Canterbury's 'Untouchable' Lions Jersey & British and Irish Lions Head Coach Warren Gatland

Earlier this week the next step on the road to New Zealand was marked as Canterbury released the ‘untouchable jersey’. I have to say that I've seen quite a number of kit and product launches in my time, both in rugby and in business, and this one by Canterbury was pretty spectacular and certainly fitting of such an important British and Irish Lions moment. 

Following teaser hologram devices the day prior the new British and Irish Lions jersey became part of London’s skyline for one night only and it looked outstanding. The jersey has been positioned as being ‘untouchable’ until players have earned the right to wear it by being called up Warren Gatland. Without a doubt having the honour of wearing a Lions jersey is the thing that every single home nations’ player is striving to achieve this season. Naturally it is a match shirt that is filled with all of the innovations and technology required to ensure that the best of the best are ready for action in New Zealand. As you may have seen on my social media channels I was delighted to have been invited to the launch event and during it was able to speak with Warren Gatland. 

As soon as the Kiwi was announced as head coach he immediately set off on a trip back to New Zealand. Obviously the purpose was to keep a close eye on next year’s opponents as well as nailing down some of the logistical elements of the tour. Like all, the Lions head coach is well aware of the prowess of his native side but also realises that during the Rugby Championship they weren’t competing against opposition that were all at the tops of their game. Regardless he believes that the All Blacks have ‘taken the game to a new level’ and knows that there is one significant key to handling Steve Hansen’s side;

“The thing with playing against them is that you’ve got to be able to play for 80 minutes. Looking at the games in the past, whether it was Wales, Australia, Argentina or even South Africa to a certain extent, they were often in the game for 60 minutes. But, the All Blacks are relentless and they keep playing for 80 minutes. That’s the challenge for all of us, to cope with that intensity for that long period of time.

“They have a policy of very much using a 23-man squad and making changes early in their front row and having the confidence in their squad to go out there and be positive. I think that if you are in a close game they still play percentages, still play territory and put the ball up in the air but when they are dangerous is when they get 15 points in front. Then you can be in a world of pain for the last ten or 15 minutes because they let the shackles off and start throwing the ball around. So, you’ve got to be in the game against them and you’ve got to be in the game for 80 minutes.”

Interestingly he admitted that there is potentially a psychological element to being able to handle the All Blacks for 80 minutes. That’s something that I have often wondered about... When good sides are still in with a shout against the ABs do their minds start to play tricks on them? Do they start thinking 'we could do this, we could be the ones to beat them' and from there they teeter off? Fitness of course plays a factor but in my mind the Lions squad that will be heading to New Zealand won’t have any issues in that department so nailing the psychology will be vital. 

Another area of interest speaking with Warren was listening to his viewpoint regarding the balance that he wants to strike in terms of continuity and fresh faces;

“With the lack of preparation you need some continuity with people that have worked together, whether that’s back room staff outside of the coaches or some of the coaches being familiar with each other. It’s important that we have one or two fresh faces as well. I have spoken to one or two people in the back room set up but I haven’t spoken to any coaches, I’m going to start doing that over the next couple of weeks. 

“I think the same applies, not just from a coaching point of view, but maybe for some of the squad as well. With players that have been on previous tours their form has got to be important, but there might be a player who you look at that’s been on previous tours and was a regular Test starter then but at the moment there are one or two others that are better than him. He could still be really good to come as an experienced Lions player that’s been on past tours and would be great for some of the youngsters and as a mid-week player.”

So clearly the decisions that Warren will be making over the coming weeks (he announces his coaching set up on 7th December) will require a careful balancing act. There’s also an added element regarding coaches in terms of potentially releasing them from any contracts that they may be under. Obviously there’s a longer time period when it comes to his choices of squad members but knowing Warren’s viewpoints on some of these key elements now may help explain future decisions when they come around.

There’s no question that this Lions tour will be the toughest and most intense of recent years. The All Blacks are the pinnacle of world rugby and some may even widen that and say that they are the pinnacle of world sport right now. Yet when you look at the talent available to Warren Gatland, and you couple that with his knowledge and experience, then you start to think that the British and Irish Lions may just be able pull off something remarkable next year. 

Warren Gatland was speaking at the launch of the 'untouchable' Canterbury British and Irish Lions Jersey. Trust me when I say they are amazing jerseys and would work as an outstanding Christmas gift from canterbury.com