Gatlands Player Management

It's been a long time since I've seen such a cohesive group of Lions. Everyone having an opportunity to stake a claim and everyone being given a fair chance. No separatism or divides or elitism. I think Gatland has done a good job in this area to date compared to some other Lions tours and it can't be easy when you are the national coach for many of them. The players (all of them) really look like a unit. It's good to see.

Difficult to judge until the team for the first test is picked. If he picks on form then you can say that everyone has had an opportunity to stake a claim and given a fair chance. If he relies on the players he knows best then the first few games on tour will have been a bit of a sham.

The squad looks united so far, but then it usually does until the first test team is announced.

As much as it really upsets me to say it, Gats seems to be doing a really good job so far.  There doesn't seem to be an obvious split between first teamers and dirt trackers, which I personally was expecting.  Every player seems to be getting a fair crack at the whip to prove they deserve a shot at the test team.

Nice bit of "projection" there Jelly. Let's hope he picks your team

I think I'll wait for the video and judge for myself.

Glad we agree

But more seriously, you know the point I was trying to make.

RubyGuby wrote:It's been a long time since I've seen such a cohesive group of Lions. Everyone having an opportunity to stake a claim and everyone being given a fair chance. No separatism or divides or elitism. I think Gatland has done a good job in this area to date compared to some other Lions tours and it can't be easy when you are the national coach for many of them. The players (all of them) really look like a unit. It's good to see.

It does help that none of the games have been particularly difficult and therefore he has had the luxury of being able to get everyone involved. Agreed though it is a cohesive group.

I also think this is the best group of players since '01 if not slightly stronger than then.

I'd agree. From the outside looking in it seems like he's done an excellent job, and the fact that it's so hard to pick the Test XV suggests that he's managed to keep competition going within the squad.

Even his more controversial squad picks, Vunipola and Lydiate, have worked out nicely. Of his selections the only one I strongly disagreed with at the time and still do is Stevens, and with hindsight (although I agreed with the pick at the time), Kearney.

So far so good.

Seems fine. Pretty low-key. No controversies. Everyone seems happy enough.

The Aussie press obviously aren't doing their job properly