Warren Gatland, speaking at the launch of the RBS 6 Nations on Wednesday morning, took a swipe at the organisers of the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand, claiming that the schedule is too packed to get the best out of the touring side.
When asked if the Ireland vs Wales game on the opening weekend of the Six Nations was a straight shoot-out between himself and Schmidt for the Lions job, Gatland joked: “He can have the job if he wants! Have you seen the schedule?
“You go to New Zealand and you play three tests, five Super Rugby teams and the Maori with no preparation? He can have it!”
This was all said with a big smile on the New Zealander’s face, of course, but underneath the laughter you could sense some frustration at a tour schedule that sees the Lions land in New Zealand three days after the domestic finals take place and play their first match a mere three days later.
“I’m not saying the Lions can’t win, but it’s a really tough tour and schedule. It’s the hardest place in the world to go and play, not just from a rugby perspective but from a travel and organisation perspective.
“It’s not unwinnable but it’s very, very tough. You have the Premiership and PRO12 final on the Saturday, the team has a dinner on the Sunday, you fly to New Zealand on the Monday and arrive on Wednesday and your first game’s on that Saturday, when the squad haven’t been together. Then you’re playing a test match two or three weeks later.”
Gatland became the first coach to lead the Lions to a series victory in 16 years when he did so in Australia in 2013, and is considered the frontrunner to take the reigns again in 2017 when they head to his home country. He admitted that it would likely be too good an opportunity to reject.
“I’ve been very lucky to be involved in a couple of tours, and if I was offered the opportunity again it’s a difficult one to turn down.”
Gatland’s main rival for the job is indeed expected to be Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt, but when asked if he would be interested in leading the Lions to New Zealand in 2017, Schmidt was himself reticent.
“To be honest the terms of my current contract don’t allow me to do the Lions, so it’s actually a moot point,” said Schmidt of his chances of leading the Lions. “It doesn’t distract me because it isn’t actually something I can do unless the terms of my contract change.
“I finish at that time and there’s some outside influences on that that will probably dictate anything beyond that.
“So I’m not planning for beyond where my contract finishes, and to be honest, if you’re a coach sometimes you don’t even get to the finish because that’s the harsh reality, it’s a very success-driven environment.”
Gatland’s contract with Wales includes a clause that states he can take a sabbatical year if the Lions were to come calling, and while Schmidt’s contract has no such clause, it does run out just before the touring side leave for New Zealand. What price both Kiwis being on the coaching staff when the Lions head their home country?
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
7 replies on “Gatland: “Schmidt can have the Lions job!””
This is becoming quite an interesting topic.
So the Lions board have said the coach will need to take a 1 year sabbatical from their regular job to take the role
Schmidt’s contract prevents him from taking a sabbatical
Jones is unlikely to leave England so soon after joining, with so much to do, to swan off with the lions for a year.
Gatland says he doesn’t want it, but that it would be hard to turn down (whatever that means), but I cant imagine the WRU being to happy about him taking it again
Which leaves Cotter who hasn’t said anything
It’s pretty left field but what are the chances of Lancaster being offered to job?
1. He can afford to dedicate a year to it without peeing off one of the unions
2. He has coached at international level
3. He is familiar with the NH’s players
4. No one expects the Lions to win so it is quite a thankless task therefore who better for it than someone who has nothing to lose
An interesting topic and an interesting take on it, you make a very logical and reasoned argument for SL here (have you taken up a role a lucrative role as adviser our recently departed national coach?)
Equally left field, they could persuade the Geech to come back out of retirement I suppose, SCW will surely throw his hat into the ring if it starts getting circulated in the media any more?
I’m struggling to think of who else has the profile and might be free or willing, what about Nick Mallett, not sure he is up to much these days?
Haha looks like some mirror hack reads the rugbyblog and thinks im some sort of authority on the matter
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/former-england-boss-stuart-lancaster-7260383
The Times have run the story too, either they read the Blog and you have kicked off an awesome rumour, they have nicked it from the Daily Mail, or there is something more to this…
Gatland has a clause in his contract that allows him to take that year’s sabbatical, whether the WRU like it or not.
It will be Gatland, regardless of what he said this morning, because he is the only option that really makes sense right now!
Jamie, you’re in danger of letting the truth get in the way of a good story!
It will be Gatland. he will take most of the Wales squad again no matter how badly they are playing and a handful of other players. Warburton will be captain again despite not playing for months beforehand being out injured and I suspect they will play as badly as they did last time but this time get taken apart by decent opposition. This will be of course the schedules fault.