Warren Gatland faces tricky decisions before Thursday’s naming of a squad facing only eight matches in South AfricaThe squad announcement for the British & Irish Lions is usually rugby’s equivalent of a general election, preceded by a frenzy of speculation, leaks and vitriolic exchanges. So a social media blackout the weekend before might be no bad thing.This year – or rather this quadrennial – given the ravages of a global pandemic, the Lions do not know, literally, whether they are coming or going. Refreshingly, that seems to have dampened much of the febrility of the pre-pick posturing, even before the lights were dimmed on social media. Not a leak, either, to be felt down the back of the neck. It’s...
For players such as Elliot Daly and Billy Vunipola, the Six Nations tie in Dublin is a final opportunity to ensure they are selected for the Lions tourWherever Warren Gatland is basing himself in the UK at the moment, I imagine a whiteboard is never far away. There’ll be about 45 names on it and I’d have thought that by this stage he has a pretty good idea of his preferred starting lineup for the first British & Irish Lions Test against South Africa. Given Warren is going to be in Dublin this weekend, it is the final audition for several players to force their way into that 45, or make sure they don’t get a strike through their names.All...
Gatland’s team show their mettle and may yet head to the World Cup as Europe’s team to beat after exposing big weaknesses in the visitors’ gameplanSome rugby days are hard to beat. Saturday was one of them, particularly for those with Welsh blood pulsing through their veins.In terms of gladiatorial combat, passion, fellowship and emotion, it is hard to imagine a more vivid piece of Six Nations theatre. The Welsh Rugby Union’s pre-match entertainment would impress even PT Barnum nowadays. Related: Wales 21-13 England: talking points from the Six Nations match Twitter: follow us at @guardian_sport Related: Eddie Jones will not rule out title as Warren Gatland chases grand slam Continue reading...
The coach will savour a victory over Eddie Jones’s England that puts his side on course for another Six Nations grand slamWarren Gatland’s final Six Nations joust with England was always going to be memorable. Two unbeaten sides, a perfect sunny day and the kind of stage even a leading West End impresario would covet. Gatland relishes a big occasion – the bigger the better – and there is no better location on earth to watch a meaningful game of rugby.It duly produced one of the finest results in the New Zealander’s long and increasingly distinguished career. No Welsh side have ever won 12 Tests on the spin but, frankly, this victory topped the lot. Now it is Wales, not...
England’s coach talked up his opponents endlessly in the run-up to their Cardiff showdown. They duly deliveredIf you ask the locals around Cardiff, there are a lot of words they might use to describe the English. Humble is not one. In fact if you are waiting for one of them to say that, you will never catch that last train out of town. The same goes for Eddie Jones. “Arrogance,” Jones once said, “is only bad when you lose. If you’re winning and you’re arrogant, it’s just self-belief.”Of course England were winning, until now – six of their last seven coming into this match, the odd loss that one-point defeat by New Zealand and the last two victories among the...