Wales boss Gatland hits out at ‘insensitive’ rival Jones over ‘do or die’ comments

WARREN GATLAND hit out at tactless rival Eddie Jones as he chases World Cup glory with Wales.

Boss Jones described his England side’s quarter-final with Australia this morning as “do or die”.

But Gatland felt those comments overstepped the mark after the tournament in Japan was hit by deadly Typhoon Hagibis last week.

The storm claimed the lives of almost 80 people and more deaths are expected.

It also flooded thousands of homes and caused serious damage and power outages.

Australian-born Jones, who is half-Japanese, said: “It’s do-or-die time.

“Every time the Samurais fought, one lived and one died. It will be the same on Saturday — someone is going to live and someone is going to die.”

Jones had also remarked: “Someone is smiling on us — the typhoon Gods maybe” after Hagibis hit Tokyo and saw England’s final pool clash with France called off over safety fears.

But Gatland, whose Wales side face France in the last-eight tomorrow, said: “I wouldn’t be using ‘do or die’.

“I think they are a bit sensitive at the moment given what’s happened in the last few weeks.

“It’s just another game of rugby, but we know how important it is.

“We are very focused on wanting to stay in this tournament.

“There’s a lot of confidence in this squad given we feel we haven’t had an 80-minute performance yet.”

Wales have beaten the French in seven of their last eight meetings and go into the Oita Stadium clash with a full-strength side.

Key backs Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Dan Biggar and George North are all fit to start after knocks.

Gatland will leave his role at the end of the World Cup and knows defeat to France would be his last game.

The squad are desperate to avoid that happening.

Gatland revealed: “We are feeling really positive about the way we’ve prepared.

“There has been an edge to this week and the players have been incredibly professional. It’s the knockout stages now.

“The message we’ve been driving to the players is you’ve got two choices — we are either going home on Monday or we are here until the end of the tournament.”

Lock Alun Wyn Jones will captain Wales against France and move third on rugby’s all-time total international appearance list — level with former Ireland skipper Brian O’Driscoll on 141 Tests.

Gatland defended picking Biggar, who suffered brutal head knocks in consecutive pool games with Australia and Fiji. He added: “We feel we’ve gone through due diligence and covered all the bases.

“He’s done all the protocols and been fit for three or four days. He’s desperate to play.

“But if he gets a knock in the next few games or the next couple of months, there would probably be a different course of action.

“He’s very confident he’s 100 per cent.”

WALES: L Williams; North, J Davies, Parkes, Adams; Biggar, G Davies; Wyn Jones, Owens, Francis, Ball, AW Jones (capt), Wainwright, Tipuric, Navidi. Replacements: Dee, Carre, Lewis, Beard, Moriarty, T Williams, Patchell, Watkin.
FRANCE: Medard; Penaud, Vakatawa, Fickou, Huget; Ntamack, Dupont; Poirot, Guirado (capt), Slimani, Le Roux, Vahaamahina, Lauret, Ollivon, Alldritt. Replacements: Chat, Baille, Setiano, Gabrillagues, Picamoles, Serin, Lopez, Rattez.