Gatland vents fury at ‘suicidal’ schedule as Lions labour to victory
Coach hits out after side struggle in tour opener Players on sleeping tablets and suffering back spasms
Warren Gatland, the head coach of the Lions, hit out yesterday at what has been described as the ‘suicidal’ touring schedule – and revealed that several players were taking medication to help them sleep because of jet lag. The Lions laboured to a 13-7 victory over a scratch New Zealand Provincial Barbarians side in their opening match after arriving in the country less than three days earlier.
Even though Gatland was at pains to stress that the Barbarians had played well to stretch his side, it was clear that he remains deeply unimpressed with the impediments in front of him, tartly remarking that two players, prop Kyle Sinckler and flanker Ross Moriarty, were being treated for back spasms.
Gatland suggested that was probably a result of having spent five hours in a car travelling from Auckland on Friday in order to fulfil sponsored community activities. “We’d have preferred to have a week in the UK with the squad and a week in New Zealand,” said Gatland. “We’ve known about the schedule for 12 months and it’s difficult to change that. The powers-that-be in four years’ time will think about the schedule and the importance of having the right preparation and the right time.
“We ran the non-23 players this morning and they had a real blow-out because a number of them are still struggling to sleep. So we knew it was going to be difficult in terms of adjusting to that and preparing in such a short period.
“Ross Moriarty has got a back spasm, and so has Kyle Sinckler. We did community stuff yesterday where the guys have been sitting in cars for five hours, coming up [to Whangarei] and are probably still recovering from the effects of that flight as well.”
Last week former Lions coach Graham Henry described their packed schedule as ‘‘suicidal’’. Gatland was already committed to making wholesale changes for Wednesday’s game against the Blues in Auckland as he looks to give every one of the 41-man squad a start in the first three matches.
The fixtures from here on in are against a wholly enhanced level of opposition with unbeaten Crusaders awaiting in Christchurch on Saturday.
There is no margin for manoeuvre if the effects of the long-haul travel linger. Gatland does not know for certain how many players will still be affected and can only have fingers crossed that the jet lag is out of the system by Wednesday.
“Some players have recovered, but a number of the players and staff are seeing the doctor to try and get a sleeping pill to try and get some sleep. Andy Farrell [was] down in the team room at 4am this morning despite taking a sleeping pill at 11pm last night to try to get some sleep,” said Gatland.
“We hope over the next couple of days everyone gets into a cycle to feel fresh and acclimatised.” One Gatland smiling in the aftermath of the match with Warren’s son, Bryn, enjoying a fine evening as Barbarians fly-half, his clever kicking causing all sorts of problems and leading to the first try of the night scored by Baa Baas captain, Sam Anderson-Heather.
“It was a special day for us as a family,” said Gatland. “Bryn played pretty well, especially with his kicking game.” Gatland’s side scored only one try, from Anthony Watson. “We created opportunities, we just need to be a bit more clinical.”