Quietly confident: Warren Gatland
Wales boss Warren Gatland has revealed that he expects to coach the British and Irish Lions on their tour to Australia in 2013.
Gatland, who is at home in New Zealand, told a function in Hamilton on Wednesday that he was poised to ink a deal with the Lions for the tour, which will take place from June 1 to July 6.
"We still haven't signed anything yet but it's very close, and if I do take the position I'll be seconded to the Lions for 10 months," he told Fairfax Media.
Gatland, who guided Wales to a Grand Slam this year, said he would return to Britain on Sunday and expected an announcement on the Lions' coaching role to be made on September 4.
The Lions, featuring the best players from England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, visit Australia once every 12 years, with the Wallabies winning the last series Down Under in 2001 by two Tests to one.
The 10-match 2013 tour begins with a clash against the Barbarians in Hong Kong, before moving to Australia, where there will be Tests against the Wallabies in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Gatland said he would relish the opportunity to participate in an "old-style tour", which includes matches against provincial teams as well as high-profile Tests.
"It's a great chance to mould players from four different countries together in such a short period," he said.
"I think we get them for about a week before we go on tour, and it's a great experience. It's difficult to do."
Gatland said that if appointed, he expected to be given permission to be involved in Wales' build-up to a one-off Test against New Zealand at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on November 24 this year.
However, he said he would not coach Wales for Tests at the same venue against Argentina (November 10) and Samoa (November 16) and would also sit out the country's Six Nations campaign next year.
Comments
tha_mai says...
TheTruthHurts - dead right; the next 12 months will see a new Australian side, talented players and real depth developed through their talent development program, good enough to test any opposition from 1-22, (and never losing 0-22 again!), a new coach, a return to winning form, after their comeback to win the 2012 RC, miraculously steal both the Bledisloe Cup and RWC from NZ (blame Quade for that).
fer sure . . .
Posted 10:55 25th August 2012
TheTruthHurts says...
A year is a long time, so whats happening now won't matter next year, keep talking yourselves up boys!
Posted 16:47 24th August 2012
TVaddict says...
@leinster_goy
I agree with you mate, I think Gatland is overrated but he is the only really option at this time. I guess Mallet would have been an interesting choice. I also agree Schmidt should be the backs coach/attack coach, but I would also definitely want Graham Rowntree in there at least as scrum coach.
Posted 14:35 23rd August 2012
tha_mai says...
Flying out of Auckland on Sunday - may have been well-timed to see next years' opposition playing at Eden Park on Saturday night.
If he's not confirmed as coach - who else? Thought this was a 'done deal' based on what I have read.
Based on the Wallabies five tests this year the Lions management may be feeling confident of a tour win.
Posted 13:56 23rd August 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Let's hope he gets a window cleaner between now and the tour.
Posted 10:38 23rd August 2012
leinster_goy says...
meh. can't say i'm that crazy about gatland but i guess due to his international record and previous lions experience, he's the best option at this time. he needs to get his coaching staff right - wouldn't mind seeing mcgeechan in the set-up again. Joe Schmidt should coach the backs. conor o'shea should be in there too
it'll be interesting to see what happens with australia after the rugby championship. i reckon the B&I lions would walk all over them in their current sorry state. firing deans and installing, say, ewen mckenzie would give the wallabies a new lease of life and probably make for a much more entertaining series next june
Posted 09:55 23rd August 2012