Gatland plays down NZ talk

BRITISH and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has downplayed suggestions he was in line to take over the All Blacks but said “what will be, will be” after the 2019 World Cup.

New Zealand-born Gatland has been regularly touted as a possible successor to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, who has said he will step down in two years after the World Cup in Japan. Gatland, 53, has built an impressive record with the Lions 1-1 against the All Blacks ahead of Saturday’s series decider. DANTE Exum continues to respond positively to Utah’s off-season demand for improvement, scoring a game-high 26 points against Philadelphia in the NBA Summer League.

Point guard Exum, 21, also had 10 assists and five rebounds in the 100-94 win, after his 18 points against San Antonio two days earlier.

Fellow Australian Mitch Creek, who’s trialling with the Jazz in the Summer League, played 14 minutes as a starting forward but missed his only field-goal attempt.