Wednesday 7 September 2016 16:11, UK
Our panel of experts get behind Warren Gatland who was announced as the head coach of the British & Irish Lions 2017 Tour to New Zealand.
Gatland will be coaching the Lions on a third successive tour, having been an assistant to Sir Ian McGeechan in South Africa in 2009 before leading the Lions to victory in Australia in 2013 - their first series win for 16 years.
However the Lions face a daunting task in New Zealand against the back-to-back world champions who have once again raised the bar with some formidable displays in 2016.
We caught up with those in the know to get their views on Gatland's appointment.
Will Greenwood (England, British and Irish Lions)
New Zealand are so good at rebuilding and evolving and just creating new and better sides. The Lions have won just once in New Zealand - we have only won five tours in history so the challenge is huge. Warren deserves the opportunity, one suspects is the right way of putting it. Critics would say he has not got the best record against southern hemisphere opposition but on the back of his two previous performances [with the Lions] and the Lions wanting to have as much stability as possible; having someone with his experience at the helm will be crucial.
Scott Quinnell: (Wales, British and Irish Lions)
Gatland will understand the culture. He understands the Lions having been on two tours. It was a young squad who went to Australia and a huge amount of those players will be available for selection for New Zealand.
They will have that feel good factor. And I believe it will be the strongest British and Irish Lions squad to ever leave these shores.
James Haskell (England)
Gatland is an incredible coach. He specialises in putting a team together of different characters, people who have not played together before and getting the best out of them. He is always a guy who strives for professionalism, he has good guys around him - he gets the best people in place to do the job, he is very experienced in doing that.
Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand)
Gatland makes sense. He was assistant coach in South Africa to Sir Ian McGeechan and then did a phenomenal job to lead them to a series win in Australia. He knows what is needed. He also knows what is needed to win in NZ - he lives down there part-time. He knows the people and it will be his job to make sure that the players who go on tour realise what it is going to take. It is a daunting task.
Ieuan Evans (Wales, British and Irish Lions)
This is a man who has already guided the Lions to a series triumph - they don't come around very often. I think having seen the itinerary and the quality of the opposition, I think they are going to need Warren Gatland's experience.
Watch what the Lions will be up against this Saturday when New Zealand take on Argentina, 8am Sky Sports 3 HD. Catch the match for £6.99 with a NOW TV day pass.
