'Warrenball' not derogatory, says ex-England coach as he warns Gatland's Lions to be wary of criticism
Brian Smith, the former England coach who coined the term ‘Warrenball’ that has so needled Lions head coach Warren Gatland, insists the phrase was not intended to be pejorative and warns the Lions against deviating from their plans in reaction to criticism.
Smith, who was England attack coach under Martin Johnson from 2008 through to the 2011 Rugby World Cup, holds the ‘Warrenball’ strategy in high regard but does pose the $64 million question when wondering if it would be good enough to beat the All Blacks.
“It was certainly not meant to be derogatory, that Wasps and Wales approach of massive blitz defence and a crash-ball centre such as Jamie Roberts taking you over the gain line,” said Smith.
The coach was speaking from Sydney where is teaching at famed rugby academy, Scots College, helping to look after the Australian Schoolboys team, as well as acting as a consultant to Wallaby coach, Michael Cheika.
“Look at the number of trophies Warren has won with club and country (although Smith’s England won three of five encounters). That’s why the Lions appointed him in the first place. I created the term before the last Lions series in Australia in 2013 and Warren certainly had the last word then (the Lions winning the series with a 41-16 win in the third test in Sydney) although the crucial try did come from a classic Jamie Roberts bust over the gain-line.
“Look, I genuinely wish Warren all the best in this series and hope he is able to take New Zealand down for the good of world rugby. The All Blacks are so dominant that they need to be challenged so that they can then go themselves to the next level and drag the rest of rugby into the future.”
Smith, a dual country test player for Australia and Ireland, was a clever, proactive player and took that outlook into his coaching.
The 50 year old is a great admirer of the way in which New Zealand has moved way ahead of the rest of the world with their ‘Total Rugby,’ as he calls it, the easy and potent interaction between forwards and backs. He also warned Gatland to be wary of falling into ‘mind game’ traps set by All Blacks coach, Steve Hansen, who has stated that he knows what the Lions will offer (Warrenball), and stick to what he wants to do.
“Hansen is very good at getting under the opposition’s skin with a choice comment and did it here with the Wallabies so Warren needs to put into place what he believes in, whatever that might be,” said Smith. “You see how Warren reacted to the ‘Warrenball’ question and wonder if he is feeling the pinch. He has been here before, though, and has proven himself.
"That said, New Zealand are currently playing at a creative level way beyond anyone else. They have been taking our Australian Super Rugby sides to the cleaners. We are chasing our tails in trying to catch up with them.
“They are playing the beautiful game, the sort envisioned by great European coaches such as Chalky White, Pierre Villepreux and Brian Ashton.
“This New Zealand generation of coaches, Wayne Smith and Mick Byrne, are the modern visionaries, rugby’s equivalent of what Barcelona did in football It is not to say New Zealand can’t be beaten but the Lions will have to come up with something special to do so.”
