Correction: Warren Gatland
British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has hit back at his "misinterpreted" comments released on Tuesday.
Gatland was quoted by the Evening Standard as saying that taking a large portion of English players may add extra media scrutiny, suggesting a limit to the number that may travel to Australia.
However Gatland has since corrected his previous statement by saying there is no limit to the number of England players that could travel on tour.
"I am extremely disappointed that anybody should try to misinterpret what I said and try to say that will count against English players - that's absolute rubbish," Gatland told the Daily Telegraph.
"The last thing I would ever do is limit the number of English players. There is absolutely no limit to the number of any players from any nation we will pick if they are worthy of a place on the tour.
"I would happily pick 15 English players in the first Test at Brisbane if I thought they were the best 15 players for the job.
"The only consideration for a Lions coach is to get the best 15 on the park to do the job. That's paramount, I'm not remotely bothered which country they come from.
"When I first started at Wales I remember I once picked 13 Ospreys for one of my early Tests in charge."
Comments
rugby_rockstar says...
Firstly Gatland owes the England Team an apology. I've been scathing about certain England player's behaviour during the 2011 RWC, they let down one of England's true sporting heroes and hung him out to dry, but everyone can see the improvements that have come to pass under Stuart Lancaster.
So for the Head coach of the Lions to treat this side as 2nd class tourists and write them off and drive a wedge in between the different countries before the tour team has even been selected is such gross incompetence that if Gatland doesn't resign then the lions committee ought to sack the idiot. DEEP BREATH... Put yourself in the shoes of an England player. What an insult. I'm furious and I'm just a fan. How are they feeling right now? Apologise Gatland. Preferably before everyone confirms their availability for the England tour to Argentina.
What a write off. What a balls up!
Posted 17:47 13th February 2013
Frooschman says...
Given that the interview was published in the Evening Standard I'm prepared to give Mr Gatland the benefit of the doubt. That rag sullies the 'good' name of journalism.
@ APV1, if my memory doesn't deceive me, didn't Sir Clive include Alistair Campell for just such a purpose? The thought that that man owns 'proper' Lions kit makes me puke.
Posted 17:32 13th February 2013
dangerous says...
Rabbit in the head lights. get back in ya warren where it's safe mate.
Posted 17:27 13th February 2013
Danatthecorner says...
I have the paper at home. The quotes in question were pretty lengthy and the article was a double page spread. No creative editing necessary when it comes to Warren's foot-in-mouth syndrome.
Posted 17:16 13th February 2013
TheGreatOne says...
Dont worry Gat. I wouldn't want a bunch of whining poms in the team either. They;ll just drag down morale by going dwarf tossing each evening anyway. Just stroll down to the local pub in south London, round up a bunch of Saffas and you;ll have a better chance of winning anyway.
Posted 16:38 13th February 2013
bullitt says...
A monumental u-turn of Tony Blair proportions. And equally trust-worthy.
Well done Warren.
<_<
Posted 16:20 13th February 2013
pentwynfarm says...
Come off it, he's a southern hemisphere coach, these guys use the media to wind each other up all the time. He's been a coach for 20 years, don't give us this naive "I didn't think it would be misinterpreted" rubbish. He knew exactly what he was doing, he just didn't realise it would create this much of a furore.
Posted 16:10 13th February 2013
craigster99 says...
Is this because the English players will go out and get drunk and start throwing dwarves about again?
Posted 16:09 13th February 2013
shoobydo says...
Well I understood what he was saying the first time. Must be years of listening to the BS press coverage of English sports teams.
Posted 16:05 13th February 2013
pentwynfarm says...
back pedal, back pedal, back pedal...........
Posted 16:02 13th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Well done Warren. Better worry about how you handle the media above a random catagory of others. Lesson learned.
Posted 15:40 13th February 2013
PontySurrey says...
Not like the newspapers to twist people's words to make a more dramatic story! They are such honest, trustworthy people! And they should be allowed to continue to regulate themselves.
Posted 15:17 13th February 2013
APV1 says...
Let this be a lesson to him.
Make any comment ot the media and they will spin it to read however they want it to.
Get a PR person / firm to represent the Lions, not Gatland.
Posted 15:13 13th February 2013
melkdave says...
Happy his took quick and decive action,to correct any BS from our crap media.god knows they are bad enough just reporting the simply facts.Nevermind letting them actually have to flushout a quote Lions informatin let them be ,last to know and 2nd hand from now on .Teach em a bloody lesson .,and act as a warning to the rest of Fleet st.
Posted 15:10 13th February 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
@lawynd - exactly
Note to Mr Gatland - yes or no answers only please until after the tour
Posted 14:53 13th February 2013
lawynd says...
Well, he's definitely right about the media...benefit of the doubt re-established, Warren!
Posted 14:48 13th February 2013