Life after Gatland - who might succeed the Lions boss?
As the dust settles on a British & Irish Lions tour like no other opinion is divided on whether Warren Gatland should remain in charge for the 2025 trip to Australia.
While some point to the former Ireland and Wales head coach’s 2011 success Down Under and the drawn series in New Zealand in 2015 others believe the lack of attacking rugby and rancour associated with this summer’s tour make it time for the Lions to move on.
When questioned immediately post-match the 56-year-old Kiwi was understandably non-committal about his prospects.
“It’s something that’s I’ll reflect on. I’m incredibly proud of my involvement and I’ve been very, very fortunate,” Gatland said.
“I’m very passionate about the Lions. I think that time on my own (in isolation at his home in Hamilton) will be a good chance to think what the next chapter of my life is going to be.”
Lions chairman and former prop Jason Leonard believes the Kiwi has earned the right to be high on their 2025 shortlist.
“The highest accolade that I can give someone like Gats is that he is up there with Sir Ian McGeechan,” Leonard said. “If you cut him in half, he bleeds Lions. He just gets what the Lions is.
“Twenty-four hours after the Test we have not really gone down that route but Warren Gatland has got to be in consideration.”
Meanwhile Times pundit Stuart Barnes has wasted no time in nailing his colours to the mast of another high-profile Kiwi coach in the Crusaders’ Scott Robertson, who he proposes teaming up with his former assistant Ronan O’ Gara who currently works for La Rochelle in the French Top 14.
“That’s a combination that would have beaten a Springbok team there for the taking,” he wrote.
“Let’s have a coach who will install ambition rather than fear of failure. I’d sign Robertson tomorrow.”
Scrap the Lions tour? You'd have to get past this man first. #CastleLionsSeries #lionsrugbyhttps://t.co/8J0ApGBllb
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 9, 2021
History has taught us that plenty can change in four years, and while the Lions at times have favoured continuity through Gatland and Sir Ian McGeechan they have also at times opted for ‘form horses’ such as Sir Clive Woodward and Graham Henry.
Gatland and Henry have also ended the notion not only that the head coach must be a former Lions player but also that he must be British.
Wish lists to replace Gatland will inevitably include a number of his recent lieutenants – but one important factor to bear in mind is just how much of the job is now about being a front man.
It is therefore inconceivable that someone who is yet to face the demands of being the boss in a 24-hour media age could be the next head coach.
This seems likely to rule out the likes of Shaun Edwards or Rob Howley but perhaps brings a few longer shots into play should the stars realign in their favour during the next four years.
Andy Farrell
The 46-year-old Ireland head coach already has spells working with the Lions on his CV in addition to stints in charge of both England and Ireland’s defence.
With plenty of playing experience at the highest level in both codes and time spent learning his trade within the highly successful Saracens structure Farrell ticks plenty of boxes.
Key Variable: Ireland need to shine in France 2023 for Farrell’s moment to come
Gregor Townsend
Scotland’s head coach, who was a series winning Lion as a player in 1997, has seen his profile grow during his assistant coach role on this summer’s tour.
With a relatively successful stint at Glasgow behind him he also worked under a number of Southern Hemisphere big names during stints as Scotland’s attack and backs coach.
Key variable: Unless Scotland really shine in France 2023 or during the next few Six Nations championships he has less proven success at club level to fall back on than many
Eddie Jones
England’s boss has nearly 30 years coaching experience and seems to relish the limelight which the Lions role brings.
Previous stints with Australia and Japan have given the 61-year-old plenty of insight to how to beat the Southern Hemisphere giants – including the 2015 ‘miracle of Brighton.’
His time with England seems certain to end after France 2023 – and should England deliver another successful campaign the Aussie would be high on the Lions shortlist.
Key variable: Something of a ‘marmite’ character, Jones is notoriously difficult to work with and may therefore be considered unsuited to a position where gelling four rugby cultures together is essential
Wayne Pivac
Wales head coach is another Southern Hemisphere veteran with the credentials for the top Lions job.
