Resurgent Wales hope to ride momentum past Argentina into Rugby World Cup semis

Welsh rugby was in disarray when Gatland was hired for a second time, taking over from Kiwi predecessor Wayne Pivac as uncertainty over a deal between the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and its regional clubs left players worrying about their futures.

A sexism and racism scandal saw WRU chairman Steve Phillips resign while the players threatened to go on strike ahead of their Six Nations match against England.

Senior stalwarts such as Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, Ken Owens and Rhys Webb also all retired just months before the World Cup began.

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Gatland, who led Wales to three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-finals (2011, 2019) in his first tenure, said he revelled in handling tournament teams that felt like clubs.

"I have always spoken about how much I have enjoyed the World Cups because of preparation," he said.

"It's the only time you get to feel you are a club side in terms of getting our detail done and having an off season and feeling like you can make a huge amount of progress.

"That has helped us in the past and we have done pretty well at World Cups and we have tended to do well in Six Nations following World Cups as well."

Gatland said some coaches would joke "'what is going to happen today? What is going to be the next thing that is thrown at us?'" during the challenges over the last 12 months.

"I think there has definitely been a line in the sand that has been drawn under that and if we can make the semi-finals it would be a huge achievement for this group of players and the coaches who have done a great job," he said.

"I know there are some people in some teams out there who won't want to face a Wales team when they start playing with