SUMMER INTERNATIONALS: New Zealand 29 Wales 10:WARREN GATLAND insists his focus is firmly on getting Wales primed for next year's World Cup despite admitting he had a "few options on the table" for his career after next year's tournament in New Zealand.
The New Zealander, who has been in charge of Wales since November 2007, was back in his home town of Hamilton for the second Test against the All Blacks and has been linked with the Chiefs Super rugby coaching job which will become vacant when Ian Foster’s deal ends after next year’s first edition of the Super 15.
Gatland’s contract with Wales expires next year but when asked about his career beyond 2011 after Wales’ 29-10 loss at Waikato Stadium on Saturday, the 46-year-old said it was not something he was concerned about.
“I do have a few options on the table at the moment and I’m sure things will pan out between now and the World Cup,” he said.
When pressed further about the Chiefs job the former Waikato provincial coach replied: “It’s not something I’ve particularly thought about. At the moment my whole focus is on Wales and Wales doing the best that we can in 2011.”
The Wales coach saw an improved effort from his side in the second Test on his old stomping ground after the capitulation the week before in Dunedin.
But it still was not enough to keep the All Blacks at bay as they ran in tries by Cory Jane and Aaron Cruden, while Dan Carter (17 points) and Piri Weepu (two) contributed the rest of the points with the boot.
Aside from losing captain Ryan Jones to a leg injury in the 25th minute Wales had two players sent to the sin bin and New Zealand one in a scrappy game.
Lee Byrne was shown a yellow card in the dying stages of the first half for lifting Tom Donnelly in a tackle then Gavin Thomas and All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock were left to cool off with nine minutes of the game remaining after Thomas retaliated to being pulled back by Whitelock.
But it was the ill-discipline at the start of the second half that proved to be the most costly when Carter turned a 13-3 lead at the break into a 22-3 advantage after kicking three successive penalties following a Jonathan Thomas shoulder charge on Brad Thorn, Mike Phillips straying offside and Adam Jones putting his hand in the ruck.
It left Wales chasing the game but they dug deep and were rewarded with a good try to Jamie Roberts in the latter stages.
NEW ZEALAND:Muliaina; Jane, Kahui, Stanley, Guildford; Carter, Cowan; Woodcock, Mealamu, Tialata, Thorn, Donnelly, Kaino, McCaw, Read. Replacements: Thomson for Donnelly, Weepu for Cowan (both 48 mins), Ranger for Stanley (55 mins), Cruden for Carter, de Malmanche for Mealamu (both 71 mins), Whitelock for Read (63 mins). Sin Bin:Whitelock (70 mins).
WALES:Byrne; Halfpenny, J Davies, Roberts, Prydie; Biggar, Phillips, James, M Rees, A. Jones, B Davies, A. Jones, J. Thomas, G. Thomas, R Jones. Replacements: McCusker for R Jones (26 mins), D Jones for B Davies (56 mins), S Jones for Biggar, R Rees for Phillips, Bennett for M Rees (all 66 mins), Harries for Prydie (69 mins). Sin Bin:Byrne (40 mins), G Thomas (70 mins).
Referee:J Kaplan (South Africa).
