Page 32 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

PROFILE
A A Waikato provincial legend Warren Gatland played for for the the All Blacks for for for four years but never won a a a a a a a a a a a a a Test cap However he’s making up for for it it – – and and then some – – as as Coach of Wales and and the the British & Irish
Lions writes Simon Thomas WARREN GATLAND AND AND the the British & Irish
Lions go back a a a a a long way This is is is is the the Kiwi’s third tour as part of the the coaching team and his second successive time at the the helm But you have to to go back to to 1993 for his rst involvement with the the men men in in in the the famous red jersey The setting was Rugby Park Hamilton (the same ground as as the the the current FMG Stadium Waikato where the the the the the Lions will play the the the the Chiefs) with Gatland in the the the the opposition ranks He was was at at at at the the the the heart of a a a a a a a a a a a a Waikato team that was was to to to consign the the the Lions to to to their worst ever provincial defeat the the the then 29-year-old hooker scoring one of ve tries in in in a a a a famous 38-10 victory There were some big names in in in in the touring ranks with Will Carling skippering a a a a a a a a side that also featured the likes of Stuart Barnes Robert Jones Mike Teague and Mick Galwey But Waikato were a a a a a a a a a a a a a a team on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a mission that day in late June as Gatland still vividly recalls “We had become New Zealand champions the year before ” he he he says “For us here was an opportunity to play play against Test players in in in front of a a a a a a a full house We were pumped in in in in in the changing room I just felt no team in in in the the the world would have beaten us us that day I don’t think the the the the Lions touched the the the the ball for the the rst 20 minutes ” That victory was a a a a a a high point of an incredible playing career for for the former PE teacher who was also a a a a a a a a a a talented cricketer He became an an icon of Waikato rugby setting a a a a a a a a a a 140-match appearance record for the province (later broken by by current All Blacks Assistant Coach Ian Foster who nished on on on 148) and also played 17 non-international matches for New Zealand from 1988-91 But he he was never to to win a a a a a a full cap for the the All Blacks in in in in in no small part due to to the the presence of a a a a a a a a a a a certain Sean Fitzpatrick Playing in in in in an an era when front row replacements didn’t habitually enter the the the fray as they do today Gatland found himself on the the the the bench Then when he he he he he he was left out of the the the squad just before the the the 1991 Rugby World Cup – and overlooked again the the next year despite excelling in in in a a a a a a a a a trial match – – he he knew his All Black days were through With hindsight he he he feels the whole experience has has served him well in in in his post-playing career “It has has de nitely had a a a a a a a a a big impact on how I I am as as a a a a a a a a a “Here was an opportunity to play against Test players in in front of a a full house We were pumped ” coach ” he he says “I understand what it’s like to to be left out It’s the hardest part of coaching for me me – having to to to leave someone out I I feel empathy towards those players as as I’ve been through it ” Missing out on on on a a a a a a a cap increased his desire to succeed on on on the international stage as as a a a a a a a a a a a coach and that hunger became greater after his rst chastening experience in in in the the environment Through a a a link forged on on on the the All Blacks’ 1989 tour of Ireland he he went on on to cut his coaching teeth with Galwegians and and Connacht making a a a a a a a a a a big impression along the way Then in in early 1998 at WARREN GATLAND THE PLAYER
WARREN GATLAND STARTED
playing rugby aged ve for the Eastern Suburbs club in his home city of Hamilton He was a a No 8 for much of his youth but a er turning 20 he switched to hooker Then when selected for Waikato he decided to to focus on rugby ahead of cricket having been a promising wicketkeeper The former school teacher went on on to to become an icon of Waikato rugby playing more matches for the province than anyone had before – 140 between 1986 and and 1994 – and and sharing in in the historic victory over the British & Irish
Lions in 1993 He made 17 appearances for his country going on four tours but never won a a Test cap From 1989 he spent the o o o -season playing for Irish
club Galwegians during the the Northern Hemisphere winters hanging up his boots to focus on coaching in in 1994 the the tender age of of 34 he he he was appointed Coach of of of the the Irish
national team Despite winning nine out of of 11 games Gatland’s contract was not renewed with assistant Eddie O’Sullivan installed in in his place He went on to to guide Wasps to to 1950 TOUR CONTINUED SOUTHLAND 11 ALL BLACKS (IN DUNEDIN) 9 9 SOUTH SOUTH CANTERBURY 8 LIONS 0 32 // DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 LIONS LIONS 9 9 LIONS LIONS 27