Gatland took all the stick to protect us
LIONS HERO JONATHAN DAVIES LEAPS TO HIS COACH’S DEFENCE...
JONATHAN DAVIES does not recognise the sad clown image of Warren Gatland from the Lions tour.
Despite defying the odds to guide the tourists through an epic series in New Zealand, the head coach was ridiculed by his countrymen.
Earlier this week Gatland revealed he hated the tour and would not subject himself to another in South Africa in 2021. He was stunned by the treatment he received and claimed the abuse he suffered was an ‘ orchestrated campaign’. But Davies insists the players were blissfully unaware of Gatland’s problems, which just underlines his coaching genius.
‘I didn’t feel he hated the tour at all,’ revealed Davies. ‘That is one of his qualities. He took a lot of the stick. No players were singled out in the press, it was always him. He took it all.
‘That helped us. He relieved pressure from the team which allowed us to play with freedom.
‘Rugby is all about winning. If he thought that was the best way to allow the team to be ready to take on a Test, he was prepared to do that.
‘If he didn’t enjoy it, that is a bit of a shame. I am sure he might have some fond memories.’
It was bad enough for Gatland that the home media lined him up in their cross-hairs. But when his own player, Sean O’Brien, sniped after the tour it was a body blow. And Davies, man of the series on the trip, thought that unnecessary. ‘What goes on tour normally stays on tour,’ he said. ‘I don’t think there was a need for it to come out publicly. That Sean’s decision to do that.’
Davies is not one to shout about his achievements, allowing others to say he had a stunning tour. The Scarlets centre played every minute of every Test and was voted the best player on tour.
‘That was very humbling. When I am old, fat and can’t walk I’ll tell a lot more people about it than at the moment!’ he laughed.
Davies spoke to Sportsmail on a drive from Cwmgors rugby club up into the Brecon Beacons via the Black Mountain pass. It is known as the ‘Top Gear road’ for its use on the BBC motoring show and is full of twists, turns and stunning views.
He was modelling the new Wales home shirt and knows the path to the next World Cup in 2019 in Japan is treacherous.
In 2011 he made the semi-final but Sam Warburton was sent off and Wales lost 9-8 to France, then Davies missed the 2015 tourna- ment with a knee injury. Now he is desperate for another chance. ‘It was difficult watching in 2015,’ he said. ‘After missing the World Cup I wanted to put myself in position for that 2019 World Cup. I would love another crack. You would probably see me riding off into the sunset if we won it!’
Tonight, club duty takes precedence. The dazzling Scarlets face Bath in the Champions Cup. No Welsh side has made the knockouts since 2012 and Davies knows the Pro12 winners are the flag-bearers.
‘We would love to stake a claim in Europe,’ he said. ‘To get out of the group you have got to win your home games, it starts tonight.’ Jonathan Davies was speaking to Sportsmail as an ISUZU Rugby Ambassador.