LFormer All Blacks skipper Sean Fitzpatrick can’t believe that the New Zealand Rugby Union let Wales take the services of Waikato coach Warren Gatland.

Gatland, who led the province to victory in the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup, has recently signed a four-year deal to coach Wales after being ignored as potential coach for a New Zealand Super 14 franchise.

"I am surprised New Zealand let him go that easily," Fitzpatrick told Wales' Western Mail newspaper.

"But I think it is good for Wales purely because he is one of the most talented coaches out there.

"From not being given a Super 14 coaching job you can read into it they obviously don't want him. He obviously wants to coach at the top level and so good luck to him. He has decided he needs to go outside with Wales."

Fitzpatrick also warned Welsh fans not to expect huge miracles from the new coach, but added that Gatland was undoubtedly a world-class coach.

"Wales cannot expect it to happen overnight. They are down there with the second-tier nations when you look at the world rankings.

"People have got to realise it is going to take a lot of work to achieve a position in the top six in the world.

"The feedback from people he was working with at Wasps was he was very, very good technically, very sound and got the best out of most people," Fitzpatrick added.

"He demands a lot, which I think will benefit people in Wales. Fitness levels need to go up. You can see that by looking at the shape of some players there. I am pleased to see it is a four-year deal because he will need time to identify talent and bring it through to the national team."

Gatland is due to start in the Wales role on December 1.