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Lions squad could accommodate as few as 35 players, Ireland boss Farrell in frame for assistant's role

(Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Warren Gatland has revealed his Lions squad might only accommodate 35 players for next year’s tour to South Africa, down from 41 original picks for New Zealand in 2017 and 37 for Australia in 2013, while he also hopes to have the identity of his assistant coaches – a posse potentially headed by Andy Farrell – clarified by the end of November. 

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The lack of travel across multiple times zones to get to South Africa, allied with the Lions not having a midweek match leading into the first Test next July, were the reasons why Gatland said his squad number would be reduced, adding that the forwards/backs split could potentially be 20/15. 

Gatland’s original 41-strong squad in 2017, which consisted of 16 players from England, twelve from Wales, eleven from Ireland and two from Scotland, was made up of 22 forwards and 19 backs. 

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Lions coach Warren Gatland guests on All Access, the RugbyPass interview series

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Lions coach Warren Gatland guests on All Access, the RugbyPass interview series

In 2013, when Gatland first took charge of the tour after being an assistant in 2009, the 37-strong squad had a 21/16 forwards/backs split and consisted of 15 players from Wales, ten from England, nine from Ireland and three from Scotland.

“The squad size, we’re probably looking at 35, 36 players and maybe a 20/15 split or 20/16. In doing that we will probably name a standby squad,” said Gatland, who created controversy in 2017 by temporarily bringing six additional players into the squad the week of the first Test against the All Blacks to help with the midweek game against the Chiefs.

We don’t have a game before the first Test… so that makes it a heck of a lot easier for your preparation going into that first Test week. It does put a bit more pressure on you in those five lead-up games before the first Test in terms of your numbers, but you pick a squad of 35, 36, those players can engage fully right to the end of the tour.

“If you’re not in the 23 you’re only a performance or an injury away from getting selected or being in the squad. We have looked at that and being able to reduce the size of the squad is a lot easier compared to Australia or New Zealand. Bringing players over (due to injury), they can acclimatise a hell of a lot quicker. That is where our thinking is at the moment, but nothing is set in stone.”

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Gatland was assisted on the 2017 Lions by Graham Rowntree, Steve Borthwick, Farrell, Rob Howley, and Neil Jenkins, and he had the same staff in 2013 except for Borthwick. Looking ahead to 2021, he said he wants some level of continuity but is also open to having some fresh voices onboard. 

“When picking your coaching team the thing I found most important from a Lions perspective was because you have that limited preparation time, because you’re bringing a new group of players together and you’re trying to do things as quickly as you possibly can, having that continuity with people that have been there before, whether that is from a coaching perspective, strength and conditioning, medical, analysis, that makes a huge difference – but you want some new faces as well. That is important and we have done that on previous tours. 

“I have got a huge amount of regard for Andy and his leadership, what he brings to the game, what he brings to a team. He understands winning, understands winning environments and he’s very smart. He’s definitely one of those guys you’re looking at from a continuity point of view perspective,” continued Gatland about the chances of the Lions having Farrell at their disposal again.

“I have spoken to all the four CEOs and directors of rugby as well in terms of the potential availability of coaches and hopefully in the next three, four weeks we will be able to put a list of those people together, agree on terms with them and be able to get that out there. 

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“He [Farrell] is definitely one of the ones who has been on two tours, been incredibly successful, great role for him now as the head coach and Ireland have to make a decision about if they were prepared to release him (for the Lions). 

“I see massive benefits in someone going on a Lions tour on what they learn from the other players, the team that they are playing against. It’s a great experience, it’s incredibly tough, but that is up to the individual unions about whether they are prepared to release him. We have had those conversations already and we’re just waiting to finalise over the next few weeks the availability of some people.”

Farrell recently claimed he had no contact with the Lions regarding 2021, but he didn’t rule out being open to an approach even though it would clash with an Ireland tour elsewhere. Gatland, meanwhile, mentioned without any great conviction that he had been in touch with Leinster’s Stuart Lancaster and Exeter double winner Rob Baxter, but he was far more enthusiastic about Scotland boss Gregor Townsend, who turned him down in 2017.

“He initially said yes and then he became unavailable. I like what Gregor does… I like the way Gregor coaches and the job he did with Glasgow and with Scotland. He is definitely not out of contention to be part of the Lions tour.

“I spoke to Stuart a long time ago,” added Gatland. “I’d an email from Rob (Baxter) but that was more to do with talking to Rob Hunter about what I was looking for from a forwards perspective in terms of the Exeter players for the future. I haven’t had any personal conversations with him about the Lions.”

– Warren Gatland was speaking on behalf of Canterbury at the launch of the British and Irish Lions Pro jersey,  available at Canterbury.com

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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