Class of ’71 cheering on Gat’s new breed
FROM BACK PAGE 1971 side, said: “Gareth Edwards, Barry John, David Duckham, JPR Williams, Willie John McBride – several times – have all texted me.
“They were basically saying, ‘Get this monkey off our backs! We don’t want to die with the record around our necks’.
“When we won in ’71, we didn’t realise we were making history.
“We thought some other team would come along and do the same thing.”
The support from afar has been in stark contrast to the harsh treatment meted out to Lions head coach Warren Gatland on the 53-year-old’s return to his Kiwi homeland.
Now Gatland has the chance to complete back-toback series wins, following the 2013 Lions’ triumph in Australia.
Going from clown to crown would, according to attack coach Rob Howley (above), elevate Gatland alongside the original ‘Lion king’, Sir Ian McGeechan.
“I look at Geech and Warren Gatland in the same way, as two outstanding coaches,” Howley said.
“Gats understands the game, he understands players, and is probably one of the best coaches in world rugby at this moment in time.
“Out here, he’s always been in control, always known what he’s wanted.”