Warren Gatland: Divided Lions Camp, Brutal Selection Calls & Sexton vs Farrell | Stick to Rugby 15

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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