Coach

[Eugene Wrayburn]

So it's going to be Gats, but who would we actually like to see. For me it's Fabien Galthie.

[Lizard]

They could give Cheika a run. He's good for a laugh, at least. He's just picked Quade Cooper at 10 and Foley at 12 for a night game, in Wellington, against the All Blacks with rain and wind forecast.

[Sandydragon]

Oh great. Stand by for the other nations to moan and Welsh preferential treatment, and for disruption to our own team as Gatland disappears off for a season.

I was hoping for Schmidt personally. Eddie Jones would have been worth a punt as well, but you can understand why he has avoided the prospect.

[Sandydragon]

They could give Cheika a run. He's good for a laugh, at least. He's just picked Quade Cooper at 10 and Foley at 12 for a night game, in Wellington, against the All Blacks with rain and wind forecast.

Wow, that sounds a bit like a desperation call.

[BBD]

Oh great. Stand by for the other nations to moan and Welsh preferential treatment, and for disruption to our own team as Gatland disappears off for a season.

I was hoping for Schmidt personally. Eddie Jones would have been worth a punt as well, but you can understand why he has avoided the prospect.

You know, it doesn't take the fun out of it if you predict it beforehand

I don't think Gatland is the right call, I accept he won the last series and seems the obvious choice, but if the lions is going to continue as a proposition then it needs to be more than a grind of how tough NH sides can be, it's fraught with injuries for players. There has to be something else,something developmental for the players and for the coaching team.

Schmidt is frequently lauded by the Irish lads as adding value, put him in charge. On the back of that, select a few of the younger coaches with ambitions/prospects of being future international coaches, names like Jim mallinder, rob Baxter etc (our own Anthony Foley would benefit massively from such an experience)

Gatland as a choice shows a lack of vision or ambition beyond just another lions tour which I think we all know will have a predictable outcome

[Sandydragon]

Taking a scratch team to NZ and winning will need some out of the box thinking. Garland can't deliver that. I think he is a better coach than he is given credit for by many, but he doesn't change his approach to the game and even with the nest BG&I talent, I can't see it working.

[Sandydragon]

The Fail are reporting it as a done deal as a reward for services rendered.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugb ... ext_Story6

[Puja]

No votes for Burt yet?

The problem with the role is that it requires a bare minimum of 6 months of a coach's time to do. That means it can only really be done nowadays by unemployed people or national coaches where the union is incredibly generous. There's not a club around that would be able to go without their head honcho for the latter half of a season.

Puja

[zer0]

England comfortably the best team in Europe? The Lions travelling to the home of the reigning world champions? Sounds like a job for Graham Henry.

[Puja]

England comfortably the best team in Europe? The Lions travelling to the home of the reigning world champions? Sounds like a job for Graham Henry.

I've heard worse suggestions...

Gatland, for example.

Puja

[Eugene Wrayburn]

No votes for Burt yet?

The problem with the role is that it requires a bare minimum of 6 months of a coach's time to do. That means it can only really be done nowadays by unemployed people or national coaches where the union is incredibly generous. There's not a club around that would be able to go without their head honcho for the latter half of a season.

Puja

It only takes a minimum of 6 months if you're doing it wrong. The coach needs to select a wider squad and give them a basic structure before selecting a final squad, getting in country and actually deciding the finer details once he's got them in front of him. That doesn't mean 6 months work. The Lions has to be player led, because there's not enough time to do it otherwise and genuinely blend the 4 nations. That's why Gatland basically picked Wales and added a couple: because he wanted people who conformed to his method rather than him making the best of the people he had. For the same reason I think Schmidt would be completely the wrong choice.

[Sandydragon]

If by player led you mean that a coach needs to assess what talent is available right now and pick a team accordingly with suitable tactics, rather than try to mould the team to existing plans, then I would agree.

[Sandydragon]

England comfortably the best team in Europe? The Lions travelling to the home of the reigning world champions? Sounds like a job for Graham Henry.

I wouldn't argue with that.

[Mellsblue]

I think it should be Lancaster. His assistants to be spread across other NH nations. Forwards coach should probably come from Eng due to their history of forward dominance, preferably based on London for a north v south balance and with previous Lions experience. Ireland were pretty miserly in defence in the last 6N, so hire their defence coach. For attack, I'd like some Mediterranean flair coupled with the firey Latin temperament - Italy's attack coach for me.

