McGeechan believes Wales’ gallant performance in the second Test against New Zealand proves they can be a competitive force at next year’s World Cup.
But he told Ryan Jones and his team they had to start believing in themselves more to grab a major southern hemisphere scalp.
Wales face South Africa in the pool stages and potentially clash with Australia in the quarter-finals out in New Zealand.
But McGeechan reckons Gatland’s men have the ability to reach the semi-finals if they start realising how good they are.
Many of the Welsh players shone under McGeechan’s guidance with the Lions in South Africa last year, with the likes of Mike Phillips, Adam Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Jamie Roberts and Matthew Rees enhancing their rugby reputations.
“Warren, Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley have given the Welsh players a very clear perspective in everything they do.
“Wales have got good players right through the team. I think ‘Gats’ is astute enough to challenge them.
“Wales were competitive in that last Test against New Zealand and I think they will have taken something from that game.
“Wales know their game has to be top drawer. They are trying to play an attractive brand of rugby and have the players to run in tries from anywhere.
New Zealand followed up their back-to-back victories over Wales in June with an ominous double destruction of world champions South Africa in the opening skirmishes of the Tri- Nations tournament.
He also knows those results against the Springboks put into context Wales’ own 42-9 and 29-10 defeats in New Zealand.
Gatland was without key men Hook, Jenkins and Martyn and Shane Williams in New Zealand and only a last-minute try in the second Test gave Graham Henry’s men a flattering scoreline.
“After that you have a group of teams who will believe they can get stronger as the tournament evolves.
“Remember, South Africa went on to beat New Zealand three times in a row last year and the Lions players should take credit for reaching that level and the quality of rugby they were playing themselves last summer.
“It was two good teams going hammer and tongs against each other which, for me, produced some great rugby.”
“England have probably got the best mix of established, experienced players and enthusiastic quality younger players,” said McGeechan.
“If that continues to evolve over the next 12 months then they will probably be in pretty good shape for the World Cup.
“Johnno knows what he wants and he knows what it takes to create a winning environment. The key is for him to see that what they achieved in that last Test against Australia is just a staging point rather than a finishing line.
“England were hit during the autumn and Six Nations with injuries. But most of those players are fit again and that gives Johnno a core group to develop. And I also think Lewis Moody has done well as captain. They look in good shape.”
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