Warren Gatland believes Eddie Jones’s insulting remarks about Ireland and Wales should not hamper his chances of taking the Lions to South Africa in 2021 but feels the England coach’s main concern is ending a losing run against Ireland on Saturday before the summer tour to South Africa.
“The pressure for England is not the comments but winning on Saturday,” said the Wales coach, after announcing seven changes for the home match against France on Saturday. The captain, Alun Wyn Jones, is among those returning to the side after the romp against Italy.
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“They have to win. The game is important to them because if they lose to Ireland their next three games are against South Africa and they could go from a losing streak of two to one of six. They have got their own things to sort out.”
Gatland, who was the Lions’ coach on their last two tours, was in trouble before the 2009 tour to South Africa, when he was in charge of the forwards, after he said his players hated the Irish more than any other team in the Six Nations. He apologised to the then Ireland captain, Paul O’Connell, who was to become the Lions’ skipper, and went on the tour.
“What Eddie said is not offensive to us,” Gatland said. “These sorts of things happen: we all say things behind closed doors, talking about ourselves and other nations. I have said before that if Eddie gets an opportunity with the Lions, he will do a good job.”
Wales are looking to pip Jones for second place in the Six Nations behind Ireland. They go into the final weekend with a one-point advantage over England and a healthier points difference so victory against a side who last won in Cardiff in 2010 should make them runners-up.
“Finishing second would be massive to us,” said Gatland, who has restored Rob Evans, Ken Owens and Josh Navidi to his pack, while adding experience behind in Dan Biggar, Scott Williams and Leigh Halfpenny. Liam Williams moves from full-back to the wing.
“I felt we would do well in the tournament and congratulations to Ireland for winning it. We all know how close it could have been but for Johnny Sexton’s fantastic late drop goal in Paris. France will make it a battle for us and we have got to be prepared to go through a bit of pain.”
Mathieu Bastareaud will captain France after Guilhem Guirado pulled out injured. Benjamin Fall moves to full-back from the wing, where he replaces Hugo Bonneval, who suffered a concussion against England. Gaël Fickou starts on the wing, while Adrien Pélissié replaces Guirado at hooker and Sedate Gomes Sa comes in for Rabah Slimani at tighthead.