Phil Vickery wants Warren Gatland to be named as the 2013 British and Irish Lions coach
World Cup winner Phil Vickery says Wales coach Warren Gatland would make the perfect coach for the British and Irish Lions in 2013.
Gatland was assistant coach on the last Lions tour to South Africa and is one of the strong favourites to lead the next tour in Australia. Vickery has experienced two tours with the Lions and says Gatland
checks every box.
However, a decision on the matter is not likely to be swift. There is also going to be fierce competition among coaches as leading the Lions is one of the most sought after jobs in the rugby world.
Gatland has a number of qualities and attributes that would make him a very good candidate for the job. However, some have questioned his commitment to his Wales contract.
Qualities and attributes
Gatland has always tried to get his teams playing rugby in the right way. This means productive and attacking rugby where gamesmanship isn't a thought on the mind of any player.
He is a very good man manager and this is very important when teams go on long tours. Gatland can keep every member of the Lions squad focused to make sure there is no home sickness or unforced errors
in the middle of games.
Gatland already has the experience of being a coach on a Lions tour. This will ensure that he isn't fazed by moving up from an assistant coaching role to head coach.
"I've done two Lions tours and I think Warren would be a fantastic candidate to do it again, and I hope he does.
He's a guy who I have the utmost respect for. He's a typical Kiwi. He's honest, sometimes brutally, but you can be honest back.
He gets the guys together and gets the best out of people. I really hope he does it again," said Vickery.
Wales commitments
Gatland has a clause in his contract with Wales, which allows him a five-month break. The next British and Irish Lions tour will happen at the same time that Wales is due
to go and tour Japan.
If Gatland takes up a role with the Lions then it will mean sending a junior and much less experienced coaching team away with the Wales side. This is not something that
has gone down well with many Welsh pundits in the game.
However, this would seem to be making something out of nothing because it's naive to ask any coach to turn down the chance of coaching The Lions.
"For a Lions team to be successful is incredibly hard. It was a fantastic
experience and an honour and a privilege to be involved with the players. To do it again? We'll just have to see.
Wales have agreed that for 2013, while the Lions are touring and Wales play Japan for a couple of games, I could appoint some younger coaches which would enable me
to be free for four or five months," added Gatland.
Betting advice
Any Warren Gatland side is going to be well organised, well disciplined, attacking and very aggressive. Don't hesitate in backing Wales or the Lions while he is in charge.
If there are odds available then back the Lions to win in Australia.
Be confident in backing his Wales team on the tour to Japan, regardless of whether Gatland is in charge or not. It may be difficult to get odds at such an early stage but
there are no signs that Japanese rugby is going to explode into life over the next two and a half years.
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