Howley free to join the Lions

Gatland, who will be officially unveiled as the Lions head coach in London on Tuesday, is understood to be keen for Howley to be appointed as the tourists’ backs coach, a role he undertook on the tour of South Africa in 2009.
Doubts over whether Howley would be released for the Lions by the Welsh Rugby Union — who have appointed the former scrum-half to be Wales coach for all but the autumn Tests against New Zealand and Australia this season during Gatland’s secondment — prompted speculation that Leinster coach Joe Schmidt was under serious consideration.
However Roger Lewis, the WRU chief executive, told Telegraph Sport that the governing body would not stand in Howley’s way if he was wanted by Gatland for the 10-match tour.
Howley had been due to head up Wales’ coaching team for the tour of Japan next summer, a role that is now likely to be jointly assumed by Neil Jenkins and Robin McBryde.
“We passionately believe in the British and Irish Lions brand and we will be as helpful and supportive as we can if we receive further requests,” Lewis said.


It has to be more than coincidence the day Gatts will be confirmed as Lions Coach Lewis tells the press Howley is free to go. Looks as though Gatts has already made it clear who he wants.
I think Shaun Edwards will almost certainly go as defence coach & Graham Rowntree as forwards coach. There is also rumours of Dai Young being offered to coach the midweek team.
I would have thought if Howley was being groomed for the Wales top job post World Cup he would be better off taking charge of Wales on his own.

I think the lions is an opportunity that a player or coach would never want to miss. It has always been the pinnacle of achievement in british and irish rugby, to be a test lion.
Let's hope we can win the series as we were so close last time. Howleys injury Prior to the 3rd test was probably what cost the series.

I'm sure he will be keen to reap revenge.

Cant argue against Gatland picking the coaches he knows understand the way he will want the team to play.

Must be a worry for the WRU though to have their reserve coaches head elsewhere

Gatland, Howley Edwards!!!!

We're DOOMED, doomed.


Lions to lose 2-1, it would have been better to pick coaches that are used to winning in Aus.

Warburton as Captain then!

The prospects for this Lions tour are getting bleaker as each day passes.

No comment as to the quality of potential coaching selections, but that's simply too many from one country (whether Wales, England, Ireland or Scotland) imo. I understand the appeal behind familiarity, but the Lions thrives on diversity

You're going to be disappointed then!

HERSH wrote:You're going to be disappointed then!

Nothing new there then!

On the plus side the Welsh players they don't take will become very bitter towards their coaches once normal service is resumed, so I believe by taking all the Welsh coaching staff Gatland will only be damaging Wales chances in the 2015 RWC.

Hersh/Sugar and Spikes/ASBO/PSW, as you are all English I guess you have become accustomed to disappointment with Rugby union in the last few years so at least you are all ready for it.

LordDowlais wrote:Hersh/Sugar and Spikes/ASBO/PSW, as you are all English I guess you have become accustomed to disappointment with Rugby union in the last few years so at least you are all ready for it.

How very dare you?!?! Not a sassenach bone in my body!

LordDowlais wrote:Hersh/Sugar and Spikes/ASBO/PSW, as you are all English I guess you have become accustomed to disappointment with Rugby union in the last few years so at least you are all ready for it.

As a Welshman you're VERY familiar with losing to Australia so I guess it won't be surprise for you either.

Calling a Scot English won't go down well

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Hersh/Sugar and Spikes/ASBO/PSW, as you are all English I guess you have become accustomed to disappointment with Rugby union in the last few years so at least you are all ready for it.

How very dare you?!?! Not a sassenach bone in my body!

Sorry.

sugarNspikes wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Hersh/Sugar and Spikes/ASBO/PSW, as you are all English I guess you have become accustomed to disappointment with Rugby union in the last few years so at least you are all ready for it.

As a Welshman you're VERY familiar with losing to Australia so I guess it won't be surprise for you either.

Calling a Scot English won't go down well

All the more reason to take more Welsh players, at least that way, with the loss that you are predicting, we can at least soften the blow.

When was the last time a welshman won down under?

HERSH wrote:When was the last time a welshman won down under?

In the World cup just gone.

Howley... Why?

I suppose the only other choice is Schmidt or another club coach.

Bloody hell the cupboard's bare.

Is that the RWC where by Wales beat the world!

Samoa
Fiji
Namibia
Ireland

Hardly the top teams in the world are they.

HERSH wrote:Is that the RWC where by Wales beat the world!

Samoa
Fiji
Namibia
Ireland

Hardly the top teams in the world are they.

Yeah, but we still "won" those games, was that not the question you were asking ?

We're f****d with these wannabe jokers in charge of the Lions, Bring back SIM

This could end up worse than 2005.

sugarNspikes wrote:This could end up worse than 2005.

Don't be silly!

Don't you remember 2011!

The media/public were spun a web by the WRU where by they were made to believed that Wales were the best team in the whole competition, it's just that they couldn't beat anyone of any worth 'on their day'

The same thing will happen with the Lions with Gatland in charge.

Have'nt yo English got bigger things to worry about ? Like, um... how the Celts and Italians qualify for Europe or the salary cap or something.

This is what I love about the Lions, it doesnt matter how well they do so long as the Welsh/English lose

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:This is what I love about the Lions, it doesnt matter how well they do so long as the Welsh/English lose

Its shame really as at the end of the day we are all British, I know for a fact they do not think like this in the armed forces in Afganistan, they all pull together against one foe, which is what the Lions are all about, so I would suggest we support whoever is out in Australia instead of waiting eagerly for somebody from another nation to balls it up.

At least O'Gara won't be going this time.

