Keet Speaks on Lions Management

[Numbers]

Amusing:

Wales coach Warren Gatland and England boss Eddie Jones should both be part of the British and Irish Lions coaching team in New Zealand next summer, says former Lion Keith Wood.

Gatland is favourite to take on the role again after leading the Lions to victory in Australia in 2013.

"We pick the best players, what's to stop us bringing the best coaches?" Wood said on BBC Radio 5 live.

"If these guys worked together, it would be pretty phenomenal."

While Jones has ruled himself out because of his commitments with England, Wood feels the Australian - along with the likes of Ireland coach Joe Schmidt - could be involved in a short-term capacity.

He added: "Eddie Jones says he doesn't want to go on the Lions, but if he went out there for three months as an assistant, is he willing to do that? Is Joe Schmidt willing to do that?"

Meanwhile Wood feels Gatland's success three years ago means he is a prime contender to again head the Lions set-up.

"He's proven to be a winner with the Lions in Australia, and winning breeds winning," the former Ireland captain said.

I seem to remember him being slightly miffed before the final test of the last Lions tour.

[Sandydragon]

He must have made those comments through gritted teeth.

[morepork]

Plus he's wrong.

[Mikey Brown]

Get them all in. Let Jones pick the squad then Gatland, Cotter and Scmidt get a test each.

[Spiffy]

How much hands-on coaching does Gatland actually do? Wales do not seem to have evolved under his direction and are still playing the same non-creative Gatball as they did a few years ago. It can be successful to some extent at the 6N level but does not seem to work against the big three. There seems to be an absence of the traditional Welsh, clever, fast, play-making midfielders. The forwards are winning plenty of ball but the backs don't seem able to make best use of it.

[Sandydragon]

How much hands-on coaching does Gatland actually do? Wales do not seem to have evolved under his direction and are still playing the same non-creative Gatball as they did a few years ago. It can be successful to some extent at the 6N level but does not seem to work against the big three. There seems to be an absence of the traditional Welsh, clever, fast, play-making midfielders. The forwards are winning plenty of ball but the backs don't seem able to make best use of it.

I've no idea how hands on Gatland is. Our problem is that we are so conditioned to play Gatland ball that we are struggling to adapt. Our skills just aren't there for a wider game.

The forwards are wining more ball than they used to, but too often it's slow and we still have a problem getting possession at key moments when our line out misfires. Our success in the six nations was built around power and fitness. Yet the fitness seems to have gone under the new fitness coach whilst the power game is lost against teams which can match it, or beat it. With England having relearnt how a pack is supposed to operate, we can rely on our power game to beat them, or it will be a long afternoon as we grind through the gears.

Sadly none of the current coaching team seem to know how to bring our skill levels up to facilitate a more subtle game whilst we have a midfield which remains far from creative.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

How much hands-on coaching does Gatland actually do? Wales do not seem to have evolved under his direction and are still playing the same non-creative Gatball as they did a few years ago. It can be successful to some extent at the 6N level but does not seem to work against the big three. There seems to be an absence of the traditional Welsh, clever, fast, play-making midfielders. The forwards are winning plenty of ball but the backs don't seem able to make best use of it.

I've no idea how hands on Gatland is. Our problem is that we are so conditioned to play Gatland ball that we are struggling to adapt. Our skills just aren't there for a wider game.

The forwards are wining more ball than they used to, but too often it's slow and we still have a problem getting possession at key moments when our line out misfires. Our success in the six nations was built around power and fitness. Yet the fitness seems to have gone under the new fitness coach whilst the power game is lost against teams which can match it, or beat it. With England having relearnt how a pack is supposed to operate, we can rely on our power game to beat them, or it will be a long afternoon as we grind through the gears.

Sadly none of the current coaching team seem to know how to bring our skill levels up to facilitate a more subtle game whilst we have a midfield which remains far from creative.

Your success was partly built on the massive disparity in size between your backs and those of other teams leading to you getting across the gainline with ease and a lot of energy sapping tackling for the opposition. Those disparities don't exist any more which makes a difference. The fitness required for that sort of game is not the fitness required for a more running game so I don't think it's as simple as the fitness having gone.

[Sandydragon]

How much hands-on coaching does Gatland actually do? Wales do not seem to have evolved under his direction and are still playing the same non-creative Gatball as they did a few years ago. It can be successful to some extent at the 6N level but does not seem to work against the big three. There seems to be an absence of the traditional Welsh, clever, fast, play-making midfielders. The forwards are winning plenty of ball but the backs don't seem able to make best use of it.

I've no idea how hands on Gatland is. Our problem is that we are so conditioned to play Gatland ball that we are struggling to adapt. Our skills just aren't there for a wider game.

The forwards are wining more ball than they used to, but too often it's slow and we still have a problem getting possession at key moments when our line out misfires. Our success in the six nations was built around power and fitness. Yet the fitness seems to have gone under the new fitness coach whilst the power game is lost against teams which can match it, or beat it. With England having relearnt how a pack is supposed to operate, we can rely on our power game to beat them, or it will be a long afternoon as we grind through the gears.

