Gatland frustrated and disappointed with Wales win

Wales coach Warren Gatland has called his team’s 17-13 victory over 2015 World
Cup pool opponents Fiji “disappointing and frustrating”.

Fiji were reduced to 14 players after prop Campese Ma’afu was yellow carded
for a second time in the 52nd minute but Wales failed to add to their score
after leading 17-6 at half time.

Ahead of clashes against world champions New Zealand and South Africa, Gatland
said his team’s performance was “disappointing and frustrating”.

The endeavour was there and we went out after half-time wanting to raise the
intensity, but though we did that at first we were unlucky not to score.”

“I thought it was a good display by the forwards but we weren’t clinical
enough behind and we made too many turnovers.

“That allowed them to stay in the game. What was close to being potentially
a blow-out for us ended up being a dogfight.”

Gatland, quoted by the Western Mail, said he had been left most frustrated
by the number of turnovers and also a disallowed try for Taulupe Faletau after
the television match official was overruled by French referee Pascal Gauzere.

“We had enough ball but we need to be more clinical behind,” the
Kiwi coach said, a week after seeing his team go down 33-28 to Australia.

“We made a number of changes and we felt the team was strong. There were
opportunities for those players out there.

“We were frustrated by a number of decisions which didn’t help with the
flow of the game or the continuity.

“In fairness to Fiji they went out to try and slow the game down and were
effective at doing that.

“For us it was the number of turnovers which was frustrating but we have
to be excited about next week (against New Zealand) and look forward to it.

“They have made 14 changes (for their 24-16 victory over Scotland) and
will probably make another 13 changes next week and put their number one side
out.

“We expect them to come fully loaded and it will be tough but we have
to be excited about playing the best team in the world.”