Lions to the slaughter? Gatland facing the torture tour
OPINION: Warren Gatland has the British and Irish Lions coaching job almost by default, which should probably tell the affable New Zealander something about the role he’s about to resume.
England talisman Eddie Jones doesn’t want it and Ireland’s successful Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt has also removed himself from consideration.
Most recently Glasgow and soon-to-be Scotland boss Gregor Townsend has bowed out of contention to be an assistant.
That’s left Gatland predicted by all and sundry in northern quarters to be unveiled as Lions coach for their tour of New Zealand next year when they will take on an itinerary from hell that even Gatland has admitted is ‘‘crazy’’.
But it would appear that the Waikato legend and successful Wales coach is not taking his own advice, with the silver-haired former All Black backup hooker set for a second straight tour as head coach when the appointment is confirmed at a function in Edinburgh on September 7. He is expected to take a 10-month sabbatical from his Welsh job.
It could be he faces the most daunting schedule a Lions coach has ever encountered.
It’s bad enough to confront the All Blacks in three straight tests in the mood they appear to be in post their second straight World Cup triumph.
They headed into last night’s second Bledisloe in Wellington having tucked away 12 straight test victories, and 41 on the bounce on their home turf in a run dating back to 2009. But the Lions will also meet all five Super Rugby franchises on their five-week jaunt through Aotearoa, as well as the New Zealand Maori in the proverbial ‘‘fourth test’’. There is also a Barbarians invitation side to kick things off in Whangarei.
The good news is that the Baabaas outfit, dubbed a provincial XV, might offer a manageable introduction to the tour, especially considering it will be a scratch outfit comprised of non-Super Rugby players.
But from then on the degree of difficulty shoots up at an alarming rate.
The Lions will warm up for the first test on June 24 with matches against, respectively, the Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders, New Zealand Maori and Chiefs.
Another way of looking at it, from say a New Zealand perspective, is they will be softened up. The attrition rate is bound to be high against opposition of that level (even if the Super Rugby sides will be without their All Blacks) and lord only knows what could happen to confidence levels should things turn to custard on the field.
You just wonder what Gatland’s mindset will be, given he has already questioned why the schedule was agreed to by the Lions management. He might well regard such a daunting trip as bonus territory. In other words, no pressure, anything we achieve on this tour will be a bonus.
Gatland certainly enhanced his reputation in the north when he presided over the Lions’ 2-1 victory over the Wallabies in Australia in 2013. That halted a three-tour Just four minutes. Not rated. losing streak for the combination side. He also showed himself to be a man capable of making the hard decisions when he left popular Irish centre Brian O’Driscoll out for the deciding test, and was rewarded with a winning response from his team.
But the dynamic in 2017 seems set to be vastly different to 2013 when English rugby was at a lower ebb. Wales and Ireland supplied 13 of the starting team in the deciding test against the Wallabies, and there’s no doubt that Gatland was able to bring the best out in them.
But now, under Jones, England appear to be the dominant entity in the north.
Last time England dominated the Lions they toured New Zealand in 2005 under Clive Woodward, and were cleaned up 3-0. Gatland certainly has his challenges ahead.