Wales vs New Zealand: Warren Gatland out for revenge on Kiwi media after his hammering this summer
Lions boss was portrayed as a clown during the drawn series with the All Blacks while Gatland’s family also came in for personal attacks
WARREN GATLAND wants a ding-dong with the Kiwi media after his hammering this summer.
Now the 54-year-old has reopened the war of words as he prepares to meet his home nation again, this time with Wales.
He said: “At some stage I will be dressed up as a clown again this week. I’ll just take it on the chin and move on. That is the way it is.
“The summer was tough and challenging from a personal perspective. There was some pretty underhand stuff going on.
"There are one or two people I’d like to get into a corner of a room on their own but that might wait for another day.”
Gatland was all guns blazing in a surprise press appearance yesterday. He added: “Kiwis understand that when you back someone into a corner, we come out fighting.
“There is no way I was going to allow something to get the better of me. I got mentally tougher. I felt like I was in a boxing match and was going to come out on top.
“I enjoyed that challenge. I enjoyed thinking that no one was going to get the better of me or split the squad or create controversy.
“But that’s gone now. What we achieved in New Zealand was absolutely outstanding. To get a drawn series there was tough.
"Yes, we had a bit of luck but we should be proud of the achievement.”
Gatland’s coaching battle with Steve Hansen dominated the Lions series as the tourists earned a 1-1 draw. They go head-to-head again on Saturday, with Hansen admitting: “I’m looking forward to playing Wales, but not seeing Warren.”
But Gatland responded: “This week is different because it is Wales versus the All Blacks.
“People try to make a lot of stuff about myself and Steve.
“The pressures we are under are not as a result of our relationship, it is about people trying to stoke the fires.
“From my point of view, there are no issues.”