The last time the British & Irish Lions won a series in South Africa, in 1997, it was the Scottish coaching duo of Ian McGeechan and Jim Telfer that masterminded the Springboks’ downfall.

In 2021 New Zealander Warren Gatland will lead the Lions for a third time, but the Scotland national team coaching duo of Gregor Townsend and Steve Tandy will play a key role.

Gatland, the former Wales coach, has never lost a series as Lions head coach – guiding them to a 2-1 win in Australia in 2013 and 1-1 drawn series in New Zealand in 2017.

Townsend and Tandy have quickly rebuilt Scotland into a formidable team after they failed to make the quarterfinals at Rugby World Cup 2019. Their work resulted in the Scots’ first win at Twickenham over England in 38 years when they won 11-6 in February. They also beat a resurgent France. 

Tandy’s elevation is a slight surprise, but with Gatland’s long-time defence guru Shaun Edwards out of the picture due to his new role as France defence coach, Gatland turned to the man who has reshaped the Scottish defence.

Scotland only missed 54 tackles in the entire Six Nations campaign. By comparison, next best England, missed 92. Scotland also carried the ball the most – 690 times and made the most metres as a consequence (4,176) for an average of 6.1 metres per carry.

Although England averaged 6.4 metres per carry, while Wales were also at 6.1 metres per carry, Scotland’s philosophy of more ball in hand on attack, underpinned by a rigid and disciplined defence, is obviously an approach Gatland sees value in adopting against the Springboks.

Kicking coach Neil Jenkins. ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Attack coach Gregor Townsend: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Defence coach Steve Tandy: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Forwards coach Robin McBryde:  ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Past experience valued

Townsend was a player on the victorious 1997 tour to South Africa and he later played provincial and Super Rugby for the Sharks in Durban. He is well-versed in the psych of South African rugby players.

Tandy (defence) and Townsend (attack) are joined in the coaching staff by Robin McBryde (forwards) and Neil Jenkins (kicking and skills). Both Jenkins and McBryde are former Lions players.

Jenkins also played a key role in winning the 1997 series as the Lions’ deadly goalkicker, scoring a record 41 points. Although a flyhalf for his entire career, McGeechan played Jenkins out-of-position at fullback and the Welshman surprised everyone with his exceptional bravery and skill in an unfamiliar role.

Jenkins was also on the coaching staff of the 2009 Lions tour to South Africa, 2013 (Australia) and the 2017 tour to New Zealand.

“I am very pleased to have assembled such a high-quality coaching team,” Gatland said when he revealed his coaching staff.

“It’s a really strong group and I’m excited to see what we can achieve together – I think we’ll all compliment each other well in South Africa. A Lions Tour is a unique challenge, so it’s important to have some continuity in the coaching group. Neil understands the exceptional demands that only a Lions Tour can present, and we will benefit from his knowledge and experience.   

“But it’s also important to have new voices and a fresh perspective. Gregor is doing an excellent job in charge of Scotland and is an outstanding coach. He also understands the challenges of touring South Africa as a player and what it takes to win there, so I am extremely happy he will be part of the setup.

“Steve has made Scotland’s defence one of the most organised in world rugby – something we saw throughout the recent Six Nations. He’s clearly an intelligent coach and someone I am very much looking forward to working with.    

“Obviously Robin is someone who I know very well from our time together in Wales. He is an impressive and experienced coach who continues to have success with Leinster. I think he’ll be well suited to the Lions environment and I am sure he will do an excellent job with the forwards.  

“As the Tour approaches we may look to bring in some extra resources, but this will be the core group for the time being.

“Touring South Africa is always a huge challenge and clearly when the squad assembles in June to begin our preparations everything is going to look and feel a bit different to previous tours. 

“But having spoken to the coaches individually over the past few days we’re absolutely determined to make it an enjoyable, memorable and ultimately successful experience for everyone involved.”

New blood

Although Gatland favoured current Ireland coach Andy Farrell to handle the forwards, the latter turned him down because of his commitments in Dublin.

That opened the door for McBryde, who is currently assistant coach at the formidable Irish club Leinster, who recently won PRO14. As forwards coach, he will have a key role in finding a way to stem the Bok pack, which was so dominant in RWC 2019.

“South African rugby is known for its physicality, so we’ll be under no illusions of what to expect when we arrive,” McBryde said. “The challenge for us will be to come together quickly and be physical and uncompromising in the way we play.” 

Tandy admitted that he would use this experience, not only to help the Lions win, but also as preparation for RWC 2023 where Scotland have been drawn in the same group as the Springboks.

“There have been some brilliant Lions defence coaches in the past – Andy Farrell, Shaun Edwards and Phil Larder – so it’s a huge honour to be chosen,” Tandy said.

“From a defence perspective, we need to make sure we get everyone on the same page as quickly as possible. I am sure Gregor and I will benefit greatly from this experience and gain valuable knowledge about the Springboks ahead of the Rugby World Cup in two years’ time.”

Profiles:

Neil Jenkins

Playing career:

• Played on two British & Irish Lions Tours (1997, 2001)
• Made 12 appearances for the Lions including three Test caps
• Won 87 caps for Wales and scored 1,049 points
• First player to score 1,000 international points

Coaching career:

• Lions assistant/kicking coach in 2009, 2013 and 2017
• Wales kicking/skills coach 2006-present
• Won Grand Slam titles with Wales in 2008, 2012 and 2019
• Six Nations title winner in 2008, 2012, 2013, 2019 and 2021

Gregor Townsend

Playing career:

• Played for Northampton Saints, Brive, Castres, Border Reivers, Montpellier and Sharks
• Made 82 appearances for Scotland from 1993-2003
• Won the 1999 Five Nations Championship title
• Represented the Lions in two Tests on 1997 Tour to South Africa

Coaching Career:

• Scotland assistant coach from 2009-2012
• Glasgow Warriors head coach from 2012-17
• Won the 2015 PRO12 title with Glasgow Warriors
• Scotland head coach from 2017-present

Robin McBryde

Playing career:

• Played more than 250 games for Llanelli and Scarlets
• Captained Llanelli (Welsh Cup win 1998, Welsh Championship in 1999)
• Represented Wales 37 times (2005 Grand Slam winner)
• Made four appearances for the Lions on 2001 Tour to Australia

Coaching career:

• Scarlets Regional U18 coach from 2005-06
• Wales forwards coach and WRU National Skills coach for 11 years
• Forwards coach for three Grand Slam wins (2008, 2012 and 2019)
• Interim Wales head coach in 2009, 2013 and 2017

Steve Tandy

Playing career:

• Played for Neath from 1998-2003 (40 appearances)
• Made 102 appearances for Ospreys between 2003-2010

Coaching career:

• Bridgend head coach 2010-12
• Ospreys head coach 2012-18 (PRO12 title in 2011/12)
• NSW Waratahs defence coach 2018-2019
• Scotland assistant coach 2019-present. DM