Either side of a three-year spell coaching Fiji, Pivac built a reputation in Auckland from where he moved to West Wales to impress with a Scarlets side that he took to the Pro-12 title.
He replaced Gatland as Wales boss in 2019 and lifted the Six Nations trophy earlier this year.
Key variable: Wales need to keep winning – like Jones 2023 will be an obvious break point for Pivac should the Lions opportunity arise
Joe Schmidt
The veteran former Ireland head coach seemed nailed on to coach the Lions at some point when his team twice lowered the colours of his native New Zealand prior to the last World Cup.
But when Ireland once again failed to deliver in Japan 2019 Schmidt stepped away from a position he had held since 2013.
Prior to his involvement with Ireland, the 55-year-old enjoyed huge success in Super Rugby and the Heineken Cup with the Blues and Leinster.
Now working with World Rugby as a performance specialist, might Schmidt be tempted by the Lions?
Key variable: Does Schmidt want to return to the Northern Hemisphere and involvement with coaching?
Steve Borthwick
Incredibly it is only seven years since Borthwick’s playing days ended and at 41 he has plenty of time ahead of him.
The former Bath, Saracens and England captain has always been destined for a high-profile coaching career and few can rival the detailed knowledge of forward play which he brought to his role as a 2017 Lions assistant.
After spells working under Eddie Jones with Japan and England the 41-year-old has made a solid start to life as Leicester boss.
Key variable: Borthwick is not overly media friendly but should he restore the Tigers to former glories it is entirely possible to see him as Jones’ England successor then a Lions boss
Michael Cheika
The former Leinster head coach is currently working with Argentina following a lengthy spell at the helm of his native Wallabies.
Having also worked in the French Top 14 with Stade Francais, Cheika certainly has the breadth of experience required to take charge of the Lions.
His time as Australia boss was far from controversy free, but like Jones he appeared to relsh the profile of the role.
Key variable: Needs to get back into a more high-profile position soon to become a Lions contender
REF WATCH: "Three refereeing decisions ended up being of crucial significance in the outcome of the match – and therefore the series."
Former ref Paul Smith ??? unpacks the third Test #LionsTour2021 #LionsRugby #CastleLionsSeries https://t.co/D4tR24wjVw
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 8, 2021
Stuart Lancaster
A highly respected figure, Lancaster has reinvented himself under Leo Cullen at Leinster following a terrible 2015 World Cup at the helm of England.
Often linked with a move back to the English Premiership, the 51-year-old probably needs to opt for a role at the helm of a high-profile province or club to become a serious Lions contender.
Mark McCall
The former Ireland fly half has remained relentlessly loyal to Saracens where his stock has continued to rise while the club has gone through a period of extreme turmoil.
McCall’s trophy cabinet is bulging – but he needs international experience to boost his Lions prospects.
Pat Lam
Bristol’s boss has some experience coaching the Pacific islanders and his native Samoa, but it is in club rugby with Connacht and the Blues that has seen his star rise sharply.
Should Bristol build on last season’s semi-final appearance by winning a couple of English Premiership titles it is entirely possible to see Lam as a Lions contender.
Rob Baxter
If Baxter ever opts to leave his native Exeter Chiefs the scramble for his signature will be worth watching.
If England opt to replace Jones with a home-grown boss he is surely a shoo-in, but does he want the job which seems an essential stepping stone to the Lions?
Dai Young
It is easy to forget that the Cardiff Blues DOR was top of many shortlists to replace Gatland as Wales National Coach when he was transforming Wasps into Premiership contenders.
Young – who remains the only player to tour with the Lions in three different decades – reportedly declined an interview because he felt it came too soon in his coaching career.
Like Baxter, the former dual-code international would be top of most lists should the WRU want Pivac’s successor be home-grown, after which a successful spell as national coach would make him an obvious Lions contender.
Comments on RugbyPass
> They are not standalone entities. They are linked to an amateur association which holds the FFR licence that allows the professional side to compete in the league. That’s a great rule. This looks like the chicken or egg professional scenario. How long is it going to be before the club can break even (if that is even a thing in French rugby)? If the locals aren’t into well it would be good to se them drop to amateur level (is it that far?). Hope they can reset from this level and be more practical, there will be a time when they can rebuild (if France has there setup right).
