Warren Gatland has sensationally returned as Wales head coach, just over three years since leaving the post.
Following the departure of Wayne Pivac, Gatland was confirmed as Wales coach and spoke to the press on Monday evening.
Here's what he had to say...
Why did you come back to Wales?
"First of all, I want to recognise the human side to this with Wayne departing so that must have been tough so my thoughts go out to him and his family and it's important I do recognise that.
"I suppose when Steve (Phillips) contacted me after the review and sounded me out, there was a bit of a thought process, talking to family and stuff. At the end of the day I know it's a pressure job and there's a lot of expectations, but the buzz of international rugby, being involved in the Six Nations and being involved in the World Cup, I think that was the tempting factors to sway me to come back really.
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"I loved my time in Wales. I loved the people, the involvement, how I was welcomed. I wouldn't have stayed as long as I did if it wasn't really for that relationship with the fans and everyone. Yeah we had some success, and we had some disappointments as well. I think I can come and hopefully create an environment where we can service the expectations of a Welsh public and the media that wanna see Wales hopefully perform."
You've previously arrived in the job at a low point, but that wasn't less than a year before a World Cup. What can you conceivably achieve in that time ahead of France next year?
"The advantage I've got is that I know the set-up and that I know so many of the people involved. So I think I can hit the ground running, obviously there's a new group of players.
"There's a process I've got to go through over the next few weeks and just getting a real feel for the place again, so it's like 2007/2008 and coming in completely cold. I think that's a massive advantage, that I've got in terms of knowing Wales and the set-up.
"I think I can come in there and hopefully be pretty seamless in stepping into the role."
You've inherited a backroom staff of Stephen Jones, Jonathan Humphreys, Gethin Jenkins and Neil Jenkins - what will happen to them?
"To be honest I haven't really considered that. It's kind of been such a whirlwind in the last seventy two hours. I need to go through a process where I need to talk to people.
"I need to get the lay of the land on how things are there within the set-up and then I'll make the appropriate decisions about what happens going forward.'
Could Rob Howley return?
"I haven't made any decisions on what the set-up looks like in terms of the coaching set-up. I haven't even got that far in terms of going through that process.
"Like I said the last seventy two hours is kind of like it's been fairly full-on in terms of obviously having those discussions with Steve (Phillips) and Ieuan (Evans) and talking to family and stuff about making this decision so I made this decision now. I think from now on that's where this work takes place in terms of making sure I get things right, in terms of the set-up and the people involved.'
Does taking the role put your legacy in Wales on the line?
"That's the exciting thing about it. isn't it? If you're a flop and you fail... I'm under no illusions what the expectations are in the next 10 months.
"But I've always loved the challenge, I've always loved going into environments where there are expectations and hopefully exceeding those expectations.
"That's part of professional sport, there are ups and downs. You live by your results and your performances.
"I'm excited about it but there are pressures and risks. I'm confident that I can come in and hopefully make a difference, and get a side together who are proud to put that jersey on and when they go out there and represent Wales in front of home fans, that they're prepared to die for that jersey.
"Those are my expectations and I don't expect anything less from the players in terms of what it means to play for Wales - the history, the expectation.
"If we can achieve that in a short period of time, I think that will give us the best opportunity to be successful."
How important was it to you that the financial future of the regions was resolved as you took the job?
"It's been well documented and I think they've gone through that process. Everyone will be really happy that there is some certainty for some people going forward.
"That's fantastic, it's one less thing for all of us not to have to worry about but in particular the players needed some certainty.
"Hopefully that alleviates some pressure on the players and they can put this behind them and focus on the rugby going forward."
What does it mean to you on a personal level to come back?
"I'm incredibly excited. I loved my time there and the opportunity. It was great, I left on good terms with the semi-final of the World Cup and a Grand Slam year as well.
"I wouldn't have taken this on unless I felt I could make a difference. With the people, the backroom staff, the players that I know - there is going to have to be some delving into looking at what is the best way going forward with the squad?
"That's going to be over the next few weeks and there are a number of people that I need to talk to and have discussions with and take their opinions and advice as well.
"But I'm really excited about this opportunity. The Six Nations, for me, is the best rugby competition in the world and I've always loved being part of that.
