OMG, I’M SHAKING AT THE KNEES!

Gatland reveals ex-ospreys man’s reaction to Lions coaching role:

LIONS boss Warren Gatland has revealed the stunned reactions of his assistants Steve Tandy and Robin Mcbryde when they were asked to join the coaching group.

The two Welshmen will look after the defence and the forwards respectively for the forthcoming trip to South Africa and are joined on the coaching staff by Scotland boss Gregor Towsend (attack) and Neil Jenkins (kicking).

It represents a remarkable rise for Tandy, who has rebuilt his coaching career at the New South Wales Waratahs and now as defence coach with Scotland after being sacked by the Ospreys three years ago.

Mcbryde knows Gatland well, having worked with him throughout the Kiwi’s time in charge of Wales, helping them win three Grand Slams and a further Six Nations title.

“The buzz I really got was having the phone call with Robin and Steve Tandy asking them to come on board,” said Gatland.

“Their responses were unbelievable. Steve said ‘Oh my God, I’m shaking at the knees, I’m just so excited!’

“Robin didn’t know what to do with himself, just walking around his apartment. It was exactly what I wanted to hear.”

Tandy admitted that he only found out about the job six days before the initial announcement and that the news was still sinking in.

“I had a call with Gats on Wednesday,” said Tandy. “It’s been a whirlwind, I’m pretty blown away by it. I’m super privileged to be a part of Lions history and I can’t wait to get to South

Africa.

“It’s pretty surreal. Then you get moments when it catches you. Coming down yesterday and having first discussions, being around the group, it was awesome to connect and be with the boys.

“It’s starting to sink in a little bit more. I don’t think it will sink in for a long time.”

Gatland’s British and Irish Lions coaching ticket was announced after his original plans were thrown into a fair bit of disarray.

His intentions were to select a familiar group of Andy Farrell, Steve Borthwick and Graham Rowntree.

However, it has been clear for some time that Farrell was not going to be available and, as such, Tandy was lined up, even though he wasn’t told until last week. But Borthwick and Rowntree’s omissions were less straightforward.

“There’s no doubt that it’s been a mental week,” admitted Gatland.

“I’ve known for a long time that Andy Farrell wasn’t going to be available to us and we’ve been talking for a number of weeks. That wasn’t the decision last week.

“I had spoken to Gregor [Towsend] a number of weeks ago about Steve Tandy as a possibility. He was very complimentary about him and the job he’s done with Scotland in the last couple of years. Their defence has probably been the best in the championship last year and this year.

“That, for me, was a relatively easy one in terms of knowing that it was unlikely Andy was going to be available.

“Then the situations with Steve Borthwick and Graham Rowntree were different. Steve just felt, and he’s an incredibly honourable person, his obligations were with Leicester with changes happening.

“He felt it was his day job and that he needed to be there at the helm for Leicester with things going on in the off-season.

“With Graham, it was a different situation. He’d been trying to convince his family to come over to Limerick from Leicester for the last couple of years and he’s finally got them over.

“He’s trying to get them settled in with the challenges of Covid. He just felt that being away for eight weeks, possibly ten if there is quarantine, was too much. He just said ‘I need to be there for my family.’ “I understand that.” Gatland added that his coaching team may not be finalised just yet, with one more role potentially to be filled, although he said he would be