The latest special episode of Stick to Rugby, brought to you by Defender, sees Warren Gatland return to the panel alongside Lawrence Dallaglio, Katy Daley-McLean and Tom Shanklin for a no-holds-barred look at the chaos, controversy and legacy of the British & Irish Lions.
Back for his second appearance, Gatland reflects on the moments that shaped — and nearly sank — his time as Lions head coach. From off-field issues that split squads to the brutal selection calls he still stands by.
He opens up on the “clown nose” backlash, the fallout from dropping Brian O’Driscoll, and the tensions that ran through multiple tours. There’s insight on managing Sexton, the rivalry with Farrell, and the pressure that comes with leading the Lions.
Off the field, Gatland recalls a near-death experience abroad, the need to restore pride in the jersey, and the text Phil Vickery got from his mum after getting dropped.
A brutally honest conversation with one of rugby’s biggest coaching figures — this is the Lions, unfiltered.
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00:00 - Welcome Back Warren Gatland
00:30 - What Makes the Lions So Special?
01:19 - The Best Advice
03:11 - Teaser
04:10 - First Time Inside a Lions Camp
06:30 - Coaching His First Lions Tour
08:55 - 2005 vs 2009: A Tale of Two Tours
10:35 - Brutal Selection Calls & Squad Morale
11:58 - Gatland’s Most Iconic Lions Games
14:41 - The Toughest Part of Coaching the Lions
17:01 - Schalk Burger’s Eye Gouge Incident
18:08 - O’Driscoll Concussion & 2009 Injury Chaos
20:12 - Getting Close to Rival Nations
21:24 - Phil Vickery’s Mum
22:00 - Safari Story
22:58 - Comparing 2009 and 2013 Lions Tours
25:25 - Wales’ 2008 Tour of South Africa
26:31 - The Truth Behind Dropping Brian O’Driscoll
30:30 - Knowing When the Game’s in the Bag
34:07 - Inside the 2017 Lions Tour
38:33 - Taking on the New Zealand Media
43:45 - Reflections on Selections & Leadership
44:22 - Drawing the 2017 Series
46:59 - Owen Farrell & Managing Johnny Sexton
49:43 - Gatland’s Any Other Business
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