Be prepared: Gatland gets his excuses in early for tour

"It is a challenge to bring players from four countries together and gel them quickly." Warren Gatland

Lions coach Warren Gatland appears to be making some early excuses, berating a lack of preparation time for his team’s New Zealand tour and the schedule ahead of the first test with the All Blacks.

The Lions leave Britain on a tight timetable.

Gatland has only three days to gel his composite team for their tour opener in June.

They leave London on the Monday following the English Premiership and Pro 12 finals. They arrive in Auckland on the Wednesday and play on the Saturday, against the Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei.

Gatland warns it goes against the successful formula used leading into the successful tour of Australia four years ago.

‘‘I said in my report that it comes down to three words: preparation, preparation, preparation,’’ Gatland told The Guardian.

‘‘There are a number of stakeholders involved and they have to understand the future of the Lions and that things should be done properly.

‘‘Last time we had a week in Hong Kong and arrived in Australia with five days to spare, which feels a lifetime compared to arriving on the Wednesday with the first game that Saturday.

‘‘Everyone wants more time but what would be reasonable would be to have a week together with the squad in the UK or Ireland before you travel and arrive seven days before your first game.’’

Gatland also questioned the hectic week leading into the crucial first test.

The Lions play New Zealand Maori in Rotorua on a Saturday, then head to Hamilton to play the Chiefs on Tuesday, before taking on the All Blacks at Eden Park four days later.

‘‘The ideal scenario would be not playing a match in the week of the first test,’’ Gatland said.

He felt it was an issue that needed to be addressed moving forward with the Lions next tour being to South Africa in 2021.

‘‘I hope the Lions are able to negotiate with the stakeholders, the unions and the clubs. It might mean bringing Europe and the finals forward a week so we can have more warmup time,’’ he said.

‘‘It is a challenge to bring players from four countries together and gel them quickly, which is why you need both preparation time and five warmup matches.’’