There’s power in the union, so far
ponent parts of their game and then bring them all together in the first test in a cohesive and accurate performance. That’s why Gatland unveiled a coaching team last week that was familiar to him and the Lions. He has handpicked men who know the territory and the challenge.
They have to buy in to the big picture and do it quickly which is why he’s gone with Andy Farrell and Rob Howley, in whom he has a depth of trust.
When Gatland’s wider strategy is considered, the whole things starts to make sense.
His approach will be vastly different to that of Sir Clive Woodward, who was the last man to take the Lions to New Zealand. All of the players in Gatland’s tour party will be given game time in the first week. All of the squad will travel to each venue — unlike 2005 when Auckland was base camp and those not involved on match day stayed behind.
And as much as they can, the Lions will have the mind- set of this being an old- fashioned tour. They will engage with their hosts. They will reach out to the communities in which they find themselves and they will, at least, try to win the respect of the locals they encounter. he rumble has started, the drumming optimism from north of the Equator that the Lions will do the business in New Zealand for the first time in 45 years.
Coach Warren Gatland unveiled his sidekicks this week as confidence went to another level after the string of performances from England and Ireland’s historic win over the All Blacks in Chicago.
Those results were a hefty counterpoint to the failure of any sides in Europe to crack the semifinals at the last World Cup.
A year on and it’s all change with the assembly lines swarming with talent.
Chuck in improvement from Scotland beside the work of Wales and the player bullion is mounting.
You can smell the confidence and certainly read about it as each block in the Lions’ building programme is cemented in to place.
If you know your rugby history and embrace the Lions concept, the chance to redress the multi- level mistakes of the 2005 side with a quality coaching and playing group will be an optimistic topic.
From this summer vantage point after another year of strong All Black success, the prospect of a rousing Lions challenge on the field and engaging in social warfare with their boisterous supporters is a warm prospect.
There’ll be some tasty needle too from the writers and commentators who cover rugby in Europe.
The scent of change about 2017 in New Zealand is hitting their nostrils hard as they ask whether some trepidation is fanning anxiety in New Zealand before the new season has started.
When Gatland confirmed Andy Farrell and Rob Howley would suit up again for the Lions after their 2013 work in Australia and would be joined by forwards tutor Steve Borthwick, there was unified support.
They will bring some formidable and current expertise and will be joined by a few other specialists.
Not Eddie Jones though, nor Joe Schmidt nor Vern Cotter, who have led their sides through the furnace to success in Europe and also have a deep understanding of rugby in this part of the world.
Gatland does as well but he could do with a touch more homegrown knowledge in his coaching crew.
There will be a heavy depth of class across most positions in the Lions but they will need that to deal with a sixgame itinerary before they set their sights on three tests in the last four matches.
Team harmony will get a serious workout among the players once the squad is announced next April and gets in to its work here in June.
There is every chance the current media spearhead of optimism will splinter into single- nation grievances when the squad is announced or more likely when test selections approach.
New Zealand and the All Blacks better hope that pattern unfolds because a unified Lions side, with all that talent, one that finds a style and makes it work, will provide a massive challenge for the No 1 side in the world. was on TV nowadays.
“I didn’t go to much live rugby this year,” he said. “I went to one game only and that was the Lochore Cup with my old mate ( former team- mate Brian Lochore). But I watched just about everything on TV.
“The wife wasn’t overly happy with me watching so much rugby but there you go.”
But other than that criticism, Meads said he was thrilled with the performances of the All Blacks this season and felt their only defeat, at the hands of the Irish in Chicago, was good for international rugby.
“Somewhere along the line it will happen with all teams. We’ve seen it with South Africa going through a patch now where Japan and Italy have beaten them for the first time.” “In many ways, it’s good for rugby. “It couldn’t have been a nicer lot than the Irish. They’re great fellas and great players. I just wish their press would be more positive. That was disappointing for me because the Irish are good people.
“I think they just caught us on an off- day in Chicago.”
Meads also admitted his concern about the demise of the All Blacks’ traditional foes, the Springboks.
“I think South Africa made the wrong choice by letting them go overseas and still play for South Africa.
“If New Zealand did that too, all of our players would be over in France, Italy, Japan or the UK and that’s where all their players have gone,” he told Veitch.
“They’ve tried to get them back to play test rugby but they can’t have them all the time because the clubs are the bosses and they won’t release them for the camps like the All Blacks have.”