British and Irish Lions committee chairman Gerald Davies has described the reaction to Warren Gatland's comments as "a huge over-reaction."
Gatland caused a surge of news stories after claiming that taking a large number of England players on tour to Australia would add extra "media scrutiny", highlighting the behaviour of the England squad at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The Lions boss has since retracted his comments and now Davies has leapt to his defence, describing the story as "sensationalised out of proportion."
"I think there has been a huge over-reaction," said Davies to the Western Mail.
"It has been way over the top. I feel the headlines have hugely exaggerated what he says in the interview.
"It has been sensationalised out of all proportion. That is unfair on Warren, who actually speaks a lot of good common sense. If you read the article, he is very complimentary about England and how well they are doing at the moment.
"What he does emphasis is that when you go on a Lions tour, good behaviour and good manners are very, very important. Personality and character are important. You are sharing a long trip away from home with players from four different nations. It's important to get along well.
"As well as performing on the field, you need to behave in the right way off it. It's important to be a person that gets on with everyone else."
"When people get to know him in person, rather than from what they read in newspapers, they will realise what a really good man he is. The players will be sensible enough to wait for that moment to come along and they will find themselves motivated and inspired by him.
"They will realise that he's a man with his feet firmly on the ground and a practical man with lots of common sense and ambition."
Comments
timmo says...
all Gatland wants out of this Lions trip is some knowhow from the England coaches how to go at the next World Cup. Farrell and Rowntree should resign the Lions roles, all England players should stay at home, have a successful tour to Argentina whilst the 'celtic' Lions get stuffed by Australia and be in the best position possible to win the World Cup at the next tournament without giving any knowledge away.
Posted 11:37 14th February 2013
blueriver says...
After what went on with the English players, Tuilagi jumping off a ferry et al he's correct to be concerned in my opinion.
Posted 11:28 14th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
still no apology for the current england team then.
"When people get to know him in person, rather than from what they read in newspapers, they will realise what a really good man he is. The players will be sensible enough to wait for that moment to come along and they will find themselves motivated and inspired by him."
if he's so great then where's the apology???
Posted 10:15 14th February 2013
bullitt says...
The more of this rubbish I read, the less I care about the Lions. The whole concept is turning into a last hurrah of 57 old farts justifying their own existence.
Posted 09:59 14th February 2013