[Puja]

I think it should be Lancaster. His assistants to be spread across other NH nations. Forwards coach should probably come from Eng due to their history of forward dominance, preferably based on London for a north v south balance and with previous Lions experience. Ireland were pretty miserly in defence in the last 6N, so hire their defence coach. For attack, I'd like some Mediterranean flair coupled with the firey Latin temperament - Italy's attack coach for me.

Very nice.

Puja

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I think it should be Lancaster. His assistants to be spread across other NH nations. Forwards coach should probably come from Eng due to their history of forward dominance, preferably based on London for a north v south balance and with previous Lions experience. Ireland were pretty miserly in defence in the last 6N, so hire their defence coach. For attack, I'd like some Mediterranean flair coupled with the firey Latin temperament - Italy's attack coach for me.

I would genuinely prefer Lancaster to Gatland. He has a vastly superior record against the SH, with much less good players.

[Mellsblue]

I think it should be Lancaster. His assistants to be spread across other NH nations. Forwards coach should probably come from Eng due to their history of forward dominance, preferably based on London for a north v south balance and with previous Lions experience. Ireland were pretty miserly in defence in the last 6N, so hire their defence coach. For attack, I'd like some Mediterranean flair coupled with the firey Latin temperament - Italy's attack coach for me.

I would genuinely prefer Lancaster to Gatland. He has a vastly superior record against the SH, with much less good players.

I'm no fan of Lancaster, though I've hid it very well, but I think this gig would suit him if his assistants were right and he understood the need to loosen his leash on the players.

[Sandydragon]

Lancaster would be fine by me. I don't think he is the best coach, but he is available and doesn't screw over a national team in the process.

[Mellsblue]

Lancaster would be fine by me. I don't think he is the best coach, but he is available and doesn't screw over a national team in the process.

He wouldn't really need to coach. Just put things in place for short term success. His downfall with Eng was longterm planning and becoming weaker the longer his term went on. Neither of those are issues with the Lions. All his 'success' has been swift up turns - Leeds and early England - and teams with short term goals - Eng Saxons and age grade.

[Puja]

Lancaster would be fine by me. I don't think he is the best coach, but he is available and doesn't screw over a national team in the process.

Interestingly, for all the "jamboree" complaining on the EMB, no-one's yet noted that the Lions are directly responsible for England not getting out of the pool at the RWC, as it was Howley's tenure that led to your precipitous slide down the rankings and into the 3rd tier for the draw.

I'm actually quite impressed that we seem to have a board consensus in favour of Burt.

Puja

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Lancaster would be fine by me. I don't think he is the best coach, but he is available and doesn't screw over a national team in the process.

Interestingly, for all the "jamboree" complaining on the EMB, no-one's yet noted that the Lions are directly responsible for England not getting out of the pool at the RWC, as it was Howley's tenure that led to your precipitous slide down the rankings and into the 3rd tier for the draw.

I'm actually quite impressed that we seem to have a board consensus in favour of Burt.

Puja

...ahead of Gatland.

ETA, Was it really Howley? I thought he had a half decent 6N and the problem was a dreadful AIs after Gats returned.

[Puja]

Lancaster would be fine by me. I don't think he is the best coach, but he is available and doesn't screw over a national team in the process.

Interestingly, for all the "jamboree" complaining on the EMB, no-one's yet noted that the Lions are directly responsible for England not getting out of the pool at the RWC, as it was Howley's tenure that led to your precipitous slide down the rankings and into the 3rd tier for the draw.

I'm actually quite impressed that we seem to have a board consensus in favour of Burt.

Puja

...ahead of Gatland.

ETA, Was it really Howley? I thought he had a half decent 6N and the problem was a dreadful AIs after Gats returned.

I reserve the right to be wrong, but I thought Howley was in charge Autumn 2012 when they lost all four, including to Argentina and Samoa.

Puja

[Lizard]

I believe Howley coached the tour to Australia (0 from 3), and the home losses to Argentina and Samoa with Gats picking up the last two tests against NZ (loss) and Aust (loss).

[Sandydragon]

I believe Howley coached the tour to Australia (0 from 3), and the home losses to Argentina and Samoa with Gats picking up the last two tests against NZ (loss) and Aust (loss).

That tour was hugely frustrating. One clear loss followed by 2 losses in the final minutes despite being in the lead through to poor decision making in the dying minutes. Could easily have been a series win with some clearer heads.

[Sandydragon]

The Times is reporting that Gatland has been confirmed as head coach.

An early favourite for attack coach, Gregor Townsend is not available due to a planned Scottish tour.