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British & Irish Lions

A Scot and three Welshmen: A look at Warren Gatland's 2021 Lions coaching staff

By PA

13 Apr 2021

(Photo by INPHO/Dan Sheridan via Lions)

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has unveiled the coaches who will work alongside him on the 2021 tour to South Africa in July. Here, the PA news agency looks at the appointments and their records:

WARREN GATLAND
Nationality: New Zealander
Age: 57
Current job: Chiefs head coach
Lions role: Head coach
Lions history: Head coach for the 2013, 2017 and 2021 tours. Assistant coach in 2009
Test caps: None
Club playing career: Waikato

Form guide: Among the finest coaches in rugby history. Had domestic and European success with Wasps after being with Ireland and he took charge of Wales in 2008, winning a Six Nations Grand Slam in his first season. Further titles and Grand Slams followed, plus two World Cup semi-final appearances. Was at the helm for a Lions series win against Australia eight years ago and the drawn series with then world champions New Zealand in 2017.

Chris Robshaw guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload

GREGOR TOWNSEND
Nationality: Scottish
Age: 47
Current job: Scotland head coach
Lions role: Assistant coach (attack)
Lions history: Two Tests as a player, 1997 tour of South Africa
Test caps: 82 for Scotland (1993-2003)
Club playing career: Northampton, Brive, Castres, Border Reivers, Montpellier

Form guide: Impressive. Masterminded Scotland away victories over England, a first since 1983, and France, ending a 22-year wait, during this season’s Guinness Six Nations. Undoubtedly a Lions scholar of the great Ian McGeechan, there is nothing not to like about Townsend’s appointment.

Just the one survivor from the 2017 Lions tour https://t.co/OnYoVTh1wM

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 13, 2021

ROBIN McBRYDE
Nationality: Welsh
Age: 50
Current job: Leinster forwards coach
Lions role: Assistant coach (forwards)
Lions history: Four appearances as a player, 2001 tour of Australia
Test caps: 37 for Wales (1994-2005)
Club playing career: Swansea, Llanelli, Scarlets

Form guide: Excellent. Was part of Gatland’s coaching furniture when the New Zealander led Wales through an era of Six Nations title triumphs, Grand Slams and World Cup semi-final appearances. McBryde goes about his business without fuss or bother and he is now an integral part of Leinster’s push for a record fifth European title this season.

STEVE TANDY
Nationality: Welsh
Age: 41
Current job: Scotland defence coach
Lions role: Assistant coach (defence)
Lions history: None
Test caps: None
Club playing career: Neath, Ospreys

Form guide: Strong. Welshman Tandy might be the biggest Lions selection bolter of all this time around, but Gatland will know his coaching quality well from a six-year stint as Ospreys boss. Developed further during a coaching stint with Super Rugby side the Waratahs in Australia, and Scotland are reaping the benefits.

NEIL JENKINS
Nationality: Welsh
Age: 49
Current job: Wales assistant coach
Lions role: Assistant coach (kicking)
Lions history: Four Tests as a player, 1997 tour of South Africa, 2001 tour of Australia. Assistant coach on 2009, 2013 and 2017 tours
Test caps: 87 for Wales (1991-2002)
Club playing career: Pontypridd, Cardiff, Celtic Warriors

Form guide: Top-notch. Like McBryde, Jenkins was one of Gatland’s right-hand men for more than eleven years with Wales, coaching the kickers to an impeccable standard and also offering skills expertise. Scored more than 1,000 points for Wales during his Test career. Was also pivotal to the Lions’ memorable 1997 Test series victory over South Africa.

A statement on Gatland's meals has now had to be issued https://t.co/aqsPYJmvR2

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 8, 2021

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Comments on RugbyPass

Another 9 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

One of the reasons why Borthwick is down to 50% is because they lost 3-0 to NZ this year. They still beat Ireland earlier this year though.

33 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 10 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Timing old bean! They’ve got a few rather decent ones coming through the pipe from their u20 world champ team.

33 Go to comments

d 13 minutes ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

SO what you're saying is that all Robertson needs to change is; virtually every player in the side. well that's useful, where are these supermen coming from?

34 Go to comments

Mitch 14 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

How is that England can't produce a tight head prop who can usurp Dan Cole in the pecking order?

33 Go to comments

RedWarrior 18 minutes ago

Rob Kearney’s All Blacks verdict: ‘They're scared of Ireland now...’

“Of course, they will always point to the last two quarter-finals of the World Cup which is what matters, but they will be coming to Dublin a little bit scared of what could potentially happen. And we’ll be scared to because the Irish team are always scared coming up against them.”

So he actually said BOTH Ireland and New Zealand will have trepidation going into this match. Same as any big match so.

1 Go to comments

RedWarrior 20 minutes ago

Would a Springboks B team really conquer the world?

