Warren Gatland has been named the Lions Head Coach for the 2013 Tour of Australia
| Venue: Cape Town Stadium Events: Saturday July 24th Kick off: 17:00 CEST |
| Cover: Follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. |
UK and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland believes the fitness and depth of his squad will be crucial factors in the upcoming series of tests against South Africa.
Gatland named his team on Wednesday, calling the pick the toughest one he was involved in as the Lions chief.
He believes the competition in his squad is tougher than in the Springbok camp.
“I would imagine that we have a little more depth than the South African squad at the moment,” he said.
Gatland and his four assistants were locked up in a two-hour selection meeting on Sunday, with the coaching team initially only being able to agree on four forwards and three return players.
“It’s thanks to the players – there is so much competition in the squad,” he added.
“There are so many players who made it really difficult for us to choose. That makes it difficult, but it’s where you want it to be.”
“On previous tours you went to the [selection] Meet and there would be 19 or 20 players with whom everyone would be on the same page.
“But that was completely different. When it comes to punches and injuries, we have the depth in the squad to deal with player losses.”
“We are getting stronger and stronger”
While Gatland has vowed not to try to beat the Boks in their own game as the World Champions are known for their physical approach, he believes the Lions have the game plan and the ability to ask questions of the World Champions.
“You can’t go to a friendly against South Africa without trying to measure your physicality. Rugby friendly is all about physical combat and that doesn’t change anything,” he said.
“But then it’s about being smart and using opportunities from an offensive point of view.
“Then a game [last Wednesday’s defeat by South Africa ‘A’], we felt we were in a great position from a conditional point of view. The guys worked incredibly hard in the pre-tour camp and since we’ve been here.
“So we don’t think we’re going to fall away. We think we’ll get stronger and stronger as the game progresses.”
Owen Farrell made his Lions debut in 2013
“Sometimes you don’t have answers for players”
Gatland has left a large number of players with strong Lions pedigrees from the starting XI, with hooker Jamie George and number eight Taulupe Faletau – heroes of New Zealand four years ago – not even reaching Matchday 23.
Meanwhile, Conor Murray and Owen Farrell, who both started all three tests in 2017, have to be content with seats on the bench, with Ali Price and Dan Biggar being the starting half-backs.
For Farrell, it will be the first time since 2015 that he will no longer play a game for England or the Lions if he is fit and available.
“I had a good time with Owen and he wanted to know where he is; [but] Sometimes you don’t have player answers, you just choose a player because you feel like he’s the right player at that point, “said Gatland.
“And we thought Dan Biggar was the right player. But the message to Owen was … [to use] his experience from the bank, and instinctively playing. This experience will be important to us.
“There has been a lot of discussion about the bank and there are people who will be disappointed that they won’t run and who want to come and make a difference, whether it’s Conor [Murray], Owen [Farrell] or Liam Williams.
“We believe these guys can come and make a difference.”
