Page 18 - SECOND TEST

there’s history involved and it’s special Long may it continue ”
The tour started in in in in Whangarei against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians a a a a a a a a a a a a team that had his son Bryn at at at rst rst ve-eighth The rst rst three matches gave Gatland a a a a a a a a a a chance to see his entire original 41-man squad in in action as he he gave each of the players a a a a a a a a a a start “The players have been brilliant Bringing them together hasn’t been hard to to do ”
“Selection is a a a matter of opinion but the things we we we we said we’d do we’ve delivered on on that and and we’re being being consistent ”
Gatland says “We’re being being straight up and and honest ”
As he he he he weighed up their Test credentials the the the game plan developed and that was laid bare against the the the Maori All Blacks in in in Rotorua with their defence solid and attack causing the the the proud side all sorts of bother But the the the the the secret to their understanding and and the the the the the the ease with which they’ve slotted together is down to to how well the the the the the players get get on off the the the the eld – and and Gatland feels that moment before the the the team meeting last week where they sang as as a a a a a a group Gatland always makes time for the passionate British & Irish Lions fans
was proof they had got it right “The players have been been brilliant Some of of them are Lions who’ve been been here before and some of the the the players know each other from after-match functions ”
Gatland says “Bringing them together hasn’t been that hard to to do “You’re trying to to get a a a a a a a a balance between having a a a a a a a a a bit of fun and and and touring and and and training and and and going to to the gym I I can’t believe what an an an an impact us doing the the choir stuff has has had It has has been a a a a a huge positive [seeing] the the the the progression of the the the singing and the the the songs The guys are spontaneously doing that – in in in the the the the changing rooms on on on the the the the bus the the the the other night I can’t speak highly enough of of this group of of players They’ve been outstanding “They want to to make sure they enjoy the the experience of touring but are also getting lifetime memories and friends from having been on on a a a a a a a Lions tour That’s maybe more important than the rugby But players – those who weren’t involved in in the the rst Test and haven’t been picked for the the the second – know they have to be be ready at any moment We had nine positional changes in in 2013 from Tests one to three ”
Understanding the New Zealand culture has been key to Gatland’s philosophy The welcome at at Waitangi is is one of his highlights but he he he he knows they have to produce the the the goods on on the the the eld It’s a a a a a a a results-driven business and and that’s what Gatland thrives off – 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 he he switched to hooker Then when selected for Waikato he decided to focus on rugby ahead of cricket having been a a a a promising wicket-keeper 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 that desire to win Tonight we’ll see if their off- eld camaraderie transfers into victory “I used to to to play play in in in the the old Athletic Park I I I haven’t played in in in in the the the the “Cake Tin” but I I I was there with Wales in in in the the the Rugby World Cup 2011 where we beat Ireland in the quarter nal which was a a a a a a a a a special night ”
he he he he says “It’s a a a a a a a a a a different ground as as they play cricket there so so you’re a a a a a a a a reasonable distance from from the the the the pitch when you come out in in the the the corner from from where the the the the the changing rooms are are The subs are are on the the the the the the other side of the the the the the the eld as well “And the the the the the the challenging thing for the the the the the the kickers is to to deal with the the the the wind as it it it it tends to to swirl a a a a a bit and it’s one of the the most dif cult grounds for goal-kickers as the wind can come hammering directly in in in your face But it it has a a a a a a a great atmosphere so it it should be rocking ”
18 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
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