Wales v Ireland - mental approaches

by Brendan Cole

Just what is the thinking behind the different approaches adopted by Warren Gatland and Declan Kidney during the build-up to this weekend’s match?

Kidney is the epitome of the style of management that gives away absolutely nothing – he does not use the media to promote any real agenda and essentially seeks to nullify its impact on either his own team or the opposition. Essentially, he seems to think that the media game contains very little in the way of potential positives and plenty of potential pitfalls. That’s why – woe is me say the media - he tends to limit himself to platitudes, with the occasional effort to boost the confidence of under-performers thrown in.   

Gatland, as we have seen this week, plays it differently. He is prepared to use his press conferences aggressively, attempting to shape the psychological landscape around a match in a particular way (in fact, the entire Welsh management team appear to be attempting to get inside Ireland’s heads with talk of choking).

Who’s got it right?

Well, Gatland has some science to back up his approach. The psychology of suggestibility indicates that even when you don’t want to be influenced by a statement, or indeed if they wish to act in the opposite way to a statement, you sometimes can’t help it (that's right: advertising works!).

Gatland’s plan is clearly to get the ‘choking’ idea into Irish heads, either positively or negatively, in the hope that it will pay dividends at some point on Saturday evening.

The interesting thing is that Kidney possibly takes the mental side of the game more seriously than any other top level coach in the world but eschews the same tactic.

Gatland - the power of intimidation

Warren GatlandGatland is, of course, a serious student of the mental game himself and the intensity and high motivation his sides bring to the table have long been a trademark A New Zealander and former All Black, he understands the power of intimidation. Most Gatland teams try to blow opposition off the park through hyper aggressive rucking and pace and love to bully opposition sides out of the game. The downside is that teams who successfully stand up to the intensity can get a lot out of doing so.

Certainly, Wales have found themselves in difficulty once that initial onslaught is seen off this season.

In particular, France seemed to get a lot out of standing up to Wales in the second half and even Scotland managed to get among them towards the end of their match. On both of those occasions, Wales looked as though they had basically run out of ideas, and had no higher gear to step into once the initial bully boy tactics started to falter.

The other potential criticism of the Gatland approach is that it produces diminishing returns. Is he a manager for the long haul? Ireland, Wasps and Wales have all enjoyed quick improvement under Gatland, but both Ireland and Wasps had sudden slumps under his stewardship. Could Wales could potentially end up suffering the same fate?

The 2009 Ireland (and Munster’s) approach is subtly different in that they are more inclined to soak up the best the opposition can give before kicking on themselves –more of a ‘last 20 minutes’ than a ‘first 20 minutes’ idea. Kidney teams can, of course, be beaten but it is very rare for them to ‘bottom out’ in games the way Gatland sides sometimes seem to do.

Should Gatland be concerned that acknowledged psychological maestro Kidney without fail takes the softly softly approach?

 
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Comments:

If you are going to bring a psychological edge into your agenda your team absolutely has to back it up, a la Alex Ferguson. Those who have tried and failed in Keegan, when Newcastle capitulated, and Benitex when they go on to draw at Stoke, have seen their sides come under much greater pressure to perform once prefaced by vocal "call-out" by their manager. Hopefully Kidney's approach works best this weekend, and, in my opinion, it should, as Ireland just need a reason to fire, and rarely wear the favourites tag well. Having the motivation to shake off the chokers tag once-and-for-all will be just the carrot they need to kick on in the final twenty.

Posted by Joseph McGinley on March 19, 2009 at 12:05 PM GMT #

Seems we have a massive contrast of styles at play. Blitzkrieg versus a Russian (Munster) Winter? Ireland's chances may well hinge on staying close to an equal footing while Wales break themselves on the rocks for the first half hour.

Posted by Ronan on March 19, 2009 at 12:10 PM GMT #

I seem to remember in 2003 that everyone was talking about england being the "chokers", failing time and time again to get the grand slam. and what did they do? put 40 points over ireland in dublin for the slam and later that year became world champions. Lets just see what happens on saturday.

Posted by kevin on March 19, 2009 at 12:57 PM GMT #

Ronan do you think it is possible to let the Munster comments go for once. This is Ireland playing on Saturday. We all just need to get behind them.

