The worst-kept secret in rugby was finally confirmed on Wednesday as Warren Gatland was unveiled as Lions coach for the 2021 tour of South Africa.
Here's what he had to say during a Q&A with the media immediately after his appointment.
Q: You said you hated parts of the last tour and that you were done with it - why the change of heart?
WG: I love the Lions as a concept.
There were parts of the New Zealand tour that were incredibly challenging.
Any Lions tour, for players and coaches, is probably the hardest thing you’ll ever do in terms of planning, preparation and the scrutiny of the press.
There’s potentially some unfinished business having been involved in the last two tours as head coach.
I couldn’t turn my back on this challenge. I know it’ll be tough, it’ll be a real rugby hotbed.
The Lions have always found it quite difficult (in South Africa) and how physical they are and how passionate they are.
I spoke to my family and this was something that I couldn’t turn down.
Q: Is the shortened five weeks and eight games enough time to find your best 23?
WG: The schedule hasn’t been finalised yet.
Negotiations with PRO14 and PRL are underway in terms of when they have their finals and how much time we’ll have together as a group before we go away on tour.
There will be altitude as well so it’s about how we plan around that.
One of the things we have done on the previous tour is we’ve guaranteed players a start in the first three games.
I’ve felt that’s a positive and it gives players a chance to get in the shop window.
We may have to look at that. Do you go with a few more preconceived ideas about a Test team?
It’s a long way off but those thoughts have been going through my head already.
Q: You will need a new captain - if you were picking it now, who would it be?
WG: It’s got to be someone who has the respect of everyone in the squad.
Ideally you want someone to be coming from a successful team.
Alun Wyn Jones comes to mind at the moment and Owen Farrell.
Potentially those two are players that you’d talk about if you were picking a team right now.
But two years is a long time and you never know what’s going to happen in the game.
Q: Would you like to see extra time if the third Test is a draw?
WG: I don’t think it’s been discussed but I wouldn’t see that as a bad thing.
But it would have to be a 1-1 scenario going into the third test. Then you could potentially go into extra time.
Looking back on that draw in New Zealand, I think we can take a lot of pride in what we’ve achieved.
I think we had one of the most iconic photographs of all time after that third test when you see players from both teams mingling around Sam Warburton and Kieran Read holding the trophy aloft.
I think that will go down in history.
Q: You mentioned continuity being key, is that something you’ll look at when picking your squad and coaching staff?
WG: Giving that you have limited preparation time, limited time on tour, if there is a reduction of games.
Those people who have been part of previous tours means you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
It’s definitely been an advantage for us on previous tours, that continuity of people who understand the pressures of a Lions tour and have familiar relationships.
That can fast-track a lot of difficulties you might have if you brought a whole new group together for the first time.
Q: Does a potentially shorter tour leave you at a disadvantage?
WG: It does. It’s going to be hard.
From my experience, one of the biggest things is not about what you do on the field, it’s what you do off it.
You try and get some harmony in the team and get everyone to pull together.
I’ve got to make sure that I get that right and make everyone feel a part of it.
As tours get shorter, the easiest solution would be to have two teams like in 2005 if you wanted it.
But does that undermine the jersey?
We’ve spoken about that and it’s not the pathway we want to take.
We want to try and get a group of players pretty tight and it’s just how we manage them.
Everyone wants to be part of the Test 23 and we have to do our best to give everyone that opportunity.
It’s not always about how players perform on the field, but what sort of person are they? What can they bring to the squad? Are they good characters?
Those are the sorts of things you’re looking for.
Q: Do you think this will be your last tour?
WG: I think so, yea!
The challenge for me as the head coach is to go undefeated in a Test series.
I’ve been extremely privileged to be involved in what will be four tours.
I appreciate the support I’ve had from someone like Ian McGeechan, who has been very positive in my appointment.
Having had that experience in New Zealand growing up and playing against the Lions, knowing what it meant to me as a player.
Then I reflect back on 2001 coaching Ireland when I was disappointed we didn’t get more players on that tour.
Being head coach of the Lions is incredibly special and something I’m proud of.
Q: Would eight matches instead of 10 mean a smaller squad?
WG: Yea absolutely.
Even though New Zealand was different.
I know there was criticism of how we handled bringing in extra players in 2017.
We did the same in 2013 but not under the same scrutiny.
We’ve discussed about the potential of not having a midweek game before the first Test.
The scheduling hasn’t been decided.
But if you did pick a smaller squad, you may announce extra players, who could come out to cover us for a midweek fixture.
Those are part of the discussions we’re having at the moment.
Q: What are you expecting from South Africa?
WG: I think there is now doubt there has been some improvement under Rassie Erasmus.
They’ll be tough to beat.
England found it tough when they went out there a couple of years ago.
It will always be tough acclimatize to altitude. That takes time.
There’s no doubt that when they have the prospect of playing the Lions… I’m expecting South Africa to be a challenging tour.
In 2009 it was some of the most physical rugby that I’ve witnessed. We’re expecting the same.
Q: There’s a gap between the Rugby World Cup and the start of the Lions contract, do you know what you might do?
WG: Not at the moment. I finish with Wales after the World Cup.
I’m talking to a couple of people at the moment but nothing is formal.
Hopefully in the next few months, I’ll make a decision about what my future will be after the Lions.
