MEET THE SQUAD...

WHEN Warren Gatland selected his coaching team for this summer’s gruelling tour of New Zealand, he said they were capable of “hitting the ground running” when they touch down in All Blacks territory.

Gatland has retained the services of four men who accompanied him to Australia four years ago in Andy Farrell, Rob Howley, Graham Rowntree and Neil Jenkins. Steve Borthwick is the newcomer.

“I am excited about this coaching team,” Gatland said. “In Rob and Andy we have guys who understand the Lions concept, have worked together and know how to coach a winning Lions team.

“It’s also important to have some new input. Steve has done a great job in shaping the England pack and played a major role in their recent run of success, so I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Gatland has resisted the urge to mess around too much with his trusted circle of advisors; why would he? He found a winning formula last time out, that bond, that working mentality, is already there. Chemistry is everything, especially in close-knit and time-constrained circumstances. Lions tours aren’t so much about coaching – the players selected are already among some of the best in the world it is about menatality, confidence, camaraderie, and, most importantly, getting the team right.

How will Gatland’s team help in facilitating that?