Warren Gatland has revealed that his British and Irish Lions squad could exclude players who are at Top 14 clubs due to a potential fixture clash.
The Lions 2013 tour to Australia kick off against the the Barbarians on June 1 which is the same day that the Top 14 Final will be played.
Several potential Lions players are regulars at their Top 14 sides and Gatland is on his way to France to try and find a solution to the problem.
Wales stars James Hook and Luke Charteris are at Perpignan, Bayonne have scrum-half Mike Phillips in their squad while Toulon, who reached last year's Top 14 Final have several potential Lions players like Jonny Wilkinson, Andrew Sheridan, the Armitage brothers and Gethin Jenkins on their books while Lee Byrne is in Clermont.
"I'm actually going down to France tomorrow to talk to some players who are down there and watch Perpignan and Bayonne," said Gatland.
"So it's a chance to meet with some of the coaches down there and talk about potential release of those players for the Lions.
"But ultimately it may be up to the players. If you remember back to 2009 Nathan Hines left Perpignan before a final because the Lions meant so much to him as a player.
"He got on a plane and said 'bugger playing in a French club final, I want to be part of the Lions tour'.
"It's something that as a management board and as a coaching staff we are going to have to discuss because the preparation is so tight.
"And if it means that some players aren't available to get on the plane then that may potentially rule them out."
Gatland said he hopes finalise the appointment of his assistant coaches soon and revealed that although he will continue with the Lions tradition of playing attacking rugby, he warned that he could change their style of play if it was needed.
"We want to continue with some of the great rugby that we demonstrated in South Africa," said the 48-year-old, who was Ian McGeechan's assistant in 2009.
"We outscored the South Africans in try count in the Test series so you can expect for us to play an open and exciting brand of rugby, tempered with winning rugby.
"That is important. If it means that in the last Test, and things are tied up, we have to play a little bit ugly to win the series I am prepared to do that.
"But ultimately we want to go out there and excite the fans that come to watch us play because we are going to play a brand that is entertaining and hopefully a winning brand as well."
Comments
ArmchairGeneral says...
Leinster-Goy: Gattys point is its not his decision it is Gethins. A private call that he is available then Gatty can select but he's not going to name Lions that turn around and say they can't go. His assumption is they can't go due to contract until the player corrects him.
Posted 16:02 05th September 2012
leinster_goy says...
the only one worth worrying about is jenkins. while it would be amazing to see DJ Church rampaging about in a Lions jersey, there's no better loosehead scrummager in the home nations than jenkins. "gatty" needs to make an exception here
Posted 13:22 05th September 2012
amaboko says...
I`m not so sure the lions will win. So should have Wales won this summer. In my opinion Gats is overrated. He was successful because his teams were too good (Waikato or Wasps) or because the opposition was dreadful (Wales), while he wasn`t so succesfull with lesser talented or younger teams like Conacht or Ireland. Anyway they`ll be coached by a funny talking kiwi. It really hilarious how those people in oz and kiwi talk. They should at least have chosen a European coach. Kiwis will start bragging themselves about how good their coaches are ... and their players and so on... Pure misery.
Posted 11:54 05th September 2012
D4tress says...
Seriously - with Rob Kearney back to his best and Chris Ashton playing a blinder in the Premiership, I don't think Lee Byrne's schedule is going to be an issue.
Posted 09:43 05th September 2012
JamieTheProp says...
Lets be fair - this is an awful Australia side and it is a disgrace that Wales didn't beat them this summer! It shows what an overrated team Wales are (much like their showing against a very poor England side in the 6N).
If Gatland doesn't pick the Welsh team in its entirety and mixes it up the Lions should beat Australia - if he gets it completely right they should smash them!
Australia still don't have a scrum and that is one thing the Lions do have (in spades) and there are enough exciting players in every other position to dominate. In fact other than Pocock I can't think of a single position across the park that the Lions will struggle to match and exceed what Australia can offer.
Maybe Genia at scrum half as well - but that is a much closer run thing!
No ifs or buts - we haven't won test series in the past because we haven't been good enough - it would be a disgrace this time not to be good enough because this Australia team is the poorest in my lifetime!
Posted 23:06 04th September 2012
pierredelot1 says...
Stupid word if, bit like nice,don't use it. Wins a good one though, just leave it at that.
Posted 22:26 04th September 2012
melkdave says...
Without knowing whos going to be in the 2013 Lions squad ,any speculation is a bit premature imo.WG is just trying to lay the ground work ,in case those players in T14 clubs have outstandingly fantastic seasons.Personnally out of those mentined ,i feel the only ones with even a squeak of a shout are the Armitage brothers ,and more specifcally Steffon really.
Posted 21:52 04th September 2012
Toulousain says...
hehehe, the long french club season strikes again.......
Posted 19:24 04th September 2012
kid_diablo says...
if i was gatland i don't think i'd waste my time worrying about perpignan or bayonne being in the final. As for the lions take a look at their schedule before getting you hopes up.
Posted 17:41 04th September 2012
5Lock4ward says...
@OzinLondon, My comment on Euan Murray was paraphrased from Victor Matfield; I'd take that as a reliable primary source. As for ROG that one speaks for itself. Morne Steyn wouldn't have had the opportunity to kick that long penalty had ROG not given it away. Now IF Australia find themselves with a healthy James Horwill and IF they find a better 8-man than glass boned Wycliff Palu and IF the Wallabies can pull a test match quality front row out of a hat then we Lions supporters might be saying IF for another 20 years.
Posted 15:17 04th September 2012
Patron says...
Watch out Gateau big words like entertaining are confusing to those who have only ever seen it on TV, or when the annual "Bury the Bleatingish Tour", by the Kiwis takes place.
Posted 15:02 04th September 2012
OzinLondon says...
5Lock4ward - Any more ifs and buts?
I think the Lions have to be favourites for next year but at least if Australia win we can count on Lions supporters to tell us for the next 20 years why the Lions would have won IF....
It's been happening for the last 3 series.
Posted 14:24 04th September 2012
5Lock4ward says...
If Euan Murray hadn't been injured early in the tour and if ROG hadn't tackled that player while he was in the air the Lions would've won in '09. I think the Lions will win down under next year and I'm restating now the prediction I made 2 years ago that Richie Gray and Courtney Lawes will be the starting 2nd row pairing when the time comes. That is unless Mr. Gatland makes the same error as Mr. McGeechan in bringing Alun Wyn-Jones. I wouldn't mind seeing Ian Evans put the cream on his triumphant return from injury struggles though.
Posted 13:42 04th September 2012