Looks like Gatland would prefer a 'non-English' Lions tour
Lions coach Warren Gatland has said that he is wary of picking too many Englishmen for the Lions tour in June, as having too many English players on the trip to Australia would create 'pressures' on the tour as they're not always the most popular with other countries.
Maybe he doesn't get the idea of being 'British' as it's the British and Irish Lions, not the English and Celtic Lions ...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rug...-pressure.html
Bizarre.
Unless he means that by overtly picking a less strong squad takes pressures off *him* to actually, you know, win games. Dick.
Red ones are better.
I think the Lions are a bit of an anachronism in professional rugby and frankly I would rather it wasn't happening. I'd much rather England were continuing their development with a full strength summer tour.
Gatland is an idiot. A while ago he said something to the effect that Robshaw needn't bother worrying about touring as he wasn't a proper 7. Whether he is or isn't (and I'm not sure what it really means frankly), it is awful man management. This just compunds it. I wonder if he really fell on his head rather than his ankles when he fell off his ladder?
I think the team is called the British and Irish Lions or something like that. AFAIK it is not an English team even if the Lions have English players on it.
Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway! [Mary Kay Ash quotes]
Einstein once wrote: "The important thing is to not stop questioning."
Chuckles is one of the most astute coaches around.
He knows that the press is filled with stuff about England because we beat the All Blacks and have won the first two games of the 6N. He's not going to alienate anyone in public, and he's going to keep people on his side for as long as possible.
But he will pick the squad he thinks he needs to win, regardless of composition. And given the time available to bring a team together, it may be that the "best" players won't necessarily gel together.
Which is why his comments were odd and pretty crass. Technically he doesn't have to choose any English players, but he obviously will. I'd vote for Brian O’Driscoll over Chris Robshaw as captain and Owen Farrell as fly-half.Originally Posted by Rocker
I do like the British and Irish Lions tours as it's the only time the guys at the local rugby club cheer for the same team ..
Except for the saffers...Which is why his comments were odd and pretty crass. Technically he doesn't have to choose any English players, but he obviously will. I'd vote for Brian O’Driscoll over Chris Robshaw as captain and Owen Farrell as fly-half.
I do like the British and Irish Lions tours as it's the only time the guys at the local rugby club cheer for the same team ..
Red ones are better.
We don't have any at my local club .. there are English, Scots, Irish and a couple of Welsh guys though ...
the captain of a country no matter how "proven" doesnt always mean they'll make a good Lions or even a touring captain (listen to the sky sports ?program that had Willie-John, Mike Burton, Roger Uttley etc.....) its a different set of qualities needed than just leading for 80 mins during matches
Last edited by bertie; 13th February 2013 at 12:42 PM.
......"Bertie is pretty much a zen master..................."
I agree with that ... I do think O’Driscoll has the edge and will get the respect of the players. Can't really think of anyone else. Gatland's a good coach so I'm sure he's given it some thought.
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