By Josh Reich
LONDON, Sept 4 (Reuters) – As a wide-eyed youngster in New
Zealand, Warren Gatland could not believe the touring British
and Irish Lions managed to beat the All Blacks in 1971.
Now, more than 40 years later, Gatland has the opportunity
to create his own memorable achievement when he leads the Lions
on their 2013 tour to Australia.
Gatland’s appointment on Tuesday as Lions head coach, a
promotion from his assistant role under Ian McGeechan in South
Africa in 2009, came as no surprise given his exploits as Wales
coach, which include two grand slams (2008 and 2012) and a
semi-final appearance at last year’s World Cup.
The decision would have been finalised four months ago but
for a freak accident in which Gatland fractured both his heels
while on holiday in his native New Zealand.
“I only really started walking in the last three or four
weeks but I’m getting better every day and hopefully in the next
month or so I’ll be 100 percent,” he told reporters at Tuesday’s
news conference in London.
Gatland’s challenge is to lead the Lions to their first test
series triumph since South Africa in 1997.
ENORMOUS PRIDE
Continued…
