So, the next step on the road to the 2017 Lions tour is in place as Warren Gatland has announced his three assistant coaches. The speculation surrounding this coaching announcement was great and will continue as the Kiwi has revealed that in terms of coaching appointments he's not finished yet.
When Warren was announced into the role he was very clear that he wanted to gain a balance of continuity and fresh faces within his coaching team. Naturally with such limited preparation time for the toughest Lions tour in their history this is a sensible move and one that will endeavour to enhance their output from the offset. With Rob Howley, Andy Farrell and Steve Borthwick placed in role the question that I asked their head coach was to provide us with insight as to why each were selected.
When Warren was announced into the role he was very clear that he wanted to gain a balance of continuity and fresh faces within his coaching team. Naturally with such limited preparation time for the toughest Lions tour in their history this is a sensible move and one that will endeavour to enhance their output from the offset. With Rob Howley, Andy Farrell and Steve Borthwick placed in role the question that I asked their head coach was to provide us with insight as to why each were selected.
Andy Farrell’s appointment, given Ireland’s success and his place on the 2013 tour, was perhaps the most predictable of all and the admiration that Warren Gatland has for Ireland’s defence coach is clear:
“With Andy, obviously he was involved in 2013 and I think that Ireland are playing some pretty good rugby at the moment and are defending well. He’s a coach that I hugely admire because he played at such a high level, in both codes, and captained with great leadership skills as well. He’s able to communicate really well with the players and understands the game, and sport, at the highest level.”
Steve Borthwick’s rise up the coaching ranks has been marked, but if you ask anyone that has ever played or worked with him then they will tell you that they’re not surprised. It's a testament to his expertise that such a new coach has been invited into the Lions mix without anyone batting an eyelid:
“Obviously he’s got an incredible work ethic, not too long out of the game as a player as well and he’s done a pretty good job with being involved with Japan. You’ve seen the way that England have performed and no doubt that Steve has had a significant impact into the way that so I’m absolutely delighted for him.”
The final appointment is Rob Howley and a quick glance online will show that this is the appointment that has created the most 'noise'. Yet Warren Gatland will not entertain the criticism that has, and perhaps will be, pointed at his assistant coach:
“I’ve worked closely with Rob, as a player and as a coach, for a number of years. Again, I have a huge amount of respect for him. I know that he gets a lot of criticism in Wales but that’s the worst place in the world for the criticism Wales.
“I look at his record, and over the last 12 months, we’ve finished 2nd in the 6 Nations the last nine times that he’s coached Wales. He’s won seven times as a coach and yet he still gets criticised… it’s just part of professional sport at the moment but I have a huge amount of time for him and what he can bring to the table.”
The final part that the Lions head coach made clear was that there are a few spots on the coaching team still open for "specialists" and it seems that he knows exactly who he wants already:
“I’ve identified another couple of people and hopefully we will be able to do that in the next couple of weeks. Definitely another couple of names [will be added].”
As a coaching team they met the day before the announcement and reviewed the autumn international squads and the performances of the players. As a result the quality the Lions head coach highlighted that around 50 names were made a note of and it goes without saying that the RBS 6 Nations will be of vital importance to all that wish to be on the plane.
The coaches will meet "perhaps once" during the competition because Warren Gatland wants their sole focus to be on their respective nations. He realises that the Lions may be in the back of their minds throughout but Warren is clear that his assistant coaches' roles really ramp up as soon as the final whistle blows in Dublin on March 18.
The coaches will meet "perhaps once" during the competition because Warren Gatland wants their sole focus to be on their respective nations. He realises that the Lions may be in the back of their minds throughout but Warren is clear that his assistant coaches' roles really ramp up as soon as the final whistle blows in Dublin on March 18.
So for now it's time for us to continue to ponder on the specialists that may come into the Lions mix and await, with great anticipation, the 2017 RBS 6 Nations competition. As Andy Farrell said due to the depth of talent housed within the home nations, 'top, top players won't be on the plane' and I guarantee that this coaching team's final selection meeting will be a lengthy one and include a great deal of debate.