Christ. I agreed with Hersh on something. The rest is bowocks

LordDowlais wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:This is what I love about the Lions, it doesnt matter how well they do so long as the Welsh/English lose

Its shame really as at the end of the day we are all British, I know for a fact they do not think like this in the armed forces in Afganistan, they all pull together against one foe, which is what the Lions are all about, so I would suggest we support whoever is out in Australia instead of waiting eagerly for somebody from another nation to balls it up.

Good luck with persuading Welsh fans to cheer an English player. Let me know how you get on

Personally I'd take Schmidt over Howley. The latter could prove me wrong yet which I hope he does but as of yet I'm not entirely convinced by his coaching credentials. Effective alongside Gats and Edwards certainly but Lions calibre? I'm certainly not remembering his most recent stint on Australian soil too fondly, especially when you measure his attacking strategies against those of the Wallabies when both went head to head. Hopefully he can provide better in the AI and 6N.

This is what I love about the Lions, it doesnt matter how well they do so long as the Welsh/English lose

As a Welshman that's my one comfort, if we lose they'll be losing with us.
On the down side if we win they'll probably try to lay claim to 99.9% of responsibility no matter how many more Welsh/Irish/Scottish players will be touring than English players

The figures speak for themselves Knowsit

In starting XV

1st Test
Wales 6 England 4
Lions lose

2nd Test
Wales 6 England 2
Lions lose

3rd Test
Wales 5 England 6
Lions win

Ah, the fabled Welsh Lions front row...

sugarNspikes wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:This is what I love about the Lions, it doesnt matter how well they do so long as the Welsh/English lose

Its shame really as at the end of the day we are all British, I know for a fact they do not think like this in the armed forces in Afganistan, they all pull together against one foe, which is what the Lions are all about, so I would suggest we support whoever is out in Australia instead of waiting eagerly for somebody from another nation to balls it up.

Good luck with persuading Welsh fans to cheer an English player. Let me know how you get on

You really have got issues with Welsh people havent you. Seriously has one of my countrymen done anything to you in the past? Take the bag of spuds off your shoulder then perhaps you will find that there are decent well mannered people living west of Offa's dyke that you can debate and support rugby with .

Well lets hope Wales don't stand in his way if it means he won't be in charge come the 6Nations.

LordDowlais wrote:

sugarNspikes wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:This is what I love about the Lions, it doesnt matter how well they do so long as the Welsh/English lose

Its shame really as at the end of the day we are all British, I know for a fact they do not think like this in the armed forces in Afganistan, they all pull together against one foe, which is what the Lions are all about, so I would suggest we support whoever is out in Australia instead of waiting eagerly for somebody from another nation to balls it up.

Good luck with persuading Welsh fans to cheer an English player. Let me know how you get on

You really have got issues with Welsh people havent you. Seriously has one of my countrymen done anything to you in the past? Take the bag of spuds off your shoulder then perhaps you will find that there are decent well mannered people living west of Offa's dyke that you can debate and support rugby with .

I'm sure you're all lovely.

Yep, those 6 England starters were instrumental in helping us overcome the strongest side P-Divvy could've possibly fielded. That Monye fwauuugghh, his hat-trick of tries inspired me to not give up all hope on rugby, especially his scintillating, almost artistic, interception which not even the rugby gods themselves could've pulled off!!

sugarNspikes wrote:The figures speak for themselves Knowsit

In starting XV

1st Test
Wales 6 England 4
Lions lose

2nd Test
Wales 6 England 2
Lions lose

3rd Test
Wales 5 England 6
Lions win

Ah, the fabled Welsh Lions front row...

Which Test was it that Vickery had to be taken off and was replaced by either Adam Jones or Geth who then dominated 'The Beast' ?

LordDowlais wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:This is what I love about the Lions, it doesnt matter how well they do so long as the Welsh/English lose

Its shame really as at the end of the day we are all British, I know for a fact they do not think like this in the armed forces in Afganistan, they all pull together against one foe, which is what the Lions are all about, so I would suggest we support whoever is out in Australia instead of waiting eagerly for somebody from another nation to balls it up.

Thank you M'Lord. Much appreciated.
Support me... who supports Australia. You know it makes sense.

You Knowsit Sadly it was already a dead rubber because of the overloading of Welsh players in the first two tests.

munkian wrote:

sugarNspikes wrote:The figures speak for themselves Knowsit

In starting XV

1st Test
Wales 6 England 4
Lions lose

2nd Test
Wales 6 England 2
Lions lose

3rd Test
Wales 5 England 6
Lions win

Ah, the fabled Welsh Lions front row...

Which Test was it that Vickery had to be taken off and was replaced by either Adam Jones or Geth who then dominated 'The Beast' ?

The first but by the time the change happened the damage was done, though in fairness since then Cole and Jones have both dominated the Beast

Not the Vickery thing again!

The Beast (I don't like calling him the Beast, it seems racist to me) had an illegal bind we could all see it apart from the Ref in the middle who blamed Vickery.

All we could do was sub him.

I hope this undeserved hounding of Vickery by the Welsh doesn't force him into retirement.

sugarNspikes wrote:You Knowsit Sadly it was already a dead rubber because of the overloading of Welsh players in the first two tests.

Mmmhmm, Welsh players shouldn't be allowed to participate in this, or for that matter any other, tour due to the threat of disaster our presence alone poses. What are people talking about? That wasn't Phil Vickery getting dismantled by the Bok loosehead, it was some Welsh guy! And that wasn't ROG bottling that high ball from the kick he shouldn't have even attempted, it was some Welsh guy! Worth remembering that Stephen Jones missed every kick he took throughout the tour and that that definitely wasn't Mike Phillips almost rescuing the Lions in the first test

Poor old Big Phil Vickery

HERSH wrote:Poor old Big Phil Vickery

Yeah I know, it's his fault he was crap.

Only joking.