Eddie you sneaky bastard.

Warren Gatland and Eddie O’Sullivan have never had the best of relationships, with their issues stemming back as far as when the two worked together with Ireland.

O’Sullivan worked under Gatland when he was Ireland boss 1998-2001, with the New Zealander sacked by the IRFU despite winning 9 or his final 11 games in charge.

Gatland’s relationship broke down with a number of key figures in the Irish set-up, particularly O’Sullivan. Speaking at the Off The Ball Rugby Roadshow last night, Gatland recalls particular run-in with O’Sullivan that left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“I’ll tell you a story that I’ve never repeated, and I haven’t even told the person this,” Gatland said.

“We selected the team to play Scotland […] and at midnight I get a knock on my door and it’s Eddie and Brian O’Brien.”

“Eddie says to me: ‘I think we’ve made a mistake at 10, I think we should look at that and change the team around, and pick Dave Humphreys.”

Gatland stated that after discussion, he decided to change the team sheet and brought Humphreys in at outhalf.

“Later that day, Ronan O’Gara comes to me,” Gatland continued,

“And he says: ‘I’m pretty disappointed about being left out of the team and not being selected, but I’ve spoken to Eddie and he said to me that at the end of the day, you’re the coach and you had the final say.’

“I never said anything to Ronan, and I’ve never ever told him that story,”