Cautious: Warren Gatland
British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has said selecting a large group of English players will bring "other pressures."
England are the only unbeaten side in the Six Nations so far, but Gatland believes that selecting a large group will bring extra scrutiny from the media due to previous disagreements between countries and the events England went through at the Rugby World Cup.
"If they do well in the Six Nations, there will be a reasonable contingent of English players. But that brings a certain element of - how do I say it - other pressures that come with selecting a lot of English players," said Gatland to the Evening Standard.
"It becomes a much greater media focus from the English papers; potentially a negative focus from the Australian papers. And English players are targeted by other countries.
"[They are] not always the most popular with other countries because of the history. People like having a pop at them.
"We all know what happened with England at the World Cup and the circus that was created.
"I've just got to be aware of the possibilities that, if there are a number of English players on the tour, the same sort of things could be instigated, through stings through the media or set-ups trying to create controversy.
"These are young men filled up with a lot of testosterone and sometimes they need to go out and just unwind. But it's essential these players know what their boundaries are.
"The way I work, it's not a dictatorship, it's a consultation with the other coaches and senior players or the captain.
"You might say to players, 'Go out for a couple of hours and have a beer and maybe you're back in the hotel by one o'clock', particularly with night games."
Comments
lawynd says...
@kinkster - you make some good and valid points, but miss the most crucial thing; ensuring the players are savvy to how the media might portray them and ensuring the off-field aspect of the tour is well managed should be done behind closed doors, with the players, not announced to all and sundry. That's what gives the lie to Gatland's easy backtracking.
I'm happy to give him the benefit of the doubt because I do understand what the media are like but he would have still been better served saying nothing at all, no matter his intent.
Posted 10:29 14th February 2013
kinkster says...
@benski, I think it is you who doesn't have an understanding of what it means to be a lion. Its not just about the on field performance its also about the off field performance. Gatlands efforts in identifying potential issues that would impact the tour are very well spent. Better spent than if he was to spew out some politically correct standard statement that has been said a hundred times before as you suggest. By identifying potential issues now they can prepare for them and coach the players on how to better handle the situation. This isn't a dig at England or thier world cup, its recognising that the Aussie media will bring up any issue they can to try and impact the players. I've lived in in Australia for several years now and thier media love scandals and will use any means to target the team. Given the media fuss over Englands RWC they are the obvious targets. By identifying the issues it will make the squad stronger and more unified which you seem to have missed.
@armchairgeneral, I haven't missed what Gatland has revealed about himself, he's merely showing that he understands some of the pitfalls that lie ahead. In fact his statements and intent is to stop division within the sqaud which you have failed to understand. Its also nice to see your support for the tour disappear so quickly over this issue, maybe its best that part time fans liek you stay at home in thier armchairs.
Posted 22:03 13th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
What a stupid man gatland is. His stock has dropped and he better start damage control ASAP.
Posted 16:56 13th February 2013
kybone says...
Well he's now come out and said that he was mis-quoted, and that he would select as many English players as form merits. So, media spin just to try and create a massive ruck out of nothing really.
Posted 15:19 13th February 2013
kybone says...
dalmatian- Don't start making things up. Not one poster has yet suggested that the Lions be predominantly English, and no-one is getting carried away by how good England are. We just want the the Lions selected on form, not national stereotypes.
Posted 15:10 13th February 2013
kybone says...
dannyc28- Even quota! No chance. The Lions is about the best players, not filling quota's
Posted 15:07 13th February 2013
kybone says...
risca30- Well you can carry on not rating them while you're getting beaten by them mate!
Posted 14:54 13th February 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
BBC coverage of Gatland's comments:
He later clarified his comments, telling the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "I am extremely disappointed that anybody should try to misinterpret what I said and try to say that will count against English players.
"The last thing I would ever do is limit the number of English players."
I trust that this kills the story.
Posted 14:52 13th February 2013
RugbyNut says...
Very divisive Gatland, England are the Lions and always have been! People claim the Lions 'brand' has been re-established, difficult to believe it is in safe hands with Gatland. For all of the Celts out there, just stop and think about what your reaction would have been if he had said this about your nation!
Posted 14:23 13th February 2013
Coshie78 says...
Just read full article...
Gatland also said that he would still pick 15 English players in the starting line-up if he thought they were the best players to win the test match.
Seems to have been ommitted by the PR team...
Posted 13:48 13th February 2013
Coshie78 says...
kinkster..
I read the article perfectly well thanks buddy... but thanks for your concern.. idiot
At the very least this article indicates that an Welsh, Scottish and Irish players have a better chance of being selected as he does not have these concers around them. Therefore this is not a level playing field, which is not right...
