I hope my son is kept busy – Gatland

WARREN Gatland has joked he hopes to keep son Bryn tackling like a demon in tomorrow’s British and Irish Lions tour opener.

Lions boss Gatland will square up to son Bryn for the first time, when the Blues playmaker starts at fly-half for the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians against the tourists.

And Gatland Senior wants his Lions to kick-start their gruelling 10-match tour on the front foot by heaping the pressure on the Barbarians.

“I spoke to Bryn last night and he’s enjoying the week,” said Lions coach Gatland of his 22-year-old son.

“We’ll catch up tomorrow, and he’ll expect to have to make a few tackles on the weekend.

“We haven’t spoken too much about the game but he’s excited about the opportunity.”

The brother of former Cardiff Blues and All Blacks centre Casey Laulala, Luteru, will start at full-back. New Zealand Provincial Barbarians team: L Laulala, S Vaka (both Counties Manukau), I Finau (Canterbury), D Sweeney, S Reece (both Waikato), B Gatland (North Harbour), J Stratton (Canterbury), A Ross (Bay of Plenty), S Anderson-Heather (Otago, captain), O Jager (Canterbury), J Goodhue (Northland), K Mewett (Bay of Plenty), J Tucker (Waikato), L Boshier (Taranaki), M Dunshea (Canterbury). Replacements: A Makalio (Tasman), T Fahamokioa (Wellington), M Renata (Auckland), M Matich (Northland), P Rowe (Wanganui), R Judd (Bay of Plenty), J Lowe (Hawke’s Bay), J Ngaluafe (Southland).