Unbuttoned Gatland runs off at the mouth

MONDAY MICROSCOPE

OPINION: Warren Gatland sure has got chatty.

Hard to remember the former Waikato coach giving us any memorable quotes to regurgitate during his time in charge here.

But put his adopted Welsh mob up against the All Blacks and Gatland turns into a motormouth.

He kick-started things pre-match by dismissing the ABs' aura and then revved up matters by claiming Dan Carter was not going to start.

He would have wished his bumbling spies were as accurate as Carter after the No 10 kicked the visitors to victory yesterday and became embroiled in another big talking point for Chatty Gatty with his high tackle on Martin Roberts.

"If that had happened at the other end, then it would have been a penalty and a yellow card," Gatland fumed. "You just want some calls to go your way.

"It's trying to change referees' opinions about not wanting to referee an upset."

Rival Graham Henry bit back: "That is complete rubbish."

"Warren has said a lot of things this week," noted the observant Henry.

Was Gatland right about the fading All Blacks' aura? The hosts certainly came close to at least sharing the spoils.

Welsh lock Alan-Wyn Jones looked like he was on to a wynner when he intercepted a pass from Jimmy Cowan that was not only telegraphed but semaphored, emailed and tweeted.

Cowan's supposed fresh legs were no match for Jones, but the second-rower did not back himself to beat the flying Zac Guildford and cut back instead of heading for the corner and ensuing a dramatic finish.

The visitors were denied a swag of points through a hesitant television match official/refereeing combo and it wasn't a first-choice New Zealand XV, but Wales also fielded some second-stringers and weren't overwhelmed by their long-time nemesis.

* Was Ryan Nelsen's goal for Blackburn Rovers yesterday a wonderful omen?

The All Whites skipper netted just his second English Premier League goal with a thumping header in his side's 3-1 win over Portsmouth and then caught a taxi to begin his taxing trip to Wellington for New Zealand's second-leg World Cup qualifying showdown against Bahrain on Saturday.

Rory Fallon also found the net for his Championship side Plymouth Argyle in his side's victory.

* Wouldn't be a MM without an Awvee Storey watch.

The Breakers import returned a measly seven points on 3/8 shooting and four rebounds in 21 minutes as his side were thumped 94-74 by the Perth Wildcats.

Andrej Lemanis' side is 3-3 without the league's MVP, Kirk Penney, sidelined by injury, yet they persist in carrying a non-performing import while falling to fifth place in the eight-team league.

- © Fairfax NZ News