Gatland’s NZ hopes could be hit by media relationship – Zinzan
WARREN Gatland’s relationship with the media makes it difficult for the Wales and Lions supremo to ever become New Zealand coach, says All Blacks legend Zinzan Brooke.
Gatland endured a punishing six-week trip back to his homeland in the summer with the Lions and admitted he ‘hated the press and the negativity in New Zealand’.
The former hooker and his assistant coach Rob Howley were also subject of criticism from Irish flanker Sean O’Brien for their coaching methods in the summer.
But it’s his relationship with the media back home that Brooke believes would make it a tough task to take over the All Blacks coaching reins from Steve Hansen following the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
And the 58-times capped No.8, who spent a decade playing Test rugby for New Zealand after a debut in 1987, insists there should be no short cut to the top job in world rugby should he mend his relationship with the Kiwi press.
Brooke argues the man, who has delivered two Six Nations Grand Slam during his 10-year reign in Wales, should serve an apprenticeship back in his homeland before being considered a prospective All Blacks coach.
Speaking in Gloucester at a Wooden Spoon Charity event, Brooke told the Citizen newspaper: “It would be difficult for Gatland to be All Blacks coach now because of the relationships with the media.
“But you can mend things, time is a great healer, people will forget and forgive.
“Gats is certainly a candidate for an All Blacks coach but he is going to have to learn his craft.
“There is no way that he would go back from being Wales and Lions coach to All Blacks, they won’t allow it.
“That would be a bit of a snub to all of the other coaches that have stayed in New Zealand.”
Gatland has previously coached in New Zealand with Waikato but has never been the head coach of a Super Rugby franchise.
“He’ll have to do his apprenticeship in New Zealand, either with a colts, a Maori side or a club side,” said Brooke.
“But I think with his experience, you could put him in at Waikato, second year straight into the Chiefs and then on to the All Blacks after that.
“He definitely has the potential but he will have to put things in place because it will take him at least two years.”
Brooke has fired a broadside at Ireland back-rower O’Brien for going public on his concerns over the Lions coaching methods during the drawn Test series with New Zealand.
“I am a little bit annoyed with Sean O’Brien with his comments after the tour,” Brooke added.
“You just can’t be doing things like that, that is just wrong, it is bang out of order.
“If you have an internal problem, deal with it internally and mention it.
“But three weeks after the tour you cannot be coming out criticising the coach.”