Great moments in Lions tour history: When Warren Gatland scored against the Lions
As the Lions roll into Hamilton to play the Chiefs, the coach will no doubt be regaling anyone who’ll listen with the story of the time he played for Waikato against the tourists in 1993.
Most people with a brief knowledge of Lions coach Warren Gatland know that the first encounter he had with the famous touring side was scoring the easiest try of his career against them in 1993.
It came late in Waikato’s thumping 38-10 victory at Rugby Park. By that stage, Mooloo fans were already throwing back the watery local draught in celebration of another famous day in a golden period for the union. The Ranfurly Shield holders had knocked off the Lions, helped by a couple of tries to cult hero Duane Monkley.
Then came Gats, sneaking around the blindside after a nice little movement down the touchline. He shows he’s obviously played his whole life in the front row with a flop, rather than a dive, after an untouched run in.
It’s been 24 years since Gatland put the icing on the cake of that victory, and the hairs on his head are definitely greyer – probably from having to coach Wales for as long as he has. But the haircut he sported when he across the tryline that day has remained, remarkably, exactly the same for that entire time.
Gatland’s military style buzz-cut seems to have been a part of his life forever. It’s the sort of dependable look that was the basis of this classic Simpsons joke from back when the show hadn’t had ten too many seasons.
Short back and sides. He obviously thinks you can’t go wrong with that look, even if the top of his noggin looks like it’s been sanded down due to the way scrums were back in the day. You can tell that the old ‘swinging drawbridge’ style of scrum engagement definitely caused some erosion to the dome of his scalp.
So why has Gats stuck with the whole J Jonah Jameson look for all these years? I did a bit of research and it seems like most notable front rowers have too, although their styles aren’t always quite as severe.
Sean Fitzpatrick stuck with his more or less the same style from his days as legendary captain to Northern Hemisphere apologist. Richard Loe lost his intimidating moustache, but never ventured far from a simple look on top. Keith Wood had no choice, he was clearly an inductee into the bald brotherhood from an early age. The only thing Brian Moore has changed is taking the tape off his head.
[rugbypass-ad-banner id=”1473306980″]
While the hard men of the front row have never thought it appropriate to ask the advice of a barber about the changes in men’s contemporary fashion, thankfully some of the backs have. After all, it would be quite ridiculous to see Andrew Mehrtens rocking the same bowl cut he had back in the 90’s now – mainly because it was ridiculous back then anyway.
But back to Gatland. Right now getting a new hairstyle and remembering his heroics back in ’93 are probably the furthest things from his mind. There’s less than a week to go until D-Day against the All Blacks, and he’s already facing a hostile reception to the Welsh no-names he’s rung in to the Lions squad. The pressure is firmly on, and since Eden Park is hosting the first and third tests, Auckland could be the city where his legacy is defined.
Maybe if he wins he can go to a barber and get something done about updating his lid.
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments