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Gatland gives the likes of Haskell Lions hope
By Peter Thompson
Warren Gatland said the likes of James Haskell must be ready for a British and Irish Lions call-up despite being snubbed for the tour of New Zealand.
Haskell admitted he had come to the conclusion that he "wasn't meant to be a Lion" after the England flanker was omitted from a 41-man squad named last month.
Yet with the domestic season still in progress and such a demanding tour schedule to contend with, there is a strong chance Gatland will need to call for reinforcements.
And the Lions coach said those who get the nod must be prepared if and when they are needed.
"I think everyone, you keep your fingers crossed, if you're a player that's missed out and you know you're pretty close, your chance of getting in is if someone picks up an injury over the next month or early on in the tour," Gatland told Sky Sports.
"You might be disappointed now, but something can happen and change over the next two-three, six to eight weeks. You've got to be ready for a potential call-up if called upon."
That could provide some encouragement for Wasps forward Haskell, who conceded defeat in his bid to become a Lion.
"The Lions is the pinnacle of every rugby player's career. It's the difference between being a good player and a great player and I obviously wasn't good enough to do it. That's the fact," Haskell was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
"It was not to be really and there's nothing I can do about it. I've tried my best, but I wasn't meant to be a Lion.
"I thought I played well in the Six Nations and put myself out there. Could I have done any more? Not really. I just wasn't good enough in [the coaches'] eyes.
"There are obviously personal preferences and I wasn't the man to take it on. Excuses might give you comfort at night, but it's down to facts. I was disappointed, went home, spoke to my missus, it was like 'oh, that's s***', and then I went away and thought about it, but I'm done with it now.
"Ireland v England had a massive role to play in it; Peter O'Mahony played his way in. Ross Moriarty played his way in during Wales v England. It's about peaking at the right time and seizing your opportunity. I obviously failed to do that."
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Go to commentsYes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.
They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).
That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).
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