Posted by Colly on March 19, 2009 at 01:39 PM GMT #

The whole country should stand behind Ireland for saturday they have played well and will continue playing well without observers being so critical. What ever happened to alligence.

Posted by Suzie on March 19, 2009 at 03:50 PM GMT #

Well said Colly!! This is the "Munsterised" psyche that must be forgotten about for these games. This is Ireland on Saturday, and they must go into the game in a very tight knit way. And a note to those going to the game....... WEAR GREEN!!! Wouldn't want to mix you up with the welsh fans!!!!

Posted by Niall on March 19, 2009 at 04:08 PM GMT #

Gatland is barking mad and indeed up the wrong tree if he thinks that intimidation works against Kidney. Kidney and the Irish team will do all their talking on the field this weekend. Gatland is doing the Welsh team and public a disservice by behaving like this. When things go terribly wrong for him on Saturday I hope to see him suffer the conseqences for being loud mouth brut. Ireland to win (Just) gatland to be fired.

Posted by Mike in Limerick on March 19, 2009 at 04:12 PM GMT #

I don't understand the motivation behind Gatland's comments. His team were nearly beaten in Italy at the weekend and haven't played half as well as Ireland so far in this SN. Historically, Ireland have left a few trophies behind alright but what Gatland has said is simply disrespectul. Indeed, I'd wonder how many of his players actually agree with his sentiments about Ireland being Wales' least favourite team and how they feel about this needless, additional pressure. Kidney probably smiled from ear to ear when he read what Gatland had to say.

Posted by 192.168.24.19 on March 19, 2009 at 05:22 PM GMT #

Bizarre comments by Gatland - I can't see what he was hoping to achieve except to attempt to pin the favourite tag on Ireland and he could have done that in a much more effective, and dignified manner. Has a Declan Kidney coached team ever lost a mind game ? I think Gatland has been completely counter-productive by going down this road and the more intelligent of his own players will be questioning both his method and his motivation in making these comments. Come on Ireland !

Posted by Eoghan Cole on March 19, 2009 at 06:13 PM GMT #

Good luck to Ireland tomorrow, it's going to be a cracker of a game. bring it on! John Hayes to score a try to win the game the whole country will erupt! Can't wait to take that arrogant smile of Gatland. Come on Ireland!

Posted by Helen on March 20, 2009 at 10:57 AM GMT #

Tonight will be a tumultuous and disturbing night for me. As I dream the dream that the Irish have not dared dreamt for sixty years. Memories of false hopes that turned into nightmares will haunt me throughout the depths of the darkness until the impending dawn brings a measure of respite from empty nothingness of the night and the dark corners of my mind. Tomorrow evening fifteen Irish warriors will attempt to tame the fire breathing Welsh dragon and return it to its slumber in the valleys. Ireland go into tomorrows Grand Slam and championship deciding match with memories of being so close to the dream before the dream turning into a nightmare fresh in the psyche of the Irish. In 2001 we went to Scotland for a delayed game with a Grand Slam and championship beckoning. We left Murrayfield that day defeated 32-10 ruing the effects of foot and mouth. In 2003 we played Grand Slam and Championship decider against England lead by Martin Johnson in Dublin on that day we were defeated 42-6. In 2005 we went to Cardiff for the last game in the Championship with the positions being a reverse of tomorrow’s fixture. Wales were chasing the Grand Slam and Championship and Ireland were hoping to win the game and steal the Championship from under the Welsh noses, we were defeated 32-20. All these defeats will haunt me through the night as I toss and turn like a dog troubled by flees. As the light breaks and the dark memories that haunt my mind are scared off like a vampire looking for the sanctuary of the coffin before the coming dawn I will awake tomorrow morning with a heart and mind full of hope and tingling with anticipation. After sixty one years of drought with the last slightly replenishing shower falling in 1985 I am full of hope because of the team. In the front row we a huge amount of experience who have tended to out scrummage their Welsh counterparts. The second row have been the standout in the championship, O'Connell and O'Callaghan are amazing athletes. We are blessed with a back row of power and dynamism that is hard to equal. At half back we a big powerful scrum half in O'Leary who if he can get the ball away a fraction quicker will be a vital clog in insuring victory. Everybody focuses on O'Gara's kicking and control of a game but so often it is his imagination and wonderful hands that lead to a vital game changing break. In the centre we have to the hard running D'Arcy and O'Driscoll the most complete football I have had the pleasure of witnessing. Our back three consists of the beautifully balanced and incisive runner in Fitzgerald, Bowe who over the last two seasons has proved to be a world class finisher, and at full back in Kearney who mixes the steadiness of Dempsey with the attacking flair of Murphy. This is a team capable of breaking a sixty year cycle of doomed expectations. The Dragon master Gatland has been stoking up the flame of the dragon in a vain attempt to resurrect the form of last year. This will be a tough tight game with only one score in it. Expect to see a huge performance from the Irish and their number one objective will be to dominate the Welsh pack and if they do that victory will be assured and Wales will be forced to play an ever more risky game. As I settle down to sleep tomorrow night hopefully I will be wafting off with imagines of Brian O'Driscoll lifting the Championship trophy in my minds eye and not suffering another night of torture where images of Shane Williams tort body squeezing over the try line for a Grand Slam deigning try torment me further. Taken from my blog: http://peteyduggan.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/a-dream-that-c…be-a-nightmarea-dream-that-could-so-easily-be-a-nightmare

