Warren Gatland says some of the negativity from the New Zealand media caught him by surprise on the British & Irish Lions tour in 2017.
Gatland, who has left his head coach role with Wales to now coach Vodacom Super Rugby side the Chiefs, suggested there were some mixed reactions on the Lions tour to New Zealand in 2017.
‘It was strange, it really took me by surprise,’ Gatland told the TVNZ1 Breakfast Show on Monday.
‘It was a brilliant tour, the fans, the hospitality in New Zealand was unbelievable and the atmosphere at the games was incredible, but there was an element of negativity and a certain element in the press that caught me by surprise.
‘But I have to say that the amount of people that contacted me afterwards to say that they were embarrassed by some of that coverage as Kiwis and everywhere we went, the amount of Kiwis that came up to me and said “Good luck today” and the atmosphere at those games were absolutely electric.’
Although back coaching in New Zealand, Gatland will once again lead the British & Irish Lions when they tour South Africa in 2021.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.Photosport.nz