Sadly none of the current coaching team seem to know how to bring our skill levels up to facilitate a more subtle game whilst we have a midfield which remains far from creative.

Your success was partly built on the massive disparity in size between your backs and those of other teams leading to you getting across the gainline with ease and a lot of energy sapping tackling for the opposition. Those disparities don't exist any more which makes a difference. The fitness required for that sort of game is not the fitness required for a more running game so I don't think it's as simple as the fitness having gone.

We've changed our fitness coach, perhaps a coincidence but since then we haven't seen the dominance in the last twenty that we used to.

[Ross. S]

I've no idea how hands on Gatland is. Our problem is that we are so conditioned to play Gatland ball that we are struggling to adapt. Our skills just aren't there for a wider game.

The forwards are wining more ball than they used to, but too often it's slow and we still have a problem getting possession at key moments when our line out misfires. Our success in the six nations was built around power and fitness. Yet the fitness seems to have gone under the new fitness coach whilst the power game is lost against teams which can match it, or beat it. With England having relearnt how a pack is supposed to operate, we can rely on our power game to beat them, or it will be a long afternoon as we grind through the gears.

Sadly none of the current coaching team seem to know how to bring our skill levels up to facilitate a more subtle game whilst we have a midfield which remains far from creative.

Your success was partly built on the massive disparity in size between your backs and those of other teams leading to you getting across the gainline with ease and a lot of energy sapping tackling for the opposition. Those disparities don't exist any more which makes a difference. The fitness required for that sort of game is not the fitness required for a more running game so I don't think it's as simple as the fitness having gone.

We've changed our fitness coach, perhaps a coincidence but since then we haven't seen the dominance in the last twenty that we used to.

Our new fitness coach stayed in Toulon to help them though the Top 14 playoffs rather than touring NZ with Wales.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

When did Wales last dominate in the last 20? You never have against the SH.

[Sandydragon]

When did Wales last dominate in the last 20? You never have against the SH.

Was I talking exclusively about SH games? Our fitness has been previously proven in the past any number of times, but if you want a specific example the consider the 30-3 victory ver England where Welsh players were much fitter. We also defended for much of the match against France in 2012 before winning the match later on.

Our fitness has always been very good. Now it's questionable. It could Eva change do tactics but then we have played in enough high tempo games for me to doubt that. I think the change over in conditioning coach may have more to do with it.

[Sandydragon]

Your success was partly built on the massive disparity in size between your backs and those of other teams leading to you getting across the gainline with ease and a lot of energy sapping tackling for the opposition. Those disparities don't exist any more which makes a difference. The fitness required for that sort of game is not the fitness required for a more running game so I don't think it's as simple as the fitness having gone.

We've changed our fitness coach, perhaps a coincidence but since then we haven't seen the dominance in the last twenty that we used to.

Our new fitness coach stayed in Toulon to help them though the Top 14 playoffs rather than touring NZ with Wales.

Aye, I read that somewhere. That really can't have helped.

[Spiffy]

When did Wales last dominate in the last 20? You never have against the SH.

Was I talking exclusively about SH games? Our fitness has been previously proven in the past any number of times, but if you want a specific example the consider the 30-3 victory ver England where Welsh players were much fitter. We also defended for much of the match against France in 2012 before winning the match later on.

Our fitness has always been very good. Now it's questionable. It could Eva change do tactics but then we have played in enough high tempo games for me to doubt that. I think the change over in conditioning coach may have more to do with it.

Wales still look quite fit. Maybe it's just that other teams have caught up. Is there there is much difference in the fitness of international teams these days? I think the problem is not really fitness, it's tactics, creativity and speed, especially in the midfield triangle of 10/12/13.

[Sandydragon]

When did Wales last dominate in the last 20? You never have against the SH.

Was I talking exclusively about SH games? Our fitness has been previously proven in the past any number of times, but if you want a specific example the consider the 30-3 victory ver England where Welsh players were much fitter. We also defended for much of the match against France in 2012 before winning the match later on.

Our fitness has always been very good. Now it's questionable. It could Eva change do tactics but then we have played in enough high tempo games for me to doubt that. I think the change over in conditioning coach may have more to do with it.

Wales still look quite fit. Maybe it's just that other teams have caught up. Is there there is much difference in the fitness of international teams these days? I think the problem is not really fitness, it's tactics, creativity and speed, especially in the midfield triangle of 10/12/13.

Not so sure that we have the fitness that we used to, particularly if our fitness coach isn't actively involved i the touring party.

The lack of creativity across 10, 12 and 13 has been apparent for a while. Bigger doesn't get that back line moving and Roberts will never be a 2nd 5/8 like say Henson was. When Priestland was in real form (RWC 11) then we looked dangerous in attack. We have quick ball and Priestland was able to bring his back line into play. Since then, we have looked one dimensional. If Biggar is the best 10 in Wales (and to be fair he has been in good form) then we need to look at Roberts. If Roberts is just too essential (and Scott Williams hasn't covered himself in glory on this tour) then Anscombe or Priestland is perhaps the answer in the short term; longer term Sam Davies if his defense improves.