BBC Radio 5 Live reporting that Gatland gets the nod.
I'm sure all the Irish players will be thrilled ....
BBC Radio 5 Live reporting that Gatland gets the nod.
I'm sure all the Irish players will be thrilled ....
Say they are all getting their passports readyOriginally Posted by cilldioma
For their summer holidays. Can book them early in 2013.
Connacht Rugby
"Live to win. Born to lose"
A(another) Kiwi in charge of the British & Irish Lions. Isn't it time to give up on this whole charade? Who really cares?
Never mind perception because it isn’t real. It’s only what people think. Go out and make them think something else. Alan Quinlan Irish Times April 24th 2013
I do. It's a great tradition. Not surprised that Gatland got the job best coach in the NH results wise. Will be interesting to see who he selects.
4 Feb 2011 - Gilmore on the General Election
"Frankfurts way or Labours way."
28 Feb 2012 - Gilmore on a yes vote for the fiscal treaty
"A vote for economic stability and a vote for economic recovery."
There really was no other candidate when it came down to it, he'll do well, I guess he will be taking Edwards with him?
Hip Flasks at the ready, double for a Stringer ankle tap!
And I do
Anybody who sees a psychiatrist would want their head examined.*&nb sp;Henry Ford
I think it was a great tradition but I think it has had its day. Shortest tour ever next summer and would not be surprised if it is the last one. The Northern Hemisphere teams should not be putting the Southern Hemisphere teams onto a pedestal by saying we need four nations to beat your one. I would rather see the European teams playing 3 test series in rotation against the SH teams and the shortfall being made up with playing developing nations in a Churchill cup type arrangement. Genuinely hope as few Irish players as possible are involved because the rate of attrition for Irish players on Lions tours has been brutal and not done the national team or the provinces any favours. Fatland, Edwards and Rowntree being the coaching ticket makes my stance on the whole thing a lot easier to justify.
With Oz being the least interested of the 3 SH nations (I've never been on a Lions tour so I cant justify or confirm this, but Union isnt massive down there) It might be a series Sky can win, and plug the balls out of it afterward. The Wallabies have had a small bit of a hoodoo over Wales for a long time now, but England have no fear of them whatsoever. Also, the Wallaby pack in global terms isn't exactly gigantic, there's no HighVeldt monsters ready to ambush during the midweek either, I don't think this upcoming tour will be half as attritional opposition-wise, although I do think the Fatland/Edwards Bootcamp will be for the selected squad.
I am the million man.
Unlikely to be too many Irish players in the first draft squad - but it is a tour that the players want to make, whatever the merits or demerits of it from a national perspective.
It would seem most players see it as a career honour to make the selection- regardless of what we supporters think.
I suppose my initial post was in reference to the fact that Gatland just riles many an Irish supporter - and I'd presume some players - with his provocative stance on other teams, and also on referees.
His outbursts, particularly about refs, were nothing sort of a disgrace during the 6Ns.
I can't help but feel that, 11 years later, he still has a massive chip on his shoulder about Irish rugby. At the time, I didn't agree with the shameful manner of his disposal, but I personally feel as if he just needs to let it go.
One thing is for sure - he won't be calling up EOS as an assistant ;-)
He does seem to be some man for carrying a grudge, but it was indeed a shameful act. If there was any sanity in the IRFU given how we have underachieved since and the success Gatland has had some heads should roll.
But if the job is to go to the best head coach of a 4 nations side then it is a no brainer it has to be Gatland, warts and all.
I am one of the 5 clowns woo hoo
If confirmed he is by far the best man for the Job. Also would like to see fewer Irish players on tour as it takes us at least a year to recover after these events. As things stand it wll be mainly English Welsh anyway.
Last edited by hooke; 26th-March-2012 at 16:45.
Don't know about that. The Lions promoters will be anxious to fill the stadiums with exiled Irish people. They sure won't fill them with Welsh.
I guess that means Warburton is guaranteed the captaincy as well. I wonder what will happen if next season, Ireland, France and England get their acts together again and relegate Wales back to their usual 4th place (as with the last 2 grand slams)?
Liam2me you beat me to it. Are we all sure that Warburton is nailed on though? Gatland might have to name another captain to avoid the inevitable claims of bias. And didn't the last Welsh coach to coach the Lions have terrible problems when he returned?
Rugby Atletico de Madrid Division De Honor 2012/2013
Hope it is Warburton rather than POC but think SW will have more than enough on his plate dealing with Pocock, who is the key to the Aussie side, without the distraction of captaincy. Plus his fitness is starting to look very suspect; shame as he is a cracking player and seems a cracking lad. Also think Tipuric will be pushing him very hard for the Wales 7 jersey in next years 6 nations. Jamie Roberts would be captain for me, if he wants it with his studies, because he is automatic for his position and most importantly he is not Irish!?!!??
I hope he picks loads of welsh lads, leaves our guys at home for a good rest. Can't see him picking POC, but I bet warburton career is gonna be injury after injury. Could end up being robk but i hope not.
