Six Nations 2012: Twickenham will be proving ground for Warren Gatland's Lions claims Yet when Graham Henry became the first foreigner to lead the Lions in 2001, there was an outcry that the honour had gone outside the family of four that is the home unions. Henry, it was said, would not be in tune with the unique demands and nuances of the Lions experience. So it proved on a trip riven by internal discord. The World Cup-winning All Blacks coach did not get the concept, ignoring the need to shape and mould divergent characters as well as nationalities. Henry had the grace to admit as much on a visit here recently. Gatland has shown that he understands the psyche. He was forwards coach to Sir Ian McGeechan in South Africa in 2009 and has spent more time coaching in these parts, be it Connacht or Ireland or Wasps or Wales, than he has done in New Zealand. He knows what makes players tick, knows when to push hard or when to cajole. He is not without either his flaws or failings. Wales's recent surge to prominence is a very recent phenomenon. Prior to the second World Cup warm-up against England in August, they had won only one of their preceding eight games. In the World Cup itself, they slipped up against South Africa in the group stage despite taking the game to the Boks for long stretches. We all know what happened against France in the semi-final. Two defeats to Australia, one at the Millennium Stadium in December, have followed. Who is more influential, the player or the coach? The player, of course, but he can do nothing if he is not picked in the first place. Gatland has shown nerve in not only throwing the likes of George North, Toby Faletau and Alex Cuthbert into the international fray at supposedly tender ages, he has also shaped a style of play to suit their talents. And it has not all been about brute force. By far the most impressive thing about North's emergence has been the intelligence of his play, the deftness of his touch and the wisdom of his vision. These things might well be God-given but they've got to be endorsed by a coach. Gatland has given this lot licence to thrill, not for the sake of it, but for the simple reason that it gets points on the board. He has imbued them with that spirit, encouraged them to believe in themselves and given them the tools, be it through the gruelling cryotherapy fitness session in Poland or the game plan strategies on the day. Gatland is a down-to-earth bloke. He knows that the role of Lions head coach carries with it enormous responsibilities. He has to be respected by players from all four countries, something that is taken as a given with the likes of McGeechan. Above all, he has to prove that he is a winner. The diplomatic status can look after itself at a later stage. Defeat at Twickenham would not sink his Lions" aspirations but they would be dented. This is not just an important week for Gatland's Wales, it will be an illuminating one for the Lions as well. White cards will only add to referees' workload The southern hemisphere is to introduce another grade of sanction for the Super 15 competition that starts this weekend. Along with the red and yellow cards, referees will also be able to brandish a white card to show that an offence has happened but that the official is not sure who has committed it. Effectively the player is put on report, as happens in rugby league, for future deliberation by disciplinary officers. One immediate thought: hasn't a referee got enough to think about without having to decide between red, yellow and white? Make the decision and stick with it. Relegation six-pointer in May is certain to fill Adams Park A nightmare for the teams involved, a delight for sponsors and ghouls, Wasps" match against Newcastle on the final day of the Aviva Premiership season on May 5 is shaping up to be a relegation decider. Newcastle's win over London Irish allied to Wasps" loss at home to Exeter, means that the gap between the clubs is six points with seven rounds to go. Wasps, four time Premiership champions in the last decade as well as double Heineken Cup winners, have struggled to fill Adams Park. You fancy that will not be a problem on May 5.