Gatland puts rival Erasmus in his place after latest pitchside antics
The war of words between Warren Gatland and Rassie Erasmus has certainly begun with the Test series fast approaching.
First the South African accused Gatland of being scared after refusing to play South Africa A twice ahead of playing the the three match Test series, which for all intents and purposes would have been just the same as playing the Springboks five times. Now Gatland has fired back at Erasmus.
Speaking in Thursday's press conference after naming his side to face the Stormers this Saturday, Gatland poked fun at Erasmus now balancing his job of being South Africa's director of rugby with being their new water boy. Erasmus was seen on numerous occasions wearing an H2O vest, running onto the pitch giving instructions on Wednesday in his side's victory over the Lions, but Gatland has highlighted that there was something fundamental he forgot.
He said: "Last night, he was the water boy and running onto the pitch, but the thing is if you're the water boy, you've got to make sure you're carrying water. So I didn't understand what his role was. You don't run onto the pitch giving messages and stuff if you're the water boy without carrying the water. So my advice to him is make sure he's carrying water next time he does that."
This is the squad to face the Stormers this weekend:
15. Stuart Hogg – captain (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland) #783
14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) #836
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #824
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #841
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, England)
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #843
1. Rory Sutherland (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #840
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) #851
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #818
4. Adam Beard (Ospreys, Wales) #852
5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, England) #845
6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #838
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland) #847
8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #839
Replacements:
16. Jamie George (Saracens, England) #819
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England) #787
18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #848
19. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, Wales) #761
20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England) #849
21. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales) #850
22. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland) #844
23. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales) #846