British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland on Wednesday named a trio of assistants – Rob Howley, Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree – for next year’s tour to Australia.
England forwards specialist Rowntree and backs coach Howley of Wales were part of the 2009 Lions coaching team in South Africa. England’s ex-rugby league star Farrell will tour with the Lions for the first time.
There is no place, at present, for Wales defence specialist Shaun Edwards.
Howley worked as Wales’ interim head coach for their opening autumn Tests against Argentina and Samoa last month, and he will resume that job for this season’s Six Nations tournament while Wales chief Gatland concentrates on the Lions.
Howley (1997 and 2001) and Rowntree (2005) both toured with the Lions as players.
Gatland said: “I am delighted with today’s appointments and confident that Rob, Graham, Andy and myself can come together quickly to face one of the hardest rugby challenges.
“Lions tours are unique as we have to mould together players from four countries in an incredibly short space of time.
“We have no illusion as to the hard work required but we have spoken of the challenges and truly believe that as a coaching team we can provide the players with the support and environment needed for victory in Australia.”
The Lions 2013 tour begins against the Barbarians in Hong Kong on June 1, with the first of three Tests against Australia taking place in Brisbane on June 22.
The Lions have not won a Test series since they toured South Africa in 1997.
Colin N
Guest
He played well in the Six Nations and against New Zealand. Who should be there instead? I agree to the extent that I'm not a fan as well, but there isn't anyone else in England at the moment playiing that much above him. I think the likes of Ford and Burns will gradually come through (it might even be in the Six Nations), but at the moment he deserved his England place and, if he continues to do well, he will deserve a Lions place. Helps that there's a paucity of talent in that position too.
ScotandProud
Guest
Honestly I don't rate Owen farrell and then he gets in to squads and he stays in squads because his dad is on the selection committee : its insane ..
soapit`
Guest
cheers
ChrisT
Guest
Errr, which English pack? Have you been paying attention? Welshman sucking a lemon?
Colin N
Guest
Yes. When interim, he was in charge of defence and attack, but with Catt now there, he's in charge of defence. He also did that role with Saracens and, if you haven't seen Sarries, they're immensely boring to watch but also very effective without the ball.
Colin N
Guest
'Why no Edwards?' Probably because that previously impregnable Wales defence has been immensely average in the autumn. London Irish have also been poor in that area as well. Farrell's a highly regarded coach and England managed to put a lot of pressure in defence on all three SH teams in the autumn. Backroom staff is as expected really, but having Howley there depresses me. Couldn't have Gatland convinced Joe Schmidt?
Hightackle
Guest
I think Gatland may influence who plays at 10 Ghost. Mentioning Eng is like a red rag to you isnt it.
TheGreyGhost
Roar Rookie
Andy Farrell must have pictures of someone in the RFU playing naked golf with Satan. Presumably his inclusion means that his son Owen will be bolted on to start at 10 since they seem to go everywhere together. That in itself will give Australia a boost.
Jerry
Guest
No idea - I just read that Gatland had preferred him to Shaun Edwards for the role of defence coach with the Lions. Having checked, it seems that Farrell has generally been a skills coach, but it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for someone with a league background to be given defence.
soapit
Guest
as long as we do get some highs to go with the lows. i'll be positive and say we definitely will. as i said below will be interesting to see the crowd makeup
soapit
Guest
is he doing that for england? seems a bit out of the blue
Jerry
Guest
Farrel is the defence coach apparently.
Hightackle
Guest
Really dismantled? No they didnt and Marler was the problem in the scrum and once he was gone the dominated SA and the All Blacks. Scotland and Italy? I dont think so. I do recall the English pack getting the better of Ire in the 6 nats too. So they dominated SA, NZ and Ire in their last matches but becuz the scrum was dodgy due to a guy theyve dropped since against Aust, that means they are like 7th. Dude thats sooo wrong. Arg has a weak pack now and NZ, Aust and SA all got the better of them, not to mention France. Eng does have one of the best packs and in my opinion one of the top 3. You know we are talking about rugby right?
Wales15
Guest
The English pack? Really? Good, but not one of the best at present. They got dismantled by Australia the other week, which is rare for any team. Italy, France, SA. NZ, Scotland, Argentina, Ireland are all ahead imo. The 6N will be the real indicator of who should go. The AI's really mean nothing and some players are out of form.
Hightackle
Guest
Gatland was coach of Wales for 8 losses in a row in 2010 and also was with Wales for their loss to NZ and Aust recently. Gatland was also coach of Ire when they won 4 from 15 in 98/99. However the team is responsible for all of these loses and not just 1 member of it.
soapit
Guest
whats farrell there to do? couldnt tell from the article. they will be in with a better chance then they've had for a long time not facing an official world champion or unofficial (new zealand) it will also be interesting how the economic climate affects the crowd make up. last time the pound was strong and the crowd was dominated by the visitors.
stuff happens
Guest
From an Australian perspective the Lions coaching set up would be much as they expected and nothing remarkable. The Welsh coaching set up badly needs a clear out. Howley has achieved little & Wales are staring at a seven game losing streak.They were very disappointing in the recent Autumn tests. It'll be interesting to see how Wales perform in this year's 6N but Howley & Gatland involved with the Lions won't help.It's quite possible that Gatland will go the way of Graham Henry who did little for Wales after his Lions excursion. The team to watch will be England of course after their extraordinary performance against NZ. The Lions team is something else & their forward packs in particular are likely to be formidable - but they also have a tough tour; it will be far from easy for them.
Hightackle
Guest
I think Farrell should be in the squad but the 6 nats are the real trial games. Preistland would not have made the squad anyway imo and Im not sure Warburton should either. I was worried that Gatland might be pro-Wales at the expense of the team but appointing the 2 English coaches is a positive. The English forward pack is one of the best in the world and imo it would be foolish not to use them as a base and their forwards coach as the forwards coach for the Lions. My Lions 37 man squad: Murray, Cole, Jones, Healy, Sheridan, Corbisiero, Best, Hartley, Ford, Launchbury, Wynn Jones, Gray, Lawes, Armitage, Lydiate, O'Brien, Wood, Croft, Morgan, Heaslip, Murray, Youngs, Phillips, Farrell, Sexton, Wilkinson, Roberts, Earls, O'Driscoll, Tuilagi, Ashton, North, Bowe, Goode, Halfpenny, Kearny.
ScotandProud
Guest
Hmm why no Edwards? have a feeling he'll be needed. And Farrell? Hmmm .. don't know what he brings. I hope to heaven that his son doesn't get in the squad.
Chivas
Guest
Woohoo it's gonna be a party. Wallaby fans, players, coaches will all be up for this. Everyone loves the Lion tours. Maybe a few distracted/disillusioned roarers might stay away, but me bring it on.... I hope the crowd is in full voice, packed stadiums, drunken stupidity and oddities, hot dogs and beer, streakers, mascots, a bruising close encounter. Some spectacular moments, some less than spectacular moments. Highs and Lows. And then do it again.. More tours please. I really am over these tournaments.