Gatland lands Lions job
4 Sep 2012
Warren Gatland was announced as the head coach of the British & Irish Lions for their tour to Australia in 2013.
Gatland, whose appointment was widely expected, will oversee the 10-game tour featuring three Tests. The New Zealander has won two Six Nations Grand Slams with Wales and guided them to World Cup semi-finals in 2011. Gatland served as an assistant to Sir Ian McGeechan on the Lions tour to South Africa in 2009.
Gatland said: ‘I am really honoured to have been asked to take the position of head coach for the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. I really enjoyed the experience as one of the assistant coaches in 2009 and since then have harboured the ambition to lead the Tour to Australia next year.
‘There is no question it will be one hell of a challenge. Playing in the southern hemisphere is one of rugby’s hardest challenges. The Lions came close in South Africa and our ambition is to win the series in 2013, and I believe we have the players to do that. Over the coming months, I will give careful consideration to the make-up of my coaching staff and of course the playing squad itself. A Lions tour is unique; it is the ultimate career pinnacle for coaches and players. I want to ensure that we get the Tour environment right so that we are hugely competitive and that our fans are proud of the team.’
13 Comments
4 Sep 2012, 12:18 pm
So if history is anything to go by, he ll be the All Blacks coach probably after 2015 WC… Welsh coaching role seems to be the training ground for future ALL Blacks coaches…
4 Sep 2012, 12:40 pm
Best rugby tours ever…..for me the pinnacle of rugby watching….love the Lions and will be firmly in their corner vs wallabies
4 Sep 2012, 13:07 pm
On Re-Union Graham Henry noted that he was arrogant to think he could coach Wales and the Lions in the same year when he did it. He also had unhappiness among his Welsh players when they were not picked in starting positions by their coach.
Wonder if Gatland reckons he can avoid these pitfalls?
4 Sep 2012, 13:16 pm
Congrats to Gats.
For Dingo Deans,
life is not getting any easier.
4 Sep 2012, 13:49 pm
Lions have been unlucky to tour nations during their respective peaks:
Wallabies ’01 (wc champs and 01 trinats champs)
All Blackss 05 (05 trinats champs, and virtually invincible at the time)
Springboks 09 (wc champs and 09 trinats champs)
Next year though, Lions may arrive before this young Wallabies team peaks.
4 Sep 2012, 14:10 pm
For a moment I thought Gatland accepted a hospital pass and was on his way to Joburg.
4 Sep 2012, 19:05 pm
I’m a huge saffa fan but do like the b and I lions when they tour…
I can think of a m22 that will be devestating for the them…
15-rob kearny-ire
14-chris ashton-eng
13-manu tuilagi-eng
12-jamie roberts-wal
11-george north-wal
10-jonny sexton-ire
9-eon reddan-ire
8-sergio parisse-ita
7-sam warbuton-wal
6-sean o brien-ire
5-paul o connel-ire(c)
4-nathan hines-sco
3-cian healy-ire
2-ross ford-sco
1-martin castrogiovani
16-mat rees-ire
17-adam jones-wal
18-alastair grey-sco
19-dan lydiate-wal
20-danny care-eng
21-james hook-wal
22-leigh halfpenny-wales
What a flippin team…
4 Sep 2012, 22:11 pm
@xtremebull-7:
Great team, but the Italians don’t qualify.
Toby Faletua at no 8 for Parisse and Adam Jones/Dan Cole for Castrogioani will be more than adequate replacements though
One can probably pick a B team that won’t be much weaker too.
5 Sep 2012, 07:39 am
@H-6: Brilliant!
6 Sep 2012, 23:17 pm
If the Lions were picked today this would be the team:
15 Rob Kearney
14 Leigh Halfpenny
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Jonathan Davies
11 George North
10 Jonny Sexton
9 Mike Phillips
8 Jamie Heaslip
7 Sam Warburton
6 Dan Lydiate
5 Ian Evans
4 Richie Gray
3 Adam Jones
2 Rory Best
1 Cian Healy
16 Ross Ford
17 Dan Cole
18 Alun Wyn-Jones
19 Stephen Ferris
20 Connor Murray
21 Greig Leidlaw
22 Tommy Bowe
6 Oct 2012, 10:50 am
:-> :-/
6 Oct 2012, 10:51 am
:->
6 Oct 2012, 10:51 am
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