Posted by Duggie on March 20, 2009 at 11:29 AM GMT #

Regardless of everyone's desire to put a stop to the munster comparisons, I, as a leinster man, would not be disappointed if we produce the type of performances that have seen munster rise to the top of european rugby. Kidney knows what he is doing and the team know that for 70-80% of the game we will look like a munster team keeping the game close and tight. The other 20-30% will (hopefully) be leinster/ulster flair...and I believe the key to a win tomorrow will again come from our bench.

Posted by Julian on March 20, 2009 at 12:55 PM GMT #

As much as I want Ireland to win, the facts are that Wales are good and due a good game and playing at home. While this helps them compete, it appears to have given them a sense of complacency with even players telling the meeja how Ireland can be beaten. For us, Kidney seems to avoid complacency by doing the talking on the pitch and I think that's the best ploy for Ireland. But for Ireland to win, they need to go at them aggressively for 80 minutes and stop the pussy footing around at the start waiting to react to the other team. If they truly belioeve they can win, they should walk the talk from the word go - on that basis we will know if we will win within the first 20 by their attitude to the game.

Posted by Brian Mac on March 20, 2009 at 01:20 PM GMT #

This year for the first time I have confidence that we can actually win! In previous years there was always the hope but everyone knew deep down that Irelansd would once again bottle it! However I think Declan Kidney is the man to finally bring Ireland a long awaited Grand Slam. His record speaks for itself at Munster with 2 Heineken Cups in 3 years. He brings the phycological capacity to give this Irish team the mental edge in this match and while it hasn't shown true in the last few games I believe that Kidney is a man who gets the right result in the Big Games. Ireland to take to the lead early and control the game to end winning by no more than a try. In classics big match Munster style!

Posted by Seamus on March 20, 2009 at 02:10 PM GMT #

Sports psychology is fundamentally about one thing - belief. I am a Leinster man, and have seen a what a lack of belief can do to a great team. That is why Munster sayings revolve around this fact - 'to the brave and the faithful, nothing is impossible'. The huge banner at their games saying simply, 'believe'. You don't need to be the best team around, you simply need to believe you can be the best team on the day. Gatland is sending a weak message - trying to emphasise his opponents shortcomings and attempting to create a myth of dislike - throwing a bone to Kidney and his players hoping they will come back and taunt the Welsh. In other words, he has acknowledged that he can't inspire the Welsh team anymore, he needs external stimuli to do so. Ireland's calm before this storm of blood letting is indicative of the growing belief in the team that these boys can beat the team in front of them on the day, and it is that belief, the corner stone of sports psychology, which will see the winners home tomorrow. Ireland by 8.

