Warren Gatland on Tough Lions Decisions & the BIG Wales Rebuild | The Rugby Pod

Bigs catches up with his former gaffer as Warren Gatland joins the lads to chat Wales upcoming tour to Australia, managing BIG personalities and we take a deep dive into Gats' Lions tenure.
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0:00 LRZ to NFL
3:40 State of The Game
9:20 Welsh Rebuild
14:45 Coaching Today's Generation
23:20 Tough Lions Decisions
31:34 Picking The Team

[@aleccastro4761]

Always find Gatland to be uncomfortably evasive about his own shortcomings, and it makes me think he's destined to repeat his past mistakes. When asked about Lions tours, he bemoans other people's actions in 2021 (Rassie's video), 2017 (NZ press), but what about his own mistakes? The 2021 Lions team was FLAT. They scored 3 tries in 3 games, all from mauls, they had virtually no attacking game in the backs (even though Gats loves to talk about exciting rugby), and Gats' biggest mistake was leaving out Finn Russell for the first 2 tests. He's got lots of great qualities but he needs some pointers on what a winning mindset is like

[@gavinberry1796]

Yep - agree - he certainly waffled through much of the video!! The thing I dislike the most is his arrogance - not so evident here, but he seems to think he has a perfect view, even when he is sprouting obscure ideas. Fuelled the "de-emphasis of the scrums" I believe

[@gerainthopkins7576]

winning mindset?? Wales won several grand slams under him got to 2 world cup finals better than and won lions tours, better thand and England, Scotland or Irish coach.

[@gavinberry1796]

@@gerainthopkins7576 Wales World Rugby finals - you’re dreaming mate - they’ve never been there!

[@aleccastro4761]

@@gerainthopkins7576 1 Lions win in 3, and 2 WC semis

[@joeboonmusic4004]

@@gerainthopkins7576 It's quite incredible that you can type on a computer with the lack of reasoning skills. When were Wales in a WC Final? Better than England? How? When? So daft.

[@michaelharrison5564]

loving bigs on the pod. Im from Ireland but have been to oyannax and agree with bigs on that town. other than the comb museum there wasnt much happening, not great for 3 bald siblings.

[@TheRugbyPod]

😂👏🏻

[@hencoharmse8757]

Warren Gatland talking about creating more exciting rugby is hilarious.

[@rhyswilliams4893]

Good jobs hes noy creating the rules i guess.

[@garethrees9856]

Haters are always joining to hate but Gats has been a great coach for Wales and the Lions. The 2021 Lions tour should never have happened, was pathetic with no fans. Boks probably would've still won but will always be remembered for other off the field antics. Wales are now rebuilding and will be interesting to see if there is any progress in the next 12 months.

[@bencotter2595]

Why have a shot clock when we can just stop the clock. Try scored clock stops, until kick off it is simple.

[@StopTheRot]

Because it gives players more time to recover - which allows them to be bigger rather than fitter, and it’s tedious as hell for the fans.

[@bencotter2595]

@@StopTheRot probably keep the 60 shot clock but keep it independent to the game clock. That solves both issues. Players can’t waste game time and kicker has to hurry to take the kick.

[@KroganSpectre]

Gatland always conveniently forgets how he was the instigator of the off-field stuff with the Lions vs SA tour when he started playing games with the referees. His sour grapes against SA (and you can add John Kirwan to that list as well) is really getting old and sad.

[@StevenBurnettZA]

100% he kicked it off and ruined a series.

[@andreemurray7039]

To many rules the new scrum rule is rubbish great show gents

[@user-oh3wc3vm2v]

Gatland is a patronising Kiwi. They way he speaks about welsh players is disgusting

[@andrewharris1837]

Easy job.Irish squad plus few Scots &England second row

[@gerainthopkins7576]

because the Irish are the biggest bottlers on world stage, dont forget it was Ogara who cost Lions victory

[@joeboonmusic4004]

Naaaa... Irish front row, English Second row and back row, Scottish/Irish backline.

[@joshuaaustin5647]

The crowds only look small in SA because the stadiums are much bigger. 🙄

[@LeMerch]

Why did they build stadiums that size for tiny crowds 😂

[@coatknight]

​@@LeMerch well you clearly didn't think further than your nose with that reply.

[@davidkelly499]

​@@LeMerchFor the football world cup.

[@user-rn9co7jc4t]

Come over for a Springbok game and see how small the crowds get then 😂😂😂😂

[@Blindside_Flanker]

​@@LeMerchIts always sold out when the Boks play. Infact, the upcoming tests sold out within 30 minutes. Thats why.

[@rhyswilliams4893]

The gist ive got is the current Welsh squad are a bunch of softies and don't like the standard gat heat

[@DM-rp9ik]

That's ridiculous. Ultimately, they just aren't at the level to complete against the best. Gatland only adds to their problems. Wales have no quality in the front row. They do have one player with the potential to play at the highest level in Carre, and Gatland dropped him indefinitely. Someone should tell him you don't have that luxury pal. Awful selector that he is but sill.

[@ghotio1927]

this man is paid more than Gregor Townsend .....

[@helpingaccount3116]

He's done a great job with Wales in the past but I think it's time for him to move on. I don't know why he dislike Boks so much,yet wales always get better after having played with the Boks🤦‍♀️He has pure dislike of Boks, talking about living rent free in his mind from world cup to world cup 😂

[@rhyswilliams4893]

Nobodys a fan of the Boks tbf... and the 21 lions shenanigans have left a sour taste for gats.

[@coatknight]

@@rhyswilliams4893 he started that series like that, so it is a bit hypocritical on his part. Many like the Boks and are gaining respect for them.