1 Go to commentsWhat about changing the ball? To something heavier and more pointed that bounces unpredictably. Not this almost round football used these days.
35 Go to commentsThis is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?
35 Go to commentsWow, didn’t realise there was such apathy to URC in SA, or by Champions Cup teams. Just read Nick’s article on Crusaders, are Sharks a similar circumstance? I think SA rugby has been far more balanced than NZs, no?
2 Go to commentsBut here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.
28 Go to commentsIt could be coincidental or prescient that the All Blacks most dominant period under Steve Hansen was when the Crusaders had their least successful period under Todd Blackadder and then the positions reversed when Razor took over the Crusaders.
28 Go to commentsDefinitely sound read everybodyexpects immediate results these days, I don't think any team would travel well at all having lost three of the most important game changers in the game,compiled with the massive injury list they are now carrying, good to see a different more in depth perspective of a coaches history.
3 Go to commentsSinckler is a really big loss for English rugby.
1 Go to commentsThanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause
28 Go to commentsNo way. If you are trying to picture New Zealand rugby with an All Blacks mindset, there have been two factors instrumental to the decline of NZ rugby to date. Those are the horror that the Blues have become and, probably more so, the fixture that the Crusaders became. I don’t think it was healthy to have one team so dominant for so long, both for lack of proper representation of players from outside that environment and on the over reliance on players from within it. If you are another international side, like Ireland for example, sure. You can copy paste something succinct from one level to the next and experience a huge increase in standards, but ultimately you will not be maximizing it, which is what you need to perform to the level the ABs do. Added to that is the apathy that develops in the whole game as a result of one sides dominance. NZ, Super, and Championship rugby should all experience a boom as a result of things balancing out. That said, there is a lot of bad news happening in NZ rugby recently, and I’m not sure the game can be handled well enough here to postpone the always-there feeling of inevitable decline of rugby.
28 Go to commentsNo SA supporter miss Super Rugby - a product that is experiencing significant head wind in ANZ - the competition from rival codes are intense, match attendance figures are at a historical low and the negativity of commentators such as Kirwan and Wilson have accelerated the downward spiral in NZ. After the next RWC in 2027 sponsors will follow Qantas and start leaving in droves.
2 Go to commentsLike others, I am not seeing the connection between this edition of the Crusaders and the All Blacks future prospects under Razor. I think the analysis of the Crusaders attack recently is helpful because Razor and his coaching team used to be able to slot new guys in to their systems and see them succeed. Several of Razor’s coaches are still there so it would be surprising if the current attack and set piece has been overhauled to a great extent - but based on that analysis, it may have been. Whether it is too many new guys due to injuries or retirement or a failure of current Crusaders systems is the main question to be answered imo. It doesn’t seem relevant for the ABs.
28 Go to commentsharry potter is set in stone. he creates stability and finishes well. exactly what schmidt likes. he’s the ben smith of australian rugby. i think it could quite easily be potter toole and kellaway for the foreseeable future.
5 Go to commentsThis is short sighted from Clayton if you ask me, smacks of too much preseason planning and no adaptability. What if DMac is out for a must win match, are they still only going to bring their best first five and playmaker on late in the game? Trusting the game to someone who wasn’t even part of planning (they would have had Trask pinned in as Jacomb preseason). Perhaps if the Crusaders were better they would not have done this, but either way imo you take this opportunity to play a guy you might need starting in a final rather than having their 12th game getting comfortable coming off the bench.
1 Go to commentsThanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.
21 Go to commentsWhat a load of bollocks. The author has forgotten to mention the fact that the Crusaders have a huge injury toll with top world class players out. Not to mention the fact that they are obviously in a transition period. No this will not spark a slow death for NZ rugby, but it does mean there will be a new Super Rugby champion. Anyone who knows anything about NZ rugby knows that there is some serious talent here, it just isn’t all at the Crusaders.
28 Go to commentsI wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
5 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
55 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
7 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to comments