I think the biggest issue for the English players is that their success is based on how they play as a team. Not necessarily the individual ability of certain players...
The performances are based on a collective attitude and everyone knowing their own and each others responsibilities...
If Gatland has any sense he will look to pick the English players who best demonstrate this as he will need to bring in a similar culture in a short space of time...
Unfortunately I think this is beyond him...
Posted 11:30 13th February 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
@dalmatian - its really hurting isn't it :)
having calmed down and re-read the story, there is a little bit of editorial spin on this. Gatland's QUOTE " If they do well in the Six Nations, there will be a reasonable contingent of English players........" That's WILL BE, not MIGHT BE, or I'LL HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO CONSIDER.
The article is about the pressures that he will face in terms of management but I have to say that, whilst the Aussie press can be a complete bunch of muppets, they are no where near as bad as the Kiwis when it comes to England who seem able to count, not just on various papparazzi (sp) but 90% of the public to stitch up the players at every opportunity.
He should also consider the fact that, in light of recent issues over prank call behaviour firstly and a wider, and apparently very public, doping problem that seems to be aiming itself at Australian pro team sport in general at the moment - the Aussie press may be a little more subdued this time around.
Posted 11:11 13th February 2013
benski says...
@kinkster... we can read perfectly well, your comments show that you, like Gatland, also have no understanding what it is all about to be a British and Irish Lion. Do you not think, for example, that as the B&I coach his efforts would have been better spent saying something along the lines of say.. "I am greatly pleased to see the England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland squads performing excellently over the weekend, this makes my task as Lions selector that much harder"... you see what I've done there?
Posted 11:06 13th February 2013
benski says...
BOOM! absolutely confirms my worst fears, Gatland has an innate dislike of the English, always has, and has NO IDEA what it means to be a Lion. Completely the wrong man for the job. This Lions tour destined to failure under him. So sad, Lions fans wait 4 years a time for this tour and this is how we are repaid.
@Coshie78 and @Frooschman both have said it best, the lions coach should be British or Irish, outsiders do not understand the culture.
Posted 10:09 13th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
@kinkster you miss what Gatland has revealed about himself. Even if he selects England players which we all know he will, he's divided the squad and shown Bias. Im not saying Lions can't win, I just feel cut off from it with Gatland in charge
Posted 09:42 13th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Scrapping my plans to go on this tour. Oz 3 - Celtic Lions 0
Posted 09:25 13th February 2013
dalmatian says...
Aren't we all getting a little carried away with how good England is anyway? They bet a sick New Zealand team at the end of their end of season tour. They then bet an improving but far from polished Scotland and won a penalty shoot out against Ireland. Should we really be demanding or expecting the Lions to be predominently English this early in the 6N? @ Ben7 Are all kiwis anti english or is that your perception because you are anti kiwi?
Posted 08:13 13th February 2013
dannyc28 says...
Why doesn't Gatland just pick the Welsh starting 15 and fill the rest with Irish & Scots. Then according to him he wont have to deal with the media as they wont be interested, everybody will get on beautifully because the Welsh, Irish & Scots all love each other and the Australians wont be up for the test series as they only hate the English and are not bothered about the Lions without them. It's insulting to everybody involved. Controversial, but why don't the Lions selectors insist on even quoter from Each Union?
Posted 07:29 13th February 2013
kinkster says...
Um have people actually read the article? All gatland is saying is that if England continue to have a good six nations then there will be a large group of English players in the squad and a possibility that the aussie media will target them. He doesn't actually say he isn't going to select English players. Maybe the English fans need improve their English reading skills.
Posted 07:14 13th February 2013
JamieTheProp says...
The wrong man for the job - Geech was available and should have been him!
That said Gatland hasn't picked the team yet so let's see! If I am honest even as a Lions supporter there would be a silver lining to him taking a reduced English contingent and that would be a better quality England side in Argentina and continued development of that side.
I specifically decided to not tour in Oz this year because it was always obvious that Gatland doesn't have what it takes to do the job - so hopefully someone decent will be picked for 2017 when I am planning to tour.
And I see a few people on here suggesting England players are not rated and are not as good as we think - I think most England fans believe that ours is a young, developing team and management, not the finished article and some way from being it - but we are still leading the 6 Nations (and not through luck) so are in an acceptable position. Even if we win the 6 Nations (which will be tough) there is a lot of work to be done regarding beating SH sides - but most England fans accept that too!
Pick away Gatland - it matters little! With the attitude you obviously have you'll never manage to bring together the players anyway so whoever you pick doesn't have a chance!
Posted 06:22 13th February 2013