Posted by Mucker on March 20, 2009 at 03:29 PM GMT #

From all the reports I have read in the Irish press it seems a fore gone conclusion that Ireland will win this game and take the Grand Slam. If you look at Wales this season, they have not been great, but they have lost only once taking Warren Gatlands 6 nations record with Wales to played 9 won 8 lost 1, one cannot deny that is a great record and achievable cos they are a team that knows how to win in this championship. Wales won comfortably aginst Scotland and England, far more comfortably than Ireland did over the same, Wales let a 13 - 3 lead slip against France and still had the chance to steal a win in the dying moments after not turning up in the second half, Ireland made the most of home adavantage against the French, and against Italy Ireland won the game in the second half whilst Wales basically fielded a B side which struggled for most of the game. When you look back to the Wales grand slam winning side of last year, they played in style, no one got near them, and they deserved the title, Ireland if they are honest have not done this, there have been too many times where they have squeezed through, I fear that on Saturday against a Welsh team who are going to be up for the occasion there will be no scraping through, I believe that Ireland will win the 6 nations, however Wales will take the Tiple Crown

Posted by Alan Churchill on March 21, 2009 at 01:26 AM GMT #

I will be in the Abbey pub in Chicago tomorrow, and i know i will be celebrating with my first pint sence Ash Wednesday. Ireland 31 Wales 18. That team deserves the Grand Slam so do you boys and girls and so do I. All the the best.

Posted by john gallagher on March 21, 2009 at 06:17 AM GMT #

This was the most memorable day of my life - I was born in Dec 1948. I will never forget this match. I love rugby, lovew watching Ireland play and I can't believe how exciting the match was. I didn't sit down for the whole match - I just wandered up and down my living room. Brilliant!!!

Posted by JOSEPHINE CROSSAN on March 21, 2009 at 09:44 PM GMT #

Dear Warren Gatland, Are you choking on your own words?

Posted by Adam ó hAodh on March 21, 2009 at 09:53 PM GMT #

Well hip hip hurrrraaaay! The results are in and Irish hearts are far from broken this morning!!What a spectacular game. I thoroughly enjoyed the nail-biting experience and was enthralled by O'Gara's composure in the final 3 mins., which, allowed him execute the most important (well possibly lol) goal of his illustrious career, which, in turn secured us victory! Comhghairdeas agus Maith Thú

Posted by Nina O'Connor on March 22, 2009 at 10:40 AM GMT #

Kidney for Taoiseach... :)

Posted by James on March 23, 2009 at 12:17 PM GMT #

Lions test Team 15. Byrne/Kearney: Still 50/50 for this spot. Byrne has been dodgy recently under the high ball. Kearney had been quiet for the last 2 games because teams stopped putting in high balls to him. 14. Tommy Bowe: Nobody should get near him for this spot. 13. BOD: enough said. 12: Riki Flutey: Great side-step and scored a load of tries for England. Big presence in midfield. Darce will be ready & waiting if he messes up and Henson will still be in the team hotel waxing his chest. 11: Lukey/Thom Evans: Both have speed and finishing. SA will look at the Ire/Wales games on repeat and see that Williams got abused constantly in the 2nd half by ROG's dinks over the top i.e. Tommy's try. Williams is now a liability. 10: Stephen Jones/ROG: Again 50/50, ROG was ice cool and he is a hero but he will have Berger running at him in the channel during the summer. Jones cant handle the pressure, kicked ball out on the full to give ireland a line-out in their 22 for drop goal. Stupid mistake. But happy days for the Paddies. 9: Mike Blair: Has held Scotland together,just about,all season. Best 9 in the Isles.Harry Ellis if he is fit will give him a run for his money. 8/7/6: Heaslip,Wally,Fez, nobody got near them all season. 5: Alun Wyn Jones, great athlete, lot of unseen dirty work. deserves a spot. Dunners will be ready and waiting if he messes up. 4: Paulie, Superman is getting sick to death of wearing his pants these days. 3:Euan Murray, the man is a beast in the scrum. Has the start against SA.Bull will get last 20 mins in each test match. 2: Jerry/Lee Mears 50/50 call, Mears hit his line-out 99% of the time during 6N, carries loads. But Jerry looks more dynamic. 1:Gethin Jenkins, had a beast of a 6N, especially against England.

Posted by Steve on March 23, 2009 at 12:44 PM GMT #

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