Warren Gatland just got off to the perfect start in New Zealand as media stunned by 'epic' Wales-style comeback

The Chiefs looked down and out in Gatland's first game in charge, but the former Wales coach had other ideas.

England 2008. Scotland 2010. France 2019 - twice.

Warren Gatland had his fair share of remarkable comebacks during his time as Wales coach and that trend has shown no sign of going away in his new job.

Having traded Wales for the coaching job at Super Rugby outfit Chiefs back in his homeland of New Zealand, he appeared destined for defeat in Friday's Super Rugby curtain-raiser.

His new side were in all sorts of trouble as they trailed the Auckland Blues 19-5 at half-time thanks to two tries from All Blacks winger Reiko Ioane.

However, the Chiefs stormed back in the second-half thanks to the introduction of fly-half Aaron Cruden to run out 37-29 winners in Auckland.

Tries from Pita Gus Sowakula, Aidan Ross, Solomon Alaimalo and a brace from Samisoni Taukeiaho ensured Gatland's return to New Zealand got off to the perfect start and handed Gatland another remarkable comeback.

New Zealand website Stuff described it as "an epic comeback", hailing Gatland's first match as "storybook stuff", adding: "It was Gatland's first victory as a head coach on Eden Park – and it was quite simply as good as it gets."

The 56-year-old had already made headlines this week after venting his frustrations about New Zealand's player resting policy.

With All Blacks not allowed to play more than 180 minutes across the first three Super Rugby matches, Gatland had been forced to name the likes of Anton Lienert-Brown, Atu Moli, Angus Ta'avao and Brad Weber on the bench.

"We understand that the All Blacks [are] coming back in to the start of the season, their playing time has to be managed with 40-60-80 minutes," Gatland told media.

"[We're] trying to get the balance between bringing those guys in [and] trying to pick a strong team to face what's going to be a strong team to face what's going to be a tough game in Auckland.

"You've got to have a different mindset when you're told that, when you're bringing players back, they can only play 40 minutes.

"You've got to manage the players who are fit, and the players you know have to go 80 minutes.

"That puts a bit of pressure on the squad, there's half a dozen players in there who aren't going to be playing 80 minutes, then you've got to make those replacements and then hopefully you don't pick up any genuine injuries that puts you under pressure to change the planning that you have."

"Unfortunately, it means you're managing and rotating players in the squad for the first three-four weeks of the campaign so everyone's on the same page.

"Then we can start planning for later in the year."