WARREN GATLAND joked that he still needs a NERVOUS POO before every game.
The Lions chief and ex Wales boss is now on his third tour as head coach and fourth in all with the famous touring side.
But the 57-year-old Kiwi admits that he will get the s***s in Joburg today when his team play their first match in South Africa against the Sigma Lions.
Gatland said: “I’m always nervous in the box. It is probably no different to when I was playing.
“I would go and have a nervous poo, just exactly like when I was playing.
“I don’t mean to be crass – but I am just as nervous on the morning of the game with the butterflies.
“When you’re sitting in the box, your biggest hope is that: ‘Please let us be ahead by 20-30 points with ten minutes to go so I can relax and enjoy the last ten minutes’.
“That’s often not the case. You are in arm wrestles which go down to the wire.
“I finish afterwards, take off my jacket and I have got sweat under the armpits and a rush of adrenaline.”
After drawing the series 1-1 against the All Blacks four years ago Gatland said he was done with the Lions.
The New Zealander was absolutely knifed by his home press who lampooned him as a clown and afterwards he said: “I hated the tour.
“I did. I just hated the press and the negativity in New Zealand. I wouldn’t subject myself to that.”
However, the Lions addict took little time in saying ‘yes’ when he was asked to take charge again to complete the set as top dog.
He said: “When they approached me it was hard to say no
“You realise there’s a massive amount of pressure and I felt that on occasions when people have not agreed with decisions or when the New Zealand media had a crack at me last time and tried to unsettle me.
“You go away from it, you reflect and then it is pretty hard to reject an offer to come back and coach the Lions and the opportunity you have to make some special memories.”
And when asked if he fancied another crack where it all started as a Lions boss in Australia in four years, Gatland added: “I don’t know.
“It depends if you win or not. If you win, someone might ask you to do it again.
“If you get beat then that’s the end. That’s the reality of professional sport.
“I have been very grateful for the opportunities I have had and particularly from the Lions.
“I hope I have demonstrated my passion for the Lions and what it means.”
