Should Gatland Be The Lions Coach?

It was announced yesterday by the Welsh Rugby Union that they would be prepared to grant Warren Gatland a leave of absence from his Wales head coaching role for the 2013 6 Nations tournament to allow him to fulfil his role as the potential new British & Irish Lions coach for the tour down under next year.

He is an exceptional candidate for the job, but I think the fickle amongst us will question whether the role should go to someone from outwith these parts?

It’s a debate that has been prevalent in the media of late following the resignation of Fabio Capello as England football manager.  There were often doubts as to his credentials on the basis that he was foreign.  It has since come to light following the press conference by the FA that there were struggles with the language barrier, amongst others.

Of course, those particular difficulties don’t apply to Gatland, but it is worth examining his prospective employment for the Lions. 

There are huge positives in his advantage, not least that he has spent a great deal of his coaching time in the northern hemisphere, holding the top job at Ireland a few years before becoming the Welsh head coach.  His success in those roles is well known, particularly with Wales.  Few people realise that he was the man than gave international debuts to the likes of Brian O’Driscoll for Ireland before those players excelled under Eddie O’Sullivan.  As a result, his knowledge of the player base and the game in the UK and Ireland is unquestionable. 

However more than anything, he was a member of the coaching party for the Lions 2009 tour in South Africa.  He knows what it is to be a Lion and what is required at that level.  He understands the history, emotion and unique united-ness inherent with any Lions tour.  But he's also been on the other side having faced and beaten the Lions with Waikato in 1993.  Even as an outsider, his motivation can surely not be questioned.  The fact of the matter is he is highly competitive coach, no matter what role he is in.  Besides, I’m not convinced that you have to motivate a Kiwi to beat the Australians in a one off test series.  His motivation may lie elsewhere, but it will certainly be there, of that I have no doubt.

Warren Gatland on tour with the Lions

in 2009 in South Africa

Of all the potential ‘foreign’ candidates, Gatland is certainly the most qualified in terms of knowledge and experience of the game in the UK and Ireland.  I can’t really think of another who comes close in that respect.  England are current entertaining the possible recruitment of Jake White and Nick Mallett as permanent replacements for Martin Johnson should they choose not to continue with Stuart Lancaster.  A move for either carries risk, though maybe less so for Mallett with his recent role with Italy and his experience in the 6 Nations.  Should either or both be unsuccessful with England, they may be available for Lions selection should they wish to cast their net that far.

What all this discussion does raise is the question of which native could lead the Lions next year.  Do we have a legitimate candidate ourselves?  The most likely of the current international coaches is Declan Kidney.  Andy Robinson would be a good number 2 but always more of a coach than the point man.  Lancaster too would be more suited to a backroom position.  Would Ian McGeechan be interested again? Jim Telfer? Clive Woodward?

It’s a fascinating debate.  In my opinion, Gatland is the outstanding candidate right now, regardless of where he is from.  He is an out and out rugby man and knows how to lead a successful (if unlucky) team on tour following the success of Wales in the recent World Cup in his native New Zealand.  As it stands, he has my vote.