Interesting Theory As To Why Gatland Is A Better Option Than Schmidt For Lions Job

Warren Gatland will be the man tasked with bringing the Lions to New Zealand next summer.

The 2013 Lions series winner was selected ahead of the likes of Eddie Jones and Joe Schmidt, who apparently ruled themselves out of the running of the position due to the commitments required for the role.

Gatland doesn’t exactly have the best of track record’s against his home nation, while Schmidt has recently masterminded Ireland’s first victory of the world champions after 111 years of trying.

Schmidt for many people would have been a better option than Gatland, with many suggesting the Lions selection panel should have went out of their way to make sure they secured him for the role next summer.

Sky Sports pundit Stuart Barnes however, thinks Gatland is indeed the right man for the role and here’s why.

Joe Schmidt is a better coach than Warren Gatland but the Lions is not about who is the best coach. The victory [Ireland’s against New Zealand] wasn’t forged in a couple of weeks and with a skeletal gameplan that everybody understands. And that’s what the Lions have to do.

Gatland understands this. This win in Chicago was forged over a long period of time. I talked to players like Paul O’Connell and he said: “It’s so tough for players when they first work with Joe Schmidt to understand the amount of detail he throws out”. Some are lost along the way.

Now, with the Lions you just can’t do that. I don’t see how the way Joe Schmidt coaches can work with the Lions.

An interesting theory from the Englishman. Is he right?