Gatland gaffe

Its seesm Becs, lady Mo(NH) and the ab wannabe come lions wannebee ou rooitwit could be heading for disappointment? Lions - are they imploding!

Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions tour to Australia is imploding in a way similar to Sir Graham Henry’s did in 2001.

Gatland made six changes to the Lions after the 16-15 defeat in the second Test, including axing veteran Brian O’Driscoll from the match 23.

Gatland is starting with Welsh centre Jamie Roberts who missed the first two Tests because of injury and hasn’t played in nearly a month.(BOD was over the hill some years ago)

Gatland has lost several senior players to injury during the series and tour but it is a massive gamble to omit the experience of O’Driscoll from the match 23. The selections ask more questions than they currently give answers on the mindset of the Lions coach.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has recalled George Smith for one last Test. Smith, still part of the Japanese club scene, signed a short-term contract with the Brumbies, and made himself available for the three-Test series.

He got injured when the Brumbies played the Waratahs in Super Rugby and appeared unlikely to feature again.

He has recovered and will start ahead of Michael Hooper against the Lions, who have lost captain Sam Warburton.(Lucky Lions -wee warped button looked to be passenger in the two tests he played!)

Deans’s selection of Smith is on the money. Gatland’s omission of BOD isn’t.

My money will be on the Wallabies to add to the agony of the Lions and win in Sydney and win the series.

Yes I have a feeling the odds shoudl be on the Wallabys. Not cast i stone 9Ala ou maaaaike) but they could have a slight edge.

Now I do hop the Lions fans like rroitwit wont prepare the ground for a possible pending defeat by casgating Gatland and making all sorts o fprematch excuses. If Lions win that would look silly now wouldnt it?

Well said Beeno, if Lions win this match, Gatland would be held as a hero in the NH. He is the first coach to omit a fit Brian O'Driscoll from such a competitive match, Its a massive gamble. Remember, BOD would have been the overwhelming favourite to captain the Lions for the Decider; but he's not even on the bench! Its 'make or break for the Lions. Irish, Scots and some English fans aren't happy with that decision. But then again, it has to be said, Mr BOD messed up big time in that second test. I'll be the only one perhaps cheering for the OZs at my Golf Club, this is simply because they are southerners like us; but the OZs know dip down they robbed us the chance to get to the 2011 RWC fenale. FACT

Ntanga the only sure thing is that whichever coach loses this test his name will be MUD! There will be nashing of teeth and losts of wisdom with hindsight. If only Bod had played we would have won. If only Cooper had played we would have won etc. Of course if they win no such comments will be made.

In this case a 1 point difference on the corebaord will make you either a hero or a hound. 

 

A narrow win by either side will not be convincing...there will be excuses galore...nevertheless a win is a win and with a little bit of luck either side can win...Beeno remember Gary Player...the more you practice, the luckier you get.

This will be , I suspect, the clash of the Titans, unless of course the wheels start coming off from either side. This should be rugby at it's best, at least I hope so.

A narrow win by either side will not be convincing...there will be excuses galore...nevertheless a win is a win and with a little bit of luck either side can win...Beeno remember Gary Player...the more you practice, the luckier you get.

This will be , I suspect, the clash of the Titans, unless of course the wheels start coming off from either side. This should be rugby at it's best, at least I hope so.

I've been chatting to several friends from the UK -- Englishmen, Irishmen, Scotsmen and even Welshmen. And most of them are very uncomfortable with the way the series has panned out. Not because of the results per se, but the way certain aspects have been handled by the Coaching Staff.

 

Sir Ian McGeechan was always going to be hard to replace. The Lions of 2009 were an absolute delight to watch. Attack minded, dynamic, full of intent and pride. I was partial to the Boks but in the end I found myself cheering for the B&IL as they emerged like a group of people that worked together towards the very same goal.

 

This Lions Team (including the coaches) seems different. Now, I can't be 100% unbiased here as I have always been critic of Warren Gatland, not only for his preferences when it comes to developing teams and players, but also for the way he carries himself off the pitch. However, the shortcomings of this coaching staff cannot go unnoticed.

 

What I lament the most is the division this has generated. After all, this is a Sport, we are meant to have fun playing it or watching it. It's alright to be passionate -- even overly passionate -- about it, but when internal interests and favouritism infect a team, the result is worse than three consecutive 0-60 try fests at the hands of whichever team you have in front.

Ole...

This Lions Team (including the coaches) seems different. Now, I can't be 100% unbiased here as I have always been critic of Warren Gatland, not only for his preferences when it comes to developing teams and players, but also for the way he carries himself off the pitch. However, the shortcomings of this coaching staff cannot go unnoticed.

 

I'm inclined to agree with you but maybe this is just a "feel" we get and no doubt this question is in the minds of SA players and spectators about HM. I believe as players you got to give full support and commitment to your coach to achieve your goals. If they fail they often seen as an excuse but that attitude gets one nowhere. As a young player you have got your ability and you play the best you can and results come from that. I believe this that you can only achieve your very best when you play your initiative. There will always be a game plan and your skills are chosen for that plan but there is a thing called initiative.

I've also criticised certain selections of HM but once those selections are chosen those players get my full support. I give my full support to all players that play this game at top level.

Plumtree was a good coach for the Sharks and I felt it was time for him to move on. His contract expired at the end of the term but foolishly he was led to believe that it would be renewed, I'm told but not sure for another 2 years...hence the natural expectations of John Plumtree. His players respect and love him and few of them share the opinions, I believe expressed here. They are a united team, committed within themselves, respecting each other like you cannot believe...but you understand this probably more than I do.

It's not the going away of dear old Plum that upsets me...it's just the way it was handled and really it's not John Smit's fault but the format it took. John has been a victim of this and feels a lot of hurt from it...it was a blunder...there's, of doing things right and there is a wrong way.

Personally I have my reservations about Gatland but who am I...the bad vibes I got about him was in the last world cup when he coached Wales and was playing mind games against the Springboks...I don't like mind games because they are guile and deceit but let the man complete his journey...others with lesser integrity think differently.