Warren Gatland picks his British and Irish Lions coaches for New Zealand tour
Kiwi will today name three of his selections as he returns to his homeland aiming for glory
LIONS boss Warren Gatland will today unveil three of his coaches he has tasked with bringing down the All Blacks.
Ireland defence coach Andy Farrell, a 2013 tourist, is the pick of the bunch after rebuilding his reputation following the disastrous 2015 World Cup with England.
He was Gatland’s go-to guy when the Lions smashed Australia in 2013 and the rugby league convert gets the nod again ahead of Paul Gustard and Shaun Edwards.
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Joining Farrell on the 2017 tour of New Zealand is his old England team-mate and current Red Rose forwards coach, Steve Borthwick.
Borthwick’s England boss Eddie Jones let slip last week that his forwards coach had been called up by Gatland.
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And backs specialist Rob Howley, the interim Wales boss during Gatland’s sabbatical, is backs coach for the ten-game summer trip that includes three Tests against Steve Hansen’s incredible Kiwis.
ANDY FARRELL (Ireland): Defence coach
PROS: Has beaten the All Blacks twice — most recently with Ireland who broke their 111-year duck against Kiwis. Hugely respected.
CONS: Players who toured with him in the past might have heard it all before. Tainted by England’s failures and exposed defence as part of staff at World Cup.
STEVE BORTHWICK (England): Forwards coach
PROS: Bulk of the pack will be made up of Red Rose forwards coached by Borthwick. Had an invincible year with England and was also part of the backroom staff when Japan shocked South Africa at last year’s World Cup.
CONS: Never been on a Lions tour and still only a rookie. Doesn’t come across as the most inspirational guy and will need to win the respect of the other nations’ players.
ROB HOWLEY (Wales): Backs coach
PROS: Knows all about representing the Lions as a player and coach with three tours already behind him. A confidant of Gatland and a man who knows how the coach works.
CONS: Should be concentrating on Wales if he is serious about taking over from Gatland in 2019.
With so few of the Welsh squad expected to make the tour, it makes his decision to ditch Wales even more bizarre. Will need a big Six Nations now with the Dragons to prove his spot.
WHO’S NEXT?
SARACENS boss Mark McCall would be a worthy candidate for a specialist role, as would Wasps’ Dai Young.
Jonny Wilkinson would also be great as a kicking coach but that role is likely to go to Neil Jenkins.