Page 17 - SECOND TEST

DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 17 17 PROFILE
For everything the the British & Irish Lions’ New Zealand-born Head Coach Warren Gatland has achieved in in the the the the game a a a a a a a a a a a a a Test series victory over the the the the All Blacks would top the the the the lot He He talks singing Lions tour highlights and the the the challenge of Wellington WORDS: TOM HAMILTON
BEFORE A BRITISH & IRISH
Lions team meeting last week something quite remarkable happened The players were waiting
patiently for the the the meeting to start start and then unprompted they started quietly singing “Jerusalem” – one of the the the the four songs the the players learned before ying out to New Zealand For Warren Gatland it showed
how how far the Lions had had come He had had been charged with bringing 41 players together and developing a a a a a a a a team capable of beating the the the best side in in in the the the world No mean task Back in September 2016 when Gatland was con rmed as as the Lions boss he he delivered a a a a a a a key message to his players If you you do do not not truly truly truly truly believe you you can beat the the the the All Blacks then do do not not bother getting on on the the the the plane He wanted a a a a a a a team with a a a a a a a deep-rooted con dence that they could defy the the the odds and emulate the the the famous 1971 team who won a a a a a a a a a a a a Test series on on New Zealand soil Gatland cares passionately about the Lions When he he he he he was seven he he he he he watched that famous 1971 side He remembers his his youthful ignorance of rugby rugby in his his view rugby rugby was only ever played brilliantly in in New Zealand “I didn’t think the the the the All Blacks could ever be be beaten ” he he he he he says But then the the the the Lions came with their band of players and and and counter-attacking rugby rugby to to stun the hosts Gatland’s mind suddenly awoke to to a a a a a a a a rugby rugby world away from New Zealand The interest in in in foreign lands stayed with with him after his lengthy playing career with with Waikato He started coaching at at Galwegians in in in 1989 and and and then went to to Connacht Ireland and and and and Wasps picking up trophies and and and garnering a a a a a a a a a a reputation as one of the world’s top coaches In
2005 the Gatland family – – wife Trudi daughter Gabby and and and son Bryn – – decided to to to to return home and and Warren took up a a a a a a a a role with Waikato They looked set to to to to remain in in in New Zealand but then came a a a a a a a a a a a call from Wales tempting him to take up up the the Head Coach post after their Rugby World Cup 2007 campaign The competitor in Gatland made it it irresistible From one rugby hotbed to to to another he he he he guided them to to a a a a a a Six Nations grand slam in in in his rst year The Lions came knocking in in in in 2009 and and and Gatland joined Sir Ian McGeechan’s backroom staff for their tour of South Africa After a a a a a a a a further two titles with Wales he he he he he earned the the the Head Coach role for the the the 2013 series against Australia “In terms of coaching the Lions I’m I’m very proud I’m I’m passionate about the Lions ” It was a a a a time when questions
were being asked about the the Lions and their place in in in professional rugby but the the the the 2-1 series win over over the the the the Wallabies brought the the the Lions back into rugby-lovers’ hearts In
September it was con rmed he he he he would be be the the one to to lead them to to New Zealand Gatland’s story is a a a a a a a a a love affair that started with with youthful curiosity but now ties intrinsically with with his inherent competitive nature “In terms of coaching the the Lions Lions I’m I’m very proud I’m I’m passionate about the the the Lions Lions ” Gatland says “I don’t know many other teams in world rugby who have toured New Zealand and and had sell-outs for every game I spoke to a a a a a a a a a couple of friends after the Tuesday night night game in in Hamilton and bars had record record turnover turnover – Tuesday night night in in in Hamilton having record record turnover turnover from the Lions supporters!
“Hopefully people are doing all they possibly can to protect the the the Lions for the the the future because it’s it’s iconic it’s it’s unique WARREN GATLAND Tests: 135 (Ire 38 Wal 93 Lions 4) Wins: 67 (Ire 18 Wal 47 Lions 2) Draws: 3 (Ire 1 Wal 2) Losses: 64 (Ire 19 Wal 44 Lions 2) PATH TO THE PRIDE
1989 Player-coach of Irish club Galwegians Guides to promotion 1998 Promotion for Thames Valley RFC in New Zealand returns to take over at Connacht in Ireland 1998 Appointed Ireland Coach aged just 34 2000 Ireland beat France in Paris for the rst time since 1972 2001 Ireland win nine out of 11 matches in the season and nish joint top of Six Nations – but the IRFU doesn’t renew his contract 2002 Joins Wasps and takes them to three Premiership titles European Challenge Cup Cup and Heineken Cup Cup 2005 Returns to to New Zealand to to coach Waikato guiding them to to the the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup 2007 As Wales Coach wins 2008 and and 2012 Six Nations Grand Slam reaches RWC 2011 semi nals 2013 As Head Coach leads Lions to 2-1 series win over Australia 2016 Gatland is appointed Lions Coach for the 2017 series