what we’ve achieved, it’d break my heart if Wales went back into the doldrums.”

He added: “We can enjoy tonight and celebrate what we have achieved, not just at the World Cup but for all the players and staff who have been involved in the past 12 years.

“I have loved my time in Wales, it’s a brilliant country to be a part of.”

When asked on the possibility of one day returning to international rugby, Gatland said: “I don’t know. We’ll wait and see, I’m looking forward to going back to New Zealand with the Chiefs.”

Josh Adams, who scored Wales’ second try of the evening following Hallam Amos’ earlier effort, was full of praise for his coach but also said he was looking forward to what the future brings.

“It was unfortunate we couldn’t send Gats off with the win he deserved, but we have to look at the positives,” he said.

“A lot of the players have only ever known Warren, the new era begins now. Everyone is looking forward to that but has to pay their respects to Gats for what he’s done for us as a team and a country. He’s been a great asset for Welsh rugby.”

As for Steve Hansen, who is similarly stepping down from his position, the two-time World Cup winner said it had been a “privilege” to coach New Zealand over the past 15 years, having first joined the All Blacks as an assistant in 2004.

“It was important we came back and honoured the jersey,” he said. “It was a tough old game for both sides and I want to congratulate Wales too as they will be feeling it at the moment.

“All tournament we had great defence and we played good footy all the way through, one bad game and you get knocked out. But very proud of the boys today.”