Bath the latest Premiership club to answer Gatland's Lions selection threat
Challenge Cup semi-finalists Bath have become the latest Gallagher Premiership club to wade into the Lions debate ignited on Tuesday by Warren Gatland’s threat about English-based players potentially losing out on 50/50 selection calls if their clubs don’t make them available for the pre-tour preparation camp.
While Lions boss Gatland is understanding of the situation regarding any player that might be involved in the June 26 Premiership final, he believes it is important that players not involved in that showpiece are released to the tour party early despite the current regulation nine players release window agreement preventing that from happening.
Meetings have taken place this week between the PRL, the RPA and Lions administrators and Exeter boss Rob Baxter had his say on Gatland taking the situation public, branding his player release comments at Tuesday’s coaching staff announcement as disingenuous.
Now Bath boss Stuart Hooper has given his take on the Lions situation. His club have previous Lions tourists in their ranks in the guise of Anthony Watson and Taulupe Faletau, who were both part of the XVs in the drawn 2017 Test series in New Zealand, while Sam Underhill is also touted as a potential tour pick this time around to South Africa.
Hooper explained he fully understands the ambitions that Bath players have for the Lions but he also laid out the Premiership’s view and the need for agreements to be respected, just as were during the Six Nations when Bath had dealings with Scotland over Cameron Redpath, Josh Bayliss and Jamie Bhatti and their availability.
"Using the players this way is wrong"
– @chrisjonespress has learned that Lions boss Gatland picked the wrong day to go public with his threat over Premiership-based players
https://t.co/iApCWxOTYP— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 14, 2021
“These are questions where the decision will be made as a Premiership because there are agreements in place,” said Hooper at Bath’s weekly media briefing. “As romantic and as much as everyone loves the Lions, and as important a part of our rugby calendar that is, there is also a professional agreement here and it’s there for a reason.
“We have to protect that as a Premiership unit, we have to protect ourselves and protect our players but we are open to conversations to make sure that we can help the guys have the very best experience they can. I don’t actually know the specifics of whether it would have to be unanimous [any decision by the Premiership to release players early], but it would definitely be discussed at the board level for sure.
“To be honest, I haven’t had a clear understanding of when the Lions will meet up and that sort of thing. It will go along the lines of reg nine windows that are given for international rugby so I haven’t seen when they meet up but I presume it has to fall in line with that and that is the angle that is being discussed there.
“Those things crop up more than you might think. This year we have had internationals with Scotland with Cameron, Josh Bayliss and Jamie Bhatti so those conversations are ones that I will always have with the guys so that they understand the reason decisions have been made around reg nine and around the release of international players so they are fully in the picture and understand rather than just do what they are told.”
Beneath the red tape, though, Hooper is a Lions fan but he was unclear how many Bath players might be picked by Gatland for this latest tour. “The Lions are amazing. It has got that romance to it. It has got a real intangible feeling that even the very, very best players in the world turn back into the schoolboy that was first picked for his first team when they get the call-up for the Lions.
“I have seen it, seen the guys who have done it before and the impact it has had on them and it’s fascinating. I love the fact there is still a real emotive drive to play for an international team and if any of our guys get the opportunity then it’s incredible for them and as a club, we will stand right beside them, incredibly proud of that achievement.
“It’s a difficult question (who will get picked). There are obvious ones who have been talked about before and who have been on tours before, the likes of Toby and Anthony, those guys, and we can all write them on a piece of paper.
“The Lions has that effect on the coaches as well so we had a conversation the other day on who is going to be picked and the reality is that it depends how they want to play the game. It depends what Warren and more this time with Gregor (Townsend) as attack coach, how they want to play the game depends massively on who you are going to pick because it is a short period of time.
“It’s not about developing over a long period of time into the team you want to be, it’s about having a very clear picture of how you want to play, how you are going to beat the Springboks in their own backyard and picking people to fill that. Who knows? I’m hoping across the board from a spectator’s point of view that there are a few wildcards and a few people that we don’t expect to be picked but who knows.”
Quizzed on Underhill’s prospects after he missed the recent Guinness Six Nations with England through injury, Hooper added: “I wouldn’t say he was a wildcard if he got picked. He has consistently been one of the top, top back-rowers in the time he has played international rugby. Will he get picked? I’m not sure. If he does get picked he will be deserving and I wouldn’t see him as a wildcard. Look back to years gone but, Lions tours have taken uncapped players and it’s interesting to see if that happens again.”
A backlash has started over Warren Gatland's Lions selection comments https://t.co/dNK8QNDZAN
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 14, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Looked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
34 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
34 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
34 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
34 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
34 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
34 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
34 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
34 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
34 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to comments