Gatland to name Lions coaches as All Blacks 'shiver'
Strong performances in the autumn internationals lift hopes that the Lions will have a chance against New Zealand next year
Lions coach Warren Gatland will unveil his coaching line-up for next year's tour of New Zealand this week in the hope that the British and Irish side will give the All Blacks a run for their money. The Lions have been given fresh impetus by the performances of England and Ireland in the autumn internationals.
Scotland's coach-in-waiting Gregor Townsend has reportedly turned down the opportunity to work with the Lions, as has Ireland's Joe Schmidt. But writing in the Mail on Sunday Will Kelleher says that Rob Howley, Andy Farrell and Steve Borthwick will be named as Gatland's backroom staff for the tour.
Others could join them, says Wales Online. "Gatland has been considering whether to get the blessing of the Lions hierarchy to take extra coaches on the gruelling ten-match tour," it says.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Stuart Barnes of Sky Sports says Gatland should take a scrum coach, a kicking coach and a strategic analyst. Mike Catt and Neil Jenkins are possibly in contention for the second of those three roles.
Whoever Gatland chooses, the past four weeks will have given him renewed confidence that the All Blacks can be beaten.
Ireland's win over New Zealand in Chicago and England's resurgence under Eddie Jones could have caused a "shiver of apprehension under Kiwi bedclothes", says Mick Cleary in the Daily Telegraph.
And despite a "criminal" tour schedule, with fearsome non-Test opposition and little rest, the Lions will be up for it.
"Indeed, if you get the right people in charge... and the right characters on the field, they will actually draw inspiration from the magnitude of the task, lifted rather than daunted by the odds.
"The Lions should be fired up by the difficulties. And, given the evidence of the past five weeks and the manner of the performances round the home nations there is every reason to expect that they will be."
Indeed the Lions 2017 tour of New Zealand, unlike their catastrophic visit in 2005, could turn out to be "well timed", says Owen Slot of The Times.
"The overriding impression that the autumn internationals left behind was how competitive it will be to get in the squad, let alone the match-day 23 or the starting XV," he says.
And the question of the captaincy proves the point. "The problems in picking a named leader are indicative of a growing strength across the home unions," he says. "No one stands out as a standout captain because there are that many quality candidates to stand out from."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 3, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - presidential pitching, wavering convictions, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Speed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
By The Week Staff Published
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Speed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
Speed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?
Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
By The Week Staff Published
-
Weightlifting: Olympic Games set for transgender first
Speed Read New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will make history at Tokyo 2020
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport shorts: Champions League expansion plan to be agreed
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Joachim Low and the Lions women’s team
By Mike Starling Published
-
Sport shorts: Sturgeon slams Rangers fans over title celebrations
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Keely Hodgkinson and Bryson DeChambeau
By Mike Starling Published
-
Sport shorts: Klopp’s unwanted record as Liverpool lose again at Anfield
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Tiger Woods and Tom Brady
By Mike Starling Published