[@patrickchilds2987]

Bit surprised how salty some of the comments are on this content. I didn't think there was anything controversial that Gatland said that should upset anyone. Ultimately he is just giving his opinion and if people disagree no problem. Criticism is in the form of a generalisation or a personal attack rather than arguing the point of contention. Whilst am sure these same people uphold the view that the values in the game place it above other sports such as soccer they don't see the irony that their posts are no different from football content posts I was surprised too as to how much of what he said seems to have been taken out of context on posts as if some posters are determined to be offended . When did rugby fans stop talking about rugby and become so precious ?

[@andreemurray7039]

Should the Lions tour Japan?

[@darrenleroux2034]

Warren never stops whinging, he should expend more time and effort trying to improve his disapointing record………..

[@JM-ky2nm]

Hahaha, the king of boring conservative rugby talking about creating space and playing a game for the fans😅

[@rhyswilliams4893]

Well you got to understand how the space is created to avoid making it.

[@JM-ky2nm]

@@rhyswilliams4893 😂

[@extremesportsify]

Sound guy

[@tiaanbezuidenhout8131]

Warren with all the excuses. The Boks were better. Seeing as success is determined by a win, that is all that matters. If rugby is not about winning you should go coach club rugby. Like Rassie said, let the main thing be the main thing.

[@DM-rp9ik]

Exactly, he was going to beat the Boks with Adam Beard Jonny Hill Chris Harris Sam simmonds Smith and a bunch of other also rans. Jones Sutherland and god only knows who else. None of the above can make their international sides today. Most are fringe players at low-level teams some are even out of contact. Again, an atrocious selector. Australia hammering the Boks twice after the tour shows how much isolation and lack of rugby for the Boks kept it somewhat competitive.

[@user-fw3hp7bb6d]

Remember when SA lost the first test and Rassie made videos bawling his eyes out about the referee. Rassie with the excuses.

[@coatknight]

​@user-fw3hp7bb6d perhaps but the refereeing was atrocious. Rassie took a leaf out of the book of the master moaner he was up against.

[@71bootneck]

@@user-fw3hp7bb6d you’re wrong. Get your facts right. He stated it wasn’t about losing. He wanted clarification of law interpretations so could prep for crucial second test. And Berry ans WR ghosted him for days. So he was forced to address the elephant in the room. it was aimed at WR incompetent systems and structures. This is all after Gatland fired first shot. He’s like that guy who throws first bunch in bar brawl then runs off to toilet to hide.

[@willempretorius6700]

​@@user-fw3hp7bb6d even at balling his eyes out he's better than Gatland mate. He has gone on and won a second consecutive world cup, or haven't you heard 😂😂😂

[@jerrybuirski2344]

Is he still complaining about losing with the Lions? Just face it, he's not very imaginative.

[@Alchemy4US]

Shame on you Gatland for still using the Boks' name to keep yourself relevant and in the news. How do you know what people want? 🤔

[@silvercfox7366]

No one cares about the Boks lets focus on our own game and build a winning team again

[@Wide-eye]

Of the biggest disservesis to rugby is what Warren Gatland and his fellow NZ coaches did was where ever they went was to coach combining quality rugby with cheating rugby. They are Graham Henry, Joe Schmidt, Wayne Purvis, Dave Rennie and Jamie Joseph, the scandalous NZ way. Andy Farrel has followed on what Joe Schmidt established and Ireland has gone well passed NZ and are now the biggest cheats in the history of World Sport. Ireland also went to the World Cup to win by cheating, a absolute disgrase. With the Lions tour next year in Australia it will be 2 of the biggest cheats in the history of the game against each other, Joe Schmidt v Farrell ! Gatland also taught Wales and the Lions cheating rugby. Worst of all was during tour to SA in 2021 in 2nd test. Captain Alun-Wyn Jones stood beside rucks or entered from the side 17 times, ref Ben O'Keeffe NZ, Gatlands fellow NZ buddy !

[@billnortman5331]

Watren try and change the number of players to 16 a side the no16 Player will not actually play but runs with the rule book telling the players what they can and cannot do bad looser

[@DM-rp9ik]

Possibly the worst selector in international rugby.

[@MrKelso85]

Yeh you’re right great comment I’m sure you’ve won lots of grand slams and lions tours?

[@888young2]

Eddie jones

[@MACCA0405]

This man deserves respect for what he has achieved especially with Wales. He does not deserve respect for the shambles that was the last Lions tour. Too much loyalty to the old Welsh guard and embarrassing tactics. Wish him well with Wales 2025 but let’s face it he doesn’t fancy head to head with Georgia. Wales are out of it for a decade. Scotland unfortunately are next.

[@DM-rp9ik]

@MrKelso85 The guy literally dropped his two best centres and lost to France then brought them back in and lost to Italy. And that's only his most recent fuck up.

[@DM-rp9ik]

@MACCA0405 The Lions stuff is a case and point. Ireland and England have better touring records than the Lions do in Australia South Africa and New Zealand. The guy dropped his captain after the first test against New Zealand in 2017. He only decided to play his best centres ( or actual centres ) in the final test against South Africa. He's an attorosous selector.

[@user-qm7xn4us1h]

Gatland is overrated.

[@StopTheRot]

Gats is bloody awful as a coach. Just shockingly poor. Very good as a man manager (for those that can take the heat), but his rugby philosophy is poor and outdated. We Welsh were desperate for Gats to go, and now he’s back - showing that he’s nothing without a decent number of world-class players. Add Howley into the mix and we’re fooooked.