Gatland has had to fend off plenty of questions about the so-called “Warrenball” gameplan in recent years with critics bemoaning a lack of ambition in Wales’s play.
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“If you think you are going to be able to compete against Australia and New Zealand, you have to back your ability and skills and score tries. As soon as you go to those countries with a negative frame of mind, you are wasting your time”. “You have to be prepared to play rugby against them”. “So we’ll be looking for a full hit-out, while not forgetting that’s it’s a full-blown Test match on Sunday and we have to be on the money mentally and physically to get a result”.
“It was about a year ago when I spoke to Stuart Lancaster (former England coach) about a potential game before going on tour”, he said.
“There is a lot of continuity in our squad and a great amount of experience and that is going to be vital over the next five weeks. But, if it does happen, we are going to have to deal with that in a positive way”.
“There is no better pro and coupled with medical team we have got, we will make the right decisions”.
This weekend’s hosts may be missing some key individuals because of the Aviva Premiership final between Saracens and Exeter – Owen Farrell, Jack Nowell, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola and Luke Cowan-Dickie from the March win against Wales – but Baldwin doesn’t expect that to affect English intensity.
“Inside centre is a position where we’ve lost one player and so he has the opportunity to show what he’s got and possibly put one foot on the plane to Australia”.
WARREN Gatland says it’s essential that both Wales and England play with the handbrake off if they are to upset the odds Down Under next month.
Lydiate shifts from blindside to the open and will line up alongside Ross Moriarty, who scored a brace in that win over the Azzurri, and No 8 Taulupe Faletau. “He’s taking part in training, and he’s done everything bar contact”, Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde told a news conference on Tuesday.
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With usual captain Sam Warburton out injured, Lydiate continues with the skipper’s duties after leading Wales to their record-breaking (67-14) victory against Italy in their last outing of the Six Nations.
