‘I support the All Blacks but I want Dad to do well’
Bryn Gatland faces his father’s Lions hoping they go on to make history, writes Jim Kayes
Lions tours are no place for split loyalties, but even the most tribal follower would make an exception for Bryn Gatland. The 22-year-old North Harbour fly-half will play for the Provincial Barbarians on Saturday, in the first match of the tourists’ 12th visit to New Zealand, and while he is keen to serve notice of Kiwi intent, he is also aware of the damage that could cause the man in the Lions’ coaching box – who just happens to be his father, Warren.
So, who will he be supporting in the Tests, in which Gatland Snr is hoping to emulate his 1971 predecessors, the only Lions party to win a series against the All Blacks?
The reply is definitive. “I’m an All Blacks supporter normally, but family comes first, so I want the Lions to do well,” Bryn says.
When asked what constitutes “well”, this native of Auckland turns the question around. “What would you want if it was your father [coaching the Lions]?” he asks. “It’s not that I want the All Blacks to lose, it’s that I want Dad to do well. It will be amazing if the Lions can do well against the best side in the world. It will be a very proud moment for my family if Dad can achieve that goal.”
Modern rugby is littered with dynasties – from the Fords and Farrells of England, the Youngs with Wales and the Barrett clan of New Zealand – but never before have a father and son been pitted against each other in a Lions series.
The pair have been joking about the possibility since last autumn, when Bryn helped North Harbour win promotion to New Zealand’s Premiership. Back then, all the chatter was of Junior being “targeted”, a suggestion which prompted Bryn to tell his father: “Don’t worry, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.”
Now, the tone is more diplomatic, with Bryn clearly aware of the burden of expectation that his father has shouldered. He was almost there to see Warren lead the Lions to victory in the Test series in Australia four years ago, but a delayed flight left him in mid-air while the match was on. When he arrived in Sydney, his phone was filled with messages of congratulation after the emphatic 41-16 win.
On Saturday, the Gatlands will all have front-row seats, with Warren’s wife, Trudi, having bought 30 tickets to the opening game before her son had even been named in the Barbarians squad. Demand for Test tickets is through the roof and the family will travel to all 10 of the games.
Despite their father spending much of his year 11,500 miles away in Britain, the Gatlands remain tight-knit. His daughter, Gabby, 24, broke off from her law degree to watch Wales in the 2015 World Cup – her succinct verdict on her father’s win over England, “Soz Poms”, rather captured the mood – while in an interview last year, Trudi revealed how the first thing Warren did on returning to his home country with Wales for their three-test tour last summer was to secure a ticket to watch Bryn play for North Harbour against Northland.
“I often compare it to husbands and wives in the forces, when one of the couple is away for long stretches,” she reflected. “There are also people who commute or have highly powered careers who might not see each other a lot on a daily basis. In a lot of ways, we are very lucky and the times we have are good.”
This Saturday might be an unusual family reunion, with little time for pre-match pleasantries, but Bryn’s approach will be shaped by his father.
“He’s always told me to back myself, no matter how much experience I do or don’t have for the level I’m playing,” he says. “And he tells me to be dominant, to be demanding and to boss the game.”
Bryn knows that a standout performance could propel him into the public’s imagination, and serve as a reminder of his talents to the coaching staff at Blues, the Super Rugby franchise for whom he recently provided injury cover.
Gatland’s squad have certainly not underestimated his son. Greig Laidlaw admitted they had been “doing our homework” on his game, while Sam Warburton is already familiar with his gifts.
“I’ve known Bryn now for years,” he said yesterday. “He was coming in to kick with the Wales squad six, seven years ago. He’s shown a lot of courage in the past and will definitely do the same again now. He’s in a good bloodline but it’s a great achievement for him to be in this position.”
The chance of Bryn and his fellow Barbarians – who are mostly semi-professionals – putting one over his old man is slim. For now, just making him proud will be enough.