Warren Gatland happy to see crackdown on foul play at Rugby World Cup
Friday 18 September 2015 17:53, UK
Wales coach Warren Gatland has welcomed plans to crack down on foul play during the World Cup.
Gatland's team open their campaign against Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday with many frontline players, including George North, Jamie Roberts and Dan Biggar, held back for next week's Twickenham showdown with England.
World Cup referees' chiefs have already underlined the firm stance that will be taken against any players guilty of diving or feigning injury and Gatland confirmed this message has been emphasised to every team in the tournament.
"We had a meeting on Wednesday with coaches and referees, and I think there is a big focus on foul play," said Gatland, whose line-up for Uruguay includes fit-again Liam Williams and Samson Lee.
"There is a big responsibility. We want to attract more people to the games and to play, and you've got to stamp down on foul play, and I wholeheartedly agree with that.
"You may see some yellow cards for things that have been highlighted, like taking players out in the air or not using your arms in a tackle and things like that.
"I think that is good for the game. We want people to be physical, but to play within the laws too."
Williams' return to full fitness is particularly timely given the World Cup-ending knee injury suffered by Leigh Halfpenny during Wales' final tournament warm-up against Italy a fortnight ago.
Lee, too, is pivotal to Wales' hopes of progressing from a punishing pool that also features England, Australia and Fiji, having established a huge reputation in a short space of time for his powerful scrummaging.
"There has been a noticeable edge in training this week, and I think the guys realise that the World Cup is pretty close to starting and they have been pretty excited," added Gatland.
"I don't think the group is going to come down to points difference. We have got to go out there and first win the game, and after that, potentially score points. It's not disrespecting Uruguay in any way."
In no game will we ease up. You don't want to look back in four weeks and wish you had pushed a bit harder.
And Captain Sam Warburton is looking for Wales to lay down a marker in the opening match of the campaign on home soil.
"The main thing is you want to get a win," he said. "If you are in a bonus-point situation, great, and after that we will be foot down for 80 minutes.
"In no game will we ease up, as you don't want to look back in four weeks and wish you had pushed a bit harder.
"It wouldn't surprise me if there is an upset in the group. There are some difficult turnarounds for some teams, and I really don't know what is going to happen."
