Gatland must lead Lions again - Jones: gamble on Brian O'Driscoll proves he is the right man

14th July 2013 12:47

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Alun-Wyn Jones: Backs Warren Gatland to coach the Lions in 2017

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Wales lock Alun-Wyn Jones believes Warren Gatland's winning gamble on Brian O'Driscoll proves he is the right man to lead the British and Irish Lions in 2017.

 

 

Gatland was widely criticised for leaving veteran Ireland midfelder O'Driscoll out of the matchday squad for the series decider against the Wallabies in Sydney last Saturday, but was vindicated as the Lions claimed a convincing 41-16 win.

 

Jones captained the tourists in that game due to the absence of O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell and Sam Warburton feels Gatland is the right man to coach the Lions when they tour New Zealand in four years time.

 

"It's funny because before the last game everyone was criticising him, saying that he had done the wrong thing with his selection, and now they are touting him for the next one," said Jones in a column for the Sunday Express.

 

"Can he do a good job? Definitely. He proved that when he gambled and it worked. I don't know if it's the Midas touch but whatever he does works."

 

It was a second Lions tour for Jones and he feels it is too early to look ahead to a potential third trip with the tourists.

 

"There are a lot of things to take into account for four years' time," he added.

 

"How I'm playing, how my body is, where I'm playing and what the situation is with family.

 

"I know I'll only be 31 but a lot of water will have passed under the bridge by then. I like to look ahead but I don't like to look that far ahead."

 

Jones was involved in one of the tour's major talking points, when Wallabies skipper James Horwill was cited for stamping on his head in the first Test in Brisbane.

 

Horwill was found not guilty at a disciplinary hearing and although the International Rugby Board appealed, the verdict was upheld and he was allowed to play in Sydney.

 

"Nobody knows the intention other than James himself," added Jones.

 

"I shook his hand before the game and I shook his hand afterwards.

 

"Everybody who plays the game has seen red at some point or other. I have been there myself but I have been around too long in rugby to hold grudges. By the end I felt a little bit sorry for James.

 

"I thought if he got off once, fine, let's crack on and play rugby. It became a sideshow towards the end and detracted from the main event."

He should lead the Lions on the basis that he dropped O'Driscoll for the final match? What a load of crap.

Gatland even said himself that had oDriscoll played they would surely have still won.

It was not as if the game was close.

 Sharkbok you cannot deny Gatland worked out the wallabies big time. Our two UK based ladies must be a triffle emabarassed as they, I do believe, slated Gatland?

not much of a gamble because brian has been shit for the last seven years! yeah the greatest 13 of the pro era but thats just how it is. i was surprised he was selected at all nd he didnt do anything in the series that was great any way so the whole issue is just a load of shit.

Gatland should not go anywhere near the Lions again.

He almost fouled up a Tour that could, and should, have been won before the Final Test.

As I said many times, his stubborn behaviour in sticking to his systems and plays that the world and his wife knows, almost cost us that Series. He had to be forced to change things for that Final Test, something players like Paul O'Connell have written about, so don't just take my word for it. And look what happened when we actually started to play ? Oh, we won and won handsomely.

Dropping O'Driscoll was the least of my worries. It was the manner in which he treated the man that I resented.

He shouldn't have taken him in the first place, he is past it. But he took too many players he were past their prime and players that were woefully out of form. But hey, anyone who wasn't English had to be on that plane, even if they were in their bath chair !!

He was talked up by Gatland as some kind of talismanic Hero. Again, a foolish thing to do. He's a man who happens to have been a very good Rugby player indeed. But he's just a man. Not as God.

He then sent him out to do a job, a job he did very well indeed. A defending role. Pure and simple.

I was angry that he kicked away the ball when we had advantage in the Second Test, and that led to the winning Try for Australia, but, up to that point, he did the job required of him in both Tests. He defended until he was on his last legs. Because that was the game plan. He wasn't there to attack.

He was then made Captain in the week that Warburton was injured before being dropped on the Thursday of the Final Test. What way is that to treat someone ? Is that making a scapegoat of a player who has done everything you have asked of them during the Tour thus far ? Trying to deflect blame from your own inadequacies onto someone else ? Gosh, what a nice, brave man.

The whole game plan was changed for that Final Test. Farrell's running lines in the backs are visible, Rowntree's forward play was there for all to see. Not just Gatland's dull and monotonous " Warrenball ".

Now you tell me, Beeno, how did Gatland work out the Wallabies " big time " again ?

The man who has coached the Lions to victory whould not get near the Lions again, just like the man who kicked the winning goal for England in 2003 is useless and should not have been flyhalf because he tried his best to loose the WRC for England......................

Becs, man for man nearly the brits were inferior to the wallabies the only reason they won was BECAUSE of Gatland. We had the useless shit for brains Deans and that what cost us the series. the better coach won end of discussion baby.

I didn't ever say that, Ceradyne, so stop twisting things.

I said that he did his level best to lose not only the RWC for England at that time, but also his sanity. And, it was the team who got him into the position on the field, and Matthew dawson who told him to go for goal. He has said so himself. He wouldn't have done so otherwise. But hey, yopu can take that up with him. Because you always know best. About everything.

And Ihi, that's not remotely true.

Becs...Agree with you!! and word has it that when some of the senior players (BOD) was was of them told Gatland his game plan was not working he did not like it. He could not drop POC so good bye BOD. I was not a fan of his when he was with Ireland and hope he does not get a second crack at the job.

.......is useless and should not have been flyhalf because he tried his best to loose the WRC for England

and

............I said that he did his level best to lose not only the RWC for England at that time, but also his sanity.

Sound pretty much the same to me. Add to that: "......As a player, he lacks instinct, he has to be told what to do by his surrounding players."  Makes it sound like he is pretty useless as well, if it is true.