"Then there's the excitement about building towards a World Cup. The great thing about World Cups is that it's the real opportunity that you get proper preparation time to really work hard at your game. Sometimes when you're in campaigns you have to prioritise because you have limited preparation time with the squad before you play games.
"That's what I'm really excited about."
Obviously you were linked with the England job, but this rules you out of that one. Did you have any talks with the RFU?
"I'm only really here to talk about Wales but all I can say is don't believe everything that you read in the newspapers."
How important is a Six Nations in a World Cup year?
"It is important because it’s completely different to the autumn series where you can try things out and try combinations. The Six Nations is when points are at stakes and that kind of replicates the World Cup in some ways.
"The aim initially is to get out of your pool. So for us, it’s about hopefully hitting the ground running and making sure we have a Six Nations campaign where we’re competitive first of all.
"I think it’s a good draw. Having England and Ireland at home is great. Ireland are the number one team in the world so that’s a fantastic challenge.
"It’s a great draw for me to arrive in. The first thing is to see those players going out and wearing that jersey with pride, putting in a performance that reflects the work they’re putting in. If we do that, we’ll have a chance and then it’s building towards France.
What's the situation regarding your future up to 2027 and whether the role could be an overarching one?
"At the moment my immediate focus is between now and the World Cup, and I think afterwards it's myself and Steve talking about possibilities going forward. During that 10 months we've got to be showing that we've got shown progress and that we've been successful in that 10 months and then potentially other opportunities arise from that.
"That's kind of how we are at the moment. There's no certainty but I'm comfortable with that so if the next 10 months, as has already been alluded to by people, is not successful then you are involved in professional sport and you know what the consequences are.
"Like I said I'm comfortable and confident that I can come in and make a difference, and create an environment where we can be successful in. If that happens then potentially other discussions may take place.
"But I'm not looking past the next 10 months. I'm not looking past France.
"It's a big job to focus on the immediate challenge which is getting the team ready for the Six Nations and then having some more time where some real preparation can go into putting that team and squad together for France."
What did you learn on punditry duty in the autumn?
"Obviously people would have been disappointed, particularly with that Georgia result. All Blacks is always tough first up.
"For 50 minutes, they showed real potential against Australia in their performance. The last 20 minutes and capitulating was disappointing although the yellow cards didn't help.
"I looked at that and thought Wales were able to get some front-foot ball. I thought (Gareth) Anscombe was excellent in playing to the line and getting the backline moving.
"They had so go-forward in Jac Morgan. There's some absolute quality in loose forwards. There’s some positions where there’s not so much depth.
"Some excitement out wide which is great. George North defended well against Australia.
"There’s a few holes that need to be filled. There's a lot of discussion around the age profile of the group and I need to be cognizant of that, whether players can be managed through another 12 months. I haven't had those discussions with medical people.
"There’s a lot to go through. But if we can build on that first 40 minutes against Australia, although I’m mindful they were down 24 players and they'll be a different proposition at the World Cup, but there were some promising signs."
Can you talk us through the timeline of getting the job - was England ever an option?
"Just from the Welsh perspective I think a number of people new that my contract with New Zealand was finishing at the end of next year. I promise you that I haven't been looking at any roles or anything like that.
"With this review process Steve and I had a quick conversation. He contacted me post the review and asked if there was a possibility that I might be interested in coming back.
"He emphasised just how tight the timeframe was and they needed a quick decision and a quick answer because once they had made the decision they needed to put someone in place for the Six Nations.
"I had discussions with family and spoke to some people that I'm close to in terms of their opinion and the family gave me 100 per cent support to make the decision, and then Steve and I were able to negotiate over the last few days to get things agreed.
"It's kind of like that's been the whole focus. My contract was with the NZRU so I had to have a conversation with them and get a release from them.
"The Chiefs were important so I had to have a conversation with them. It hasn't been the easiest with the timeframe as well.
"My phone has been going constantly in the middle of the night. I think I've got thousands of calls on my phone and I think it's going to take me a couple of weeks to answer them all.
"I just want to say how brilliant Steve has been to deal with and the union, and the pressure they were under as well. Once they'd made the decision they needed a quick answer from me to be able to get things over the line.
"We've been able to conclude that. I'm glad that's done and I'm really looking forward to being back in Wales.
"At least now the fans won't rip the gates down. They might stay up there for a little bit longer."
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