Gatland expecting tough challenge against Super Rugby teams
Warren Gatland has praised the strength of New Zealand’s Super Rugby teams ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour this summer.
The Lions will face five New Zealand Super Rugby sides on tour – the Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders, Chiefs and Hurricanes – in addition to a threetest series against the world champion All Blacks.
And Lions head coach Gatland is under no illusions about the task ahead.
“They are obviously playing very well, there is some outstanding rugby being played by the New Zealand teams in the way that they are dominating the competition,” he said.
“We know how difficult they will be as opposition.
“A lot of those teams are going through transition in terms of the way they are defending.
“Teams are coming up particularly hard off the line, so we are just watching that pretty closely in terms of that transition at the moment.
“The way New Zealand sides have traditionally defended, there’s a bit of a change in the way that they are doing that, but there is no doubt that they are playing some outstanding
0 Warren Gatland: No illusions. rugby and they are going to be tough prospects for us leading into the Test matches.”
Gatland, meanwhile, does not believe that the loss from his squad of injured England and Saracens No 8 Billy Vunipola, who would potentially have been among the Lions’ star players on tour, will necessarily encourage the All Blacks.
“I don’t think it will make too much difference to them,” he added. “We are going to lose some players along the way, and they are in the same boat as well.
“They’ve got a few big games to play over the next few weekends before the Test series starts, and fingers crossed, we don’t pick up any injuries in the finals [Aviva Premiership and Guinness Pro12] this weekend.” And reflecting on tour preparations, Gatland said: “It’s a matter of doing things on the training pitch, and with the work that they [players] have been doing in terms of learning the calls, getting themselves in front of the computers to learn everything and then doing walk-throughs and helping each other.
“So it’s been a couple of really worthwhile weeks so far that we’ve been together.
“In fairness to the players, the way that they’ve approached and applied themselves has been absolutely outstanding. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.” The SRU has given approval for associate membership to a breakaway club from Royal High Corstorphine, but initially under the name Barnton RFC.
The Scotsman reported earlier this month on plans to revive the old Royal High School FP – a founding member of the SRU – in what is the original club’s 150th anniversary year.
The move represents a rather acrimonious divorce from the merged RHC club, which came into being in 2003 in an illfated attempt to replicate what was achieved by Glasgow Hawks by combining Royal High with Corstorphine RFC.
It is understood that the application was submitted to the union’s Board under the name Barnton, where the Royal High School of Edinburgh is based and RHC play their first team fixtures, to ensure a smooth passage to associate membership for the breakaway club. It can be presumed that a move to revert to the name Royal High is planned.
The new club’s intention is to play at Barnton. The current RHC club also plays matches at Union Park in Corstorphine.
In a statement, the new club said: “Barnton Rugby are delighted with the decision of Scottish Rugby’s Board to admit us to Associate membership playing from our base at the Royal High School, Barnton. We look forward to a busy summer period preparing for the coming season and the inclusion of both a Ladies Team and a Minis Section.
“Despite some recent differences we would like to wish RHC Cougars all the best for the future as both Clubs pursue their own paths.
“Those seeking membership of the new club should be in touch with their usual contact.”
The new club are expected to announce details of their plans in terms of coaching, playing staff and general strategy in the coming days and weeks, with the Championship committee to determine in which division they will play. RHC are currently in National Division 3.