Hastings: Get Gatland on Lions Tour
by Mark May, 12 May 2008
Former Lions and Scotland star Gavin Hastings has backed calls for Wales manager Warren Gatland to be involved in the Lions tour to South Africa.
Ian McGeechan and Shaun Edwards are expected to be handed the reins for the trip and Hastings believes that Gatland too should be given a role within the backroom team.
“Everyone will think the appointment of Geech [Ian McGeechan] is fantastic and I am sure the Wales coaches, Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards, will be in behind him,” Hastings told the South Wales Echo.
Gatland and Edwards were the dream partnership for Welsh fans this year, guiding the country to a Grand Slam, and, while Edwards is number two to the New Zealander in the Welsh set-up, he is also number two to McGeechan at Wasps, with the pair leading the London side to Heineken Cup final glory last year.
“Shaun Edwards is the most incredible bloke," he added. "The Welsh players have talked about how scared they have been of him.
“He commands the utmost respect. You only have to look at him and you are frightened.
“Warren Gatland is a down to earth New Zealander who has had great experience of coming over here and coaching Ireland and Wasps prior to Wales.
“He understands the British and Irish game. Something just seems right.”
McGeechan, who toured with the Lions twice as a player, once as assistant coach and three times as head coach, is the perfect man to lead the Lions this year according to Hastings and will no doubt make up for the debacle under Clive Woodward in 2005.
“It’s funny. I just smile when the name Ian McGeechan gets mentioned in a Lions context because he has become so synonymous with the Lions,” added Hastings, who captained the Lions under McGeechan on the 1993 tour to New Zealand.
“In 2005 we went a long way towards losing that [aura]. It became a bit of a circus. If that had been the blueprint for success – taking 51 players and 26 backroom staff – then my godfathers!
“It just seems right that in this instance Geech is there. He is a very astute, clever and experienced man. He commands huge respect.
“He is a very understated man. To know his determination and desire to win, he commands respect.
“He is not the type of guy to thump the table. He always chose his words very carefully. He speaks quietly and you almost have to strain your ears – and that makes what he says more important.
“He knows what it takes to prepare a winning team. He knows what it takes to get the best out of players.
“Geech has got huge experience and he will bring that experience to bear.”