'We are satisfied with where we are at the moment,' says Wales coach Warren Gatland

Classic Warren Gatland. In congratulating Joe Schmidt’s team on their Grand Slam, the Wales coach still managed to pat Ireland on the back with one hand, while giving a gentle slap on the face with the other.

To be fair, Gatland was gracious in his praise of the NatWest Six Nations champions, calling the Irish “the best team in the northern hemisphere” and declaring “they’ve set the bar”. But he clearly does not believe his championship runners-up are too far behind.

“It’s a fantastic achievement and Ireland deserve that, but they’ll know they were a little bit lucky as well,” Gatland said. “In that first game against France, the last-second drop-goal by Johnny Sexton completely changes everything. And there was that late interception against us when we potentially could have won. The great thing about this competition at the moment is how close it is.”

This finale was certainly close, but that was about all it had going for it as a spectacle. In the aftermath of this wretched curtain-closer, a number of the critics focused on the so-called “new Wales way” and  wondered what had come of the expansive philosophy with which they kicked off against Scotland in such style. 

With the scraps of possession the home side managed to secure, Dan Biggar all too often went to the air and when it did go across the line it was a lateral mess; their one try coming from Liam Williams capitalising on comical confusion following a restart.

Wales were pummelled at the breakdown and but for the hapless Francois Trinh-Duc, France would surely have secured a second successive win over Gatland’s men. However, Gatland was of the mind that a win was a win and all that mattered in the quest to finish second.

“Ireland never looked like scoring a try against France, did they?” Gatland said. “It’s like everything, people can turn stats and positions around. Somebody emailed me and said since 2012, we are joint-first in the overall finishing positions in the Six Nations.

“In the 10 years I’ve been involved we have had three firsts, a couple of seconds and a few others where it could have easily have been another championship or at least a higher finish.

“We are pretty satisfied with where we are at the moment – and think we’ll be a much better team this time next year. I was relieved that we ground out a win to finish second.”

Indeed, is all about next year now and Gatland has revealed that, with the World Cup in view, he will give some of his Lions the summer off in a player-welfare move which may make exhausted internationals from certain neighbouring nations raise they eyebrows.

Wales will play two Tests in Argentina in June, as well as one against South Africa in Washington DC. However, the likes of Alun Wyn Jones and Taulupe Faletau will remain at home.

“In the past we have always tried to take as strong a squad as we possibly can, so this is the first time we will have left a number of players behind or taken some youngsters and less experienced players,” Gatland said.

Jones was in typically heroic form as captain, setting the tone for the second-half’s torrid rearguard, and was fully deserving of man-of-match honours. The 32-year-old’s situation is made easier because he is on a National Dual Contract with the Ospreys – which he extended on Friday – and the Wales management can work out a plan with the region.

“Alun Wyn is getting a bit old now so we need to look after him,” Gatland said. “We have a plan for next year with how many games he plays. He is very important to us and need to keep him fresh. We will look at those players who were on the Lions and whether we take them on the summer tour.”

Faletau will be another of the rested, as might Liam Williams, George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Biggar, Ken Owens and Justin Tipuric. “It will be great to do a full pre-season and go into next season flying,” Faletau said.

Jacques Brunel, the France coach, was similarly positive. “At the start of the tournament, people said we were very distant from the big nations, but we showed we are very close,” he said.