Wales tone down preparations as World Cup quarter-final looms

TOULON, France : Wales coach Warren Gatland has deliberately toned down his side’s preparations this week, even though they face their most important game in four years, against Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.

Gatland, who has coached at a record-setting five World Cups, has looked to take the pressure off his side and simplify matters as Wales search for a victory that would ensure a third semi-final appearance in the last four editions.

“It’s about not overcoaching and giving too much information this week. You shorten things up this week. We purposely had a heavier week last week as we knew we were in the quarter-finals.

“We got through that and beat Georgia, with the plan to shorten things up this week,” he explained at a press conference on Thursday, several hours after naming his side for the knockout clash at Marseille.

Wales narrowly lost to South Africa in the semi-final of the last World Cup in Japan four years ago and also made the last four under Gatland in 2011.

Asked about the peculiarities of the knockout stages, Gatland said: “I think the first challenge is the pressure you’re under, firstly to make the knockout stages. That’s the biggest hurdle to get over.

“The quarter-final then poses pressure as you’re either here until the end of the tournament or you’re going home on Monday. We’re not ready to go home yet."

Gatland said his side had no option but to embrace the pressure.

“You can’t hide away from it. We’re looking forward to it,” he added.

Gatland said Wales faced a “big challenge” from Argentina despite their failure to impress at the tournament so far.

“I think that they’ve had some tight contests. There wasn’t a lot between them and Samoa. They would have been disappointed against