Can you relay which "Irish" have said this? News to me.

I have stated that it is not the meritocracy it claims to be due to the draw and scheduling.

The 2023 draw was made right after the 2019 WC so I can substantiate that claim. For example Scotland who were 4th seed when the RWC started finished in joined 16th position. This was not a reflection of their ability: the draw meant they had to play two of the big 4 and bear at least one to have a chance of making a top 8.

Careful when you are sh1t talking the Irish. There are a few of us around here now.

34 Go to comments

RW 23 minutes ago

How the All Blacks plan to challenge Ireland after gutsy England win

31 Go to comments

RedWarrior 26 minutes ago

Would a Springboks B team really conquer the world?

They would all walk into The Irish or French first team? Come on..

34 Go to comments

RedWarrior 27 minutes ago

Would a Springboks B team really conquer the world?

That is a common thought around Internet fora but bears little resemblance to reality.

There may be issue on front row (being sorted) potentially but apart from that is incredibly strong.

B--Frawley/Prendergast, Murray/Casey, McCloskey, Henshaw, Nash, O'Brien, Osborne

F--McCarthy, Jager, Loughman, Baird, Kelleher, Izuchuckwu, Coombes, C. Prendergast,

Over half of those names finished for an injury struck Ireland in the win V SA in Durban.

34 Go to comments

LW 32 minutes ago

How the All Blacks plan to challenge Ireland after gutsy England win

Vaai is finally having his breakout year getting comfortable and showing great form at lock, and there are form players and experience all across the backrow, why on earth would you drop him to 6. Ridiculous

31 Go to comments

Another 37 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

So far, the All Blacks have won 8 matches out of 11 this year. That is a near 73% win rate. AB fans and, I assume, the team itself are not content with that and have everything to play for with the remaining 3 tests this year.

Their historical average is something like 77% these days and, although some years will always be better than others it is not likely to drop that dramatically to 70% any time soon. There is too much historical inertia on the stats. It is like saying Ireland’s form of the last 10 years or so is likely to reverse a historical average of 48% wins soon. It just isn’t.

Moreover, when you say they are ‘doomed’ to a 70% flatline are you not just assuming that Ireland will beat them again? How did that work out for you last time?

33 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 42 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Yeah but that means playing an imbalance of games between conferences and for me it just starts to undermine sporting integrity. Much prefer a solution that’s sharper and more crisp. But you can’t always have everything I guess…

33 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 52 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Munster were a B/academy mix…

33 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 53 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Tbf the one point that does have a ring of truth to it is the Irish rush D. They live right on the edge and often get the benefit of the doubt for too long in games because refs are under pressure to try and manage the flow of games. Similar issue at rucks where Ireland are absolute masters at protecting the ball but go off feet way more often than they are pinged for. I guess you could argue they are simply maximising the benefits of the full circumstances but it is damn infuriating at times too…!

33 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

And as for Saturday, England absolutely should have won it at the death, but only one team came to play rugby…and it wasn’t England! NZ totally deserving winners.

Borthwick has got it wrong, so very wrong. From what I hear camp has regressed and become an unhappy place once more. You only need to look at Marler’s abrupt departure when the team was named in camp and the grenade he lobbed on his way out the door that effectively retired him from test rugby! It was clear that he was livid at missing out on his match fee (no longer paid unless you’re in the 23 or on an eps contract apparently). Introducing a two tier system on the eve of the AIs was total madness!!! And then there’s selection. Slade wasn’t anywhere near ready, neither was Ford and hooking smith when the game is in the balance was beyond comprehension. Even if he needed to do that, fin smith steered his team adroitly to the Prem last year but was nowhere to be seen.

Then there’s his game plan. England looked like they were in danger of making real progress towards the end of the 6N but Saturday was the antithesis of that approach. There wasn’t an attack visible that was worthy of the description.

Borthwicks win rate is now abysmally low and this is beginning to look like it only end badly…

33 Go to comments

dw 1 hour ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Reminds me a little of our cricket teams in late 90s early 2000s. Everyone expected us to win every test but eventually we stopped being unbeatable.

Nz also seem to be relying on older players for some positions too. Who else can play 10 outside Barrett and D mac?

33 Go to comments

Head high tackle 1 hour ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The thing is MQ that the 85% was the anomaly. It was an unprecedented run of excellence that may never be repeated. To judge any sports team on their best ever period is only going to lead to disappointment. Im happy with the 75% mark which is NZs average in its rugby history. Foster was always on a hiding to nothing.

Slipping is relevent if you only look back to 2010 or there abouts thru to 2018. A freakish period of success really. It never was the norm and will probably never be seen again over the extended period it was. Teams can have great runs thru 12-18 mths but 8-10 years of dominance is unheard of generally.

33 Go to comments