Where will Warren Gatland touch down in New Zealand?
Having been reappointed as head coach of the British & Irish Lions for their tour to South Africa in 2021, Warren Gatland has reaffirmed that he has his sights set on a New Zealand coaching gig in the near future.
Gatland will take Wales to the World Cup later in the year in his last act as head coach of the team that he has now spent 12 years with. After the global tournament, Gatland will coach the Barbarians against this former side before turning his attention to the upcoming Lions series.
“I’ll focus 100 per cent on the Lions for those 12 months [after the World Cup] and then hopefully have an opportunity to go back to New Zealand and pick up something and then take it from there,” Gatland has said.
Gatland has made it no secret that he wants to coach a Super Rugby side, potentially with an eye to one day coaching his native New Zealand side.
“I would love to be involved with Super Rugby and to challenge myself with that,” he previously told the BBC.
“I want to go back. I have been head coach with Waikato and won a championship there and I want to challenge myself with Super Rugby.”
Waikato won the 2006 NPC with Gatland at the helm. It was a breakout season for the likes of former All Blacks Liam Messam, Brendon Leonard and Richard Kahui.
Gatland’s success with Wales and the Lions is well-known and New Zealand Rugby will be licking their lips at the chance of having the outspoken ex-hooker on the books.
Where, then, could Warren Gatland take over as head coach?
Chiefs
Gatland’s home province of Waikato seems like the obvious destination for the celebrated former player and coach.
Current coach Colin Cooper comes off contract with the 2012 and 2013 Super Rugby champions at the end of 2020, so an interim would need to take over for the 2021 season if Gatland were to join the franchise at the end of the Lions tour.
The Chiefs have achieved mixed results since Cooper took over. The side managed a quarter-final appearance last year and could do the same this season if they can secure a victory against the Rebels in Melbourne this Friday (other results dependent).
Whilst the above seems like a reasonable achievement on the face of it, the Chiefs have performed poorly in 2019 and a quarter-final spot will be more a result of the under-performance of the other teams in the competition than on any form the Chiefs have shown. In a tournament where over half the teams qualify for the finals series, a spot in the knockout rounds should be the minimum required for an experienced coach.
Some have suggested that Cooper’s time with the Chiefs could be done after an unimpressive 2019 season – but with few experienced options available immediately from next year, that might not be the wisest move.
The Chiefs’ biggest issue in 2019 has been their woeful defence, which has appeared to lack any system or structure. The 457 points that the side have conceded this season is the most by any Chiefs team in the history of Super Rugby. That deficiency can’t all be attributed to Cooper, with specialist defence coach Neil Barnes also on the books.
Defence is, of course, one of Gatland’s specialities – the rush defence utilised by Gatland’s charges during the mid-2000’s snuffed many an attack from the opposition. In this year’s Six Nations, Wales conceded a mere 65 points – 35 fewer than the next best side.
Returning to the Waikato region will likely be Gatland’s first choice, given his ties to the province.
Crusaders
The Crusaders are yet to appoint a coach who was had not already spent plenty of time in the franchise surroundings, but they would likely jump at the chance to bring in an experienced campaigner like Gatland.
Current coach Scott Robertson has taken the Crusaders of the 2010’s from also-rans to perennial champions and will likely achieve a third title in as many years in the coming weeks.
Robertson’s contract will conclude once this season ends and if he were to seek an extension then he would be snapped up in a heartbeat. The expectation, however, is that that Robertson has higher aspirations than Super Rugby and will be looking for a position in the All Blacks set up.
Current New Zealand assistant Ian Foster is probably the favourite to take over from Steve Hansen after the World Cup, given the succession system that has been popular in recent times – but a poor result could see a new direction sought. Robertson would appeal as the obvious candidate to step up. Steve Tew’s recent decision to stand down as CEO of New Zealand Rugby could also work in Robertson’s favour.
Whatever the outcome of the All Blacks’ coaching decision, Robertson will likely want to be involved in international rugby one way or another. Whether that’s as an assistant with New Zealand or as a head coach elsewhere is anyone’s guess.
Regardless of the various permutations, there’s a very slim chance that Robertson will still be coaching the Crusaders in 2021.
Gatland’s hard-nosed approach would likely appeal to the Crusaders, who build their game on forward dominance. The major obstacle for Gatland taking over is that a new coach will likely be needed from next year – which will be two years too early for Gatland. If the Crusaders appoint someone in the meantime, are they likely to be content with a two-year deal?
Blues
That brings us to the poisoned chalice that is the Blues head coaching role.
The Blues have employed the equal most head coaches of any New Zealand Super Rugby franchise, for good reason.
The Blues have underperformed for the last 15 years and a number of attempts have been made to improve the team’s performance from the grassroots up. No doubt there are issues with the set-up in Auckland – but regardless of the problems, the Blues have had good enough squads over the last decade and a half to achieve considerably more than they have.
One major difference that Gatland would have over the previous Blues coaches is copious experience. The previous four coaches, Leon MacDonald, Tana Umaga, Pat Lam and John Kirwan were all appointed on the back of work they did for, frankly, lesser teams. MacDonald, Umaga and Lam all cut their teeth with provincial sides while Kirwan was head coach at Japan.
Whilst appointing young coaches isn’t necessarily a bad thing (in fact, it’s a natural step up and fair reward for developing coaches), the expectations and hopes thrust upon the head coach of New Zealand’s first Super Rugby champions may require someone with a bit more savvy.
Other opportunities
The Highlanders are well equipped in the coaching stakes with Aaron Mauger and Tony Brown both on the books from next year. Mauger has already spent time overseas and will likely be looking to earn his stripes in New Zealand for a number of years while Brown is a prodigious talent and appeals as a long-term candidate for an All Blacks role.
The Hurricanes are the only team in New Zealand whose head coach actually comes off contract at the end of 2021. The Hurricanes probably wouldn’t be as enticing to Gatland compared to other franchises, however, as they don’t have the pedigree of the Crusaders, the home appeal of the Chiefs or the opportunity to redeem a former superpower that comes with the role at the Blues.
If there aren’t any opportunities available at Super Rugby level then Gatland may be asked to bide his time in a different role for New Zealand. Couple a behind-the-scenes role with a coaching position for the likes of Waikato or the New Zealand Under 20s and it might be possible to lock Gatland down for the future.
The chances of an international coach of Gatland’s chops actually stepping down into a provincial role may be a tough ask, however, and the smallest carrot that could entice Gatland home might just be a Super Rugby role.
While there may be few obvious open opportunities for Gatland in New Zealand come 2022, the country would be stupid not to try fit the elder statesman into their systems somewhere. Gatland has proven himself at all levels of the game and with so many experienced campaigners heading overseas to man teams in Europe and Japan, bringing home a coach of Gatland’s calibre would be an excellent coup for New Zealand Rugby.
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments