Freischaltung » of his Dutch rivals thunder and twice

EDINBURGH, Scotland -- Faced with the hardest coaching task in modern British & Irish Lions history, Warren Gatlands self-proclaimed title as the eternal optimist will be challenged.But as he faced questions over the nightmare scheduling, the All Blacks seven-year unbeaten home record and the danger of player burnout next June, he met disparagement with optimism.His message to the naysayers was typical of the man, there was no equivocation: If there are people, players or coaches who believe we havent got a chance, put your hands up now and dont get on the plane.Negatives arent dwelled on, but even he admitted the final week of his 2013 experience coaching the Lions stopped him in his tracks.After being in the firing line for dropping Brian ODriscoll, a decision vindicated by their commanding win over Australia, he wanted to give two fingers to the doubters.But he has learnt from that, though he did admit that if you fail as a Lions coach then suddenly your day job is under threat. You fail as a coach and have a poor tour -- look at previous coaches -- the impact it has had on them post Lions tour has not been positive, he said.Even when there was the brief hint of the magnitude facing him in New Zealand clouding his optimism, those idle thoughts were parked.Im well aware of the challenges of that and the coaching set up and the pressures. Im better prepared for that, he said. Ive spoken about the lack of preparation time, how tough this tour is going to be but I cant change that. If I start talking about that, if I start letting that affect me, then thats a negative and I have got to move on.Validating the view it is rugbys biggest challenge arent just the waiting All Blacks but also the Super Rugby sides loaded with their Kiwi internationals.Gatland watched the Chiefs hand his Wales side a 40-7 trouncing last June but the prospect of his Lions team, one with new combinations from loose-head to fullback, facing the settled New Zealand superpowers drew a smile.I think it makes our job easier, Gatland said. Thats the best thing for us as the Lions. The fact were playing the best [Super Rugby] players available I think is absolutely brilliant and I think well benefit hugely from that.Gatlands focus now switches to his backroom team. His coaching staff will be confirmed on December 7 and he favours a mixture of those who were part of his 2013 backroom staff and new voices.Then comes the task of picking his captain. Sam Warburton will be an option as will Alun Wyn Jones while Gatland has been impressed by the re-branded saintly Dylan Hartley who has flourished under Eddie Jones guidance.Both are options but whoever is named skipper will have no divine right to feature in the first-choice 15.The team will be selected on merit. Its not my role to have any favourites and well pick who we think are the best players. If thats 25 Englishmen and two Welshmen, thatll be the squad.Gatland now heads over to New Zealand to take in their match against Argentina on Saturday and will stay for the Test against the Boks in Christchurch.After New Zealands Rugby Championship duties are finished, hell then take in a whistle stop tour of the home nations during the November Tests, hoping to spend a day with each national side touching base with players and coaches.Hell be there weighing up who has the character and self-belief to rival his own.If Wednesdays message from Gatland is anything to go by, unwavering faith in the Lions ability to win the Test series is the most important quality required if they are to knock over the All Blacks.Im the eternal optimist. If you look at the players who are out there we have some real quality, he said. There is genuine pace, great footwork, players with experience, size and physicality and hopefully some belief and confidence as well.You have to get on that plane believing you are part of a set-up that can go to New Zealand and win. Tom Brady Jersey New England Patriots . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth. Custom Sports Jerseys . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15. https://www.sportsstarsