Gatland always has the bases covered
For all the misgivings about Gatland’s Lions squad, the Kiwi has proven throughout his career to be a bold selector who always comes armed with a plan
IT’S been 11 days since the Lions squad was announced. The initial hype and hysteria has died down somewhat. There’s been no end of analysis, debate and downright indignation since Warren Gatland settled on his list of 37 tasked with taking down the Springboks this summer.
You’d imagine it’s all white noise for the Kiwi at this stage of his career. This will be his fourth expedition with the Lions, his third as head coach. Gatland has a thick skin. Whatever about the success he had with Wasps and Wales (and there were some significant milestones during his days with Connacht and Ireland as well) Gatland seems to get a pretty raw deal in this part of the world.
A few verbal grenades tossed in Ireland’s direction in the build-up to big Six Nations games down the years didn’t do him any favours. And don’t forget the BOD backlash in 2013. Gatland could point to the fact that the tourists trounced the Wallabies 41-16 in the third Test decider, with Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies starring in midfield.
Still, the flak he cops here and further afield has always been puzzling.
There has been no shortage of cheap shots from the South African media in the wake of last week’s squad announcement. It was the same four years ago when some of the criticism crossed the line. The memory of the New Zealand Herald mocking up a picture of Gatland as a clown remains utterly cringeworthy.
Gatland vented some of that frustration after a press conference one day in New Zealand. After getting quizzed about the ‘Warrenball’ tag, which has followed him around for the best part of a decade, the Lions boss uttered under his breath: ‘I don’t want to have to f ***** keep defending myself!’ as he left the firing line.
For such a successful coach, it’s a strange one. Lest we forget, he has yet to lose a Lions series as head honcho.
In this most unprecedented of assignments, there is no end of challenges but there are plenty of factors in the tourists’ favour as well.
Having an experienced and savvy operator like Gatland running the show is a big one for starters….
GUTSY CALLS
Hands up who correctly predicted Gatland’s squad last week? Or even got close? Even by the New Zealander’s standards, this was quite the shock.
No Kyle Sinckler, James Ryan, Johnny Sexton, Jonathan Davies or Jonny May. Names like Bundee Aki, Chris Harris and Jonny Hill didn’t appear on too many squad prediction lists or fantasy drafts in the weeks leading up to the announcement.
It’s certainly an interesting group. It feels like Gatland and the Lions coaching group have devised a plan to beat the Boks and they need a certain type of player to implement it.
Taulupe Faletau, Jack Conan and Sam Simmonds are all free-wheeling, pacy No8s who spend a lot of time in the wide channels. Heavy duty, crash-ball operators like Billy Vunipola and CJ Stander are being left at home.
There is a trend in midfield also, where fleetfooted centres like Davies, Garry Ringrose and Henry Slade have been passed over for physical and aggressive counterparts such as Aki and Harris. Scroll through the rest of the positions and you will discover running themes throughout.
It’s clear Gatland is on to something. He’s always been a gutsy selector, going back to his time with Ireland when he handed five players – including Ronan O’Gara and John Hayes – their first caps against Scotland in 2000.
Time and again, he has backed young players or perceived outsiders, and rarely have they let him down. It will be interesting to see if that proves to be the case again.
GROUND CONTROL
Gatland was part of Ian McGeechan’s coaching ticket on the last tour of duty to South Africa in 2009. The Springboks were also defending world champions back then and had a stellar cast of generational talents who had put off the big pay days in Europe to stick around and have a crack at the Lions.
The hostility and noise which greeted the players in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg was something to behold. There are few venues more intimidating than a packed-out Loftus Versfeld when the Boks are in town. The Lions won’t have their Red Army in attendance for the series but the hosts won’t have their supporters in the stands either. One of the big challenges of these tours is surviving in intimidating bear pits full to the brim with vociferous home supporters.
Empty stadiums are a massive leveller.
MOBILE NETWORK
Taking on South Africa at their own game this summer is a non-runner. The Springboks pride themselves on their physicality and they have the gnarly customers to back it up. Their giant pack – ably assisted by their Bomb Squad bench – laid the foundations for their World Cup triumph in Japan.
Gatland’s squad will have to play with pace and tempo to tire out South Africa’s big men. And there are no shortage of skilful forwards laced throughout this squad. From Tadhg Furlong to Maro Itoje to Justin Tipuric, this is a Lions pack which is born to run. If they can avoid an arm wrestle, they can inflict a lot of damage. And there are plenty of customers on board who will relish the physical stuff. Courtney Lawes, Hamish Watson and Tom Curry have the in-yourface attitude which will be needed in spades in this most unforgiving of environments.
Gatland is gearing up for tactical battles all across the pitch as well. Elliot Daly was seemingly lucky to make the cut, but bear in mind that the final two Tests are at altitude. Daly has a cannon of a left boot, which could come in handy in a hard-fought three-Test series. If the Saracens back is on duty, the Boks will be mindful of not conceding
any penalties within 60 metres of their posts.
MISSING PARTS
Stuart Hogg, Louis Rees-Zammit and Duhan van der Merwe are no slouches. It would be quite a back three combination to roll out in the Test series. A potent mix of pace, power and aerial ability.
Dig a bit deeper, however, and the lack of genuine game-breakers in this squad is stark. Form and injuries played their part but Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber will be quietly content that Manu Tuilagi, Davies, Ringrose and Slade will be absent from the flight to Cape Town next month.
The absence of Sexton is a bonus as well. The Ireland out-half would have been in the crosshairs of every South African backrower from the moment he set foot on a pitch but Finn Russell will be similarly marked. For all the Scotland No10’s audacious attacking talents, South
Africa will feel they can get to him. Ellis Genge and Sinckler looked like the perfect impact subs for a challenge like this. It’s likely that Gatland felt the pair of talented yet combustible English props were too much of a liability on a tour where discipline, on and off the field, will be paramount. They will be missed.
South Africa have not kicked a ball in anger since Siya Kolisi lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in Yokohama back in November 2019. It’s a huge boost for the Lions.
The Springboks will be rusty ahead of the series, but there is no shortage of confidence in their ranks. Mainly because the former Munster brains trust of Erasmus (above) and Nienaber (don’t forget about Felix Jones either) are still on board. The pair will have a plan to get their squad up to speed, and quickly. Erasmus built something special in Japan. Bonds were forged in a squad which will last a lifetime. It’s an intangible thing which the
Lions will not be able to match or replicate in the months ahead.
Crucially, Gatland will be without Andy Farrell, Steve Borthwick and Graham Rowntree on his backroom team. Gregor Townsend, Steve Tandy and Robin McBryde are able replacements, but are they in the same class as the missing trio?
ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Cast your mind back to the summer of 2016. Joe Schmidt’s Ireland had made history, securing a first win on South African soil with a stunning victory in Cape Town. They managed it with 14 men for the best part of an hour after CJ Stander’s red card. They travelled to Johannesburg for the second Test in high spirits and would have felt a series victory was in the bag at half-time when leading 19-3 and in control.
Fears about the game taking place 5,700 feet above sea level were seemingly dispelled. Or so we thought. Rory Best and Co wilted in the second half at Ellis Park stadium, the visitors conceding 29 points. The final quarter was particularly harrowing as the Boks fought back to level the series. The Irish camp denied that altitude prompted their collapse but there was no denying it played a major part.
The Lions will have a plan to negate its effects on the final fortnight of this tour. The South African players have grown up in such conditions. There is only so much acclimatising an outsider can do.
It remains to be seen which camp will be gasping for air when it gets serious later this summer. Gatland will have a plan though. He will always does. It’s amazing how many people still doubt him.