Warren Gatland can drag Wales out of no-man's-land - Bernard Jackman

Warren Gatland will attempt to drag Wales out of "no-man's-land" and get back to basics, at very short notice, for the imminent Six Nations campaign.

Wales turned to their former coach in December, following Wayne Pivac’s departure from his position in charge of the national side, which left Gatland with just two months to prepare for the 2023 campaign.

And what tougher start for the returning Gatland, who brought huge success to Wales in his previous tenure, which lasted from 2007 to 2019, as they welcome the world number-one ranked side to Cardiff on Saturday.

And the former Ireland coach comes up against his old side armed with a hugely experienced unit as Gatland will rely on the tried and tested stars of his previous regime, as they look to get an unlikely victory over a highly confident Irish outfit.

"Gatland is the coach most likely to be able to implement (going back to basics) in the short space of times," said Bernard Jackman, speaking on this week’s RTE Rugby Podcast.

"Particularly when he is going back to Ken Owen, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Tomos Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, they know Warrenball."

Wales attempted to play a different brand of rugby under Pivac, however, when the results were not forthcoming, they ended up playing a style that landed somewhere between the philosophies of both coaches.

"Wales ended up in no-man’s land, as they weren’t playing the type of rugby that Pivac coached, or they weren’t playing the power game that Gatland had brought them so much success," added Jackman.

And that is why the returning Gatland will bring back the old crew to implement the game plan that proved so successful in previous years.

"Gatland spoke about set-pieces being important, your launch, getting over the gain line,