Ah the Irish lads will be hoping of the ground come the autumn of 2013 not an injury to be seen.But a few of the Leinster lads might be devastated though.
There could be tears at bedtime if Jamie isn't picked to go on the sideshow. Particularly as he will have played well in next years six nations!?! To be serious for a minute, the one Irish player i would be pleased to see on the tour would be BOD. It would be a great swansong to go on a fourth Lions tour and it is something he seems to really want. He doesn't owe Irish rugby anything IMO and if he wants to go out on that stage then good luck to him.Ah the Irish lads will be hoping of the ground come the autumn of 2013 not an injury to be seen.But a few of the Leinster lads might be devastated though.
I expected the whole Wales/Gatland bashing to start again at some point, but this soon by jeebus!
I don't want Gatland to get the job either. Dont wan't him giving away our secrets to youuzz Irish.
I think the Lions Tour is fantastic and I hope the Aussie tour doesn't disappoint. I think its good to bring the 4 nations together once and a while as it reinforces our differences and our rivalries as well as nourishing camaraderie and respect between teams (the rugby ethos).
I was in Cloh's in 2009 to hear Gerald Davies announce the Lions Team. As were a load of other like-minded people, who had ran in from work to hear it live. A great buzz, with a lot of good banter and a huge roar when Keith's name was read out. A scene amplified for the matches (although I was not at Cloh's). A great spectacle, and rugby at its very best IMO.
Hopefully against the Aussie we wont get as many injuries also.
I don't know why Jamie Roberts' name is being thrown around as Lions captain material, and I'm a Blues fan. He has little or no captaining experience and would do well to concentrate on his own role. It'll have to be a decision made at the time, who knows Richie Gray may lead Scotland to a grand slam next spring.
The axe that cuts the tree can easily forget, but the tree thats been cut will not forget.
Huwie, you think its great, I think it has had its day no fatland/Wales bashing there.
Did you not enjoy the 2009 tour?
The axe that cuts the tree can easily forget, but the tree thats been cut will not forget.
No other coach up here is strong enough to take this job on certainly not the Monsignor .....it has to be Gatland with Shaun Edwards as Defence Coach..Therefore he will pick big Lumps in the back line and Big Lumps in Forwards with odd token small talented guy (not many secrets there). Only Irish I think might justify a call on that basis are O'Brien (but not on present form), Ferris, Kearney (on present form) Best and just maybe O'Connell....token Irish might be BOD (sympathy), Sexton
Not really, injuries left right and centre before the tour even started and downhill from there. Lots of crazy selections as well like vickery and moyne to name just two. And tons of moaning about refs and with Fatland in charge this tour will be worse in that respect. Worst thing could be Irish players getting smashed up in pointless midweek games.
Tomás got selected and duly disintegrated his ankle below in cork the following week, his form never, ever, ever came within a million miles of those days prior to that injury again. Fla made it to the first training camp, chipped a bone in his elbow and I think you could count on your fingers the number of Munster caps since that incident.Quinnie never got to tour after gouging Plug Cullen in Croker. Then there's Rog and getting himself knocked clean out........ and the losing of that test. All told it was a manky tour for the Munster contingent. Plus I too think its had its day, sadly, I think the players love it for the money. But some of the squads during the professional era have been mental.
I am the million man.
bit harsh cowboy saying they love it for money.. ... I've been lucky enough to have been on 3 lions trips.... SA in 97 and 09 and NZ in 2005.... and its a marvelous trip... just for balance i have been 5 HC finals and am in far position to compare....its still a huge honour for players and you get Willie john and JPR talking to teams on tour to show the value of it to them....but i do agree the squad in 2005.was a joke...... but it got.back to its roots in 09.....it was a bad tour for munster that was more coincidence that anything else.....
"Lads, your not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died" Frank Leahy
I was probably a bit strong on the money thing alright. It was the 05 tour that annoyed me most, huge squad and bizarrely selected (jobs for the boys 101) I'm sure it's a superb tour to travel on and it's still the highest accolade of your stature you can receive outside a RWC win and the last tour was much more honest in it's selection and it's ethos was what it used to be. Having never toured I've only experienced it through the modicum of sky sports and that's probably sullied my view of it too. A bit like ireland camps, munster paid a high high price for a lost series 3 years ago and ROG came in for heat. I dunno, I'm cynical toward it a bit, Dricos shoulder, Burger attacking Fitzy, Rog seeing stars and still trying to tackle, fla, Quinnie, Tomas. The thing has not been hugely beneficial to province or country. Apart from Keith Earls and Kearney and Bowe in the centre!
I am the million man.
Ferris' ankle gave out as well in 09 also didn't it?
I am the million man.
personally i think the 3 tests v SA... were better quality than the 6n and vast majority of games at rwc...but if you get to go sometime SA is the place to go
"Lads, your not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died" Frank Leahy
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