Warren Gatland. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Warren Gatland does not yet have the Triple Crown, the Six Nations title or the Grand Slam this season. But just two games into this championship and it already appears he has sewn up the Lions' head coaching job.
Certainly the Welsh Rugby Union believes he has done enough to
see off the challenge of the Ireland and Scotland coaches, Declan Kidney and Andy Robinson respectively.
The WRU was recently approached by the Lions committee about how long they would be prepared to release the Kiwi for over the 2013 tour to Australia, and a board meeting last week approved a six-month absence, suggested by chief executive Roger Lewis.
Andy Irvine, the Lions team manager, had previously declared the head coach would have to be fulltime and "be available effectively a year out". There is a five-month break clause in Gatland's contract, but in the spirit of compromise the WRU has offered the Lions another month.
This means Gatland will be in charge of this year's autumn test matches for Wales, but would then hand the reins over to Rob Howley for the Six Nations.
