You might not agree with his decisions but you’ve got to hand it to Warren Gatland, he is brave.
His latest test selection proves that. He’s picked a team based on form and not reputation.
Not every coach would be so bold as to name Conor Murray replacement tour captain and then relegate him to the bench for the first test.
But this is just the latest in a long line of contentious decisions made by Gatland.
He dropped the almighty Brian O’Driscoll for for the deciding third test in Australia.
He didn’t invite Jonny Sexton to join the tour to South Africa twice.
He included a number of players in this year’s touring squad who haven’t played international rugby in years.
Some coaches might shy away from such controversial choices.
They might sense the superstar is not on top form right now but give him the benefit of the doubt by including him anyway. The threat of the uproar would be too much, they can’t picture the justification they would make to the press and so they go against their better judgement.
Not Gatland, he lives with no regrets.
He wants to win and he doesn’t let potential flak from the press/critics/fans stop him.
The funny thing is, it’s very hard for people to admonish his decisions when so far his record proves him right.
He beat Australia in 2013.
He drew with New Zealand in 2017 (in a total of 12 tours the Lions have only beaten New Zealand once and that came in 1971).
Now if he loses this tour, there’s no doubt in my mind everyone will come down on him like a ton of bricks, but I’m sure he’ll have no regrets.
He doesn’t let a potential negative reaction deter him from what he sees as the right decision and I think that’s quite admirable.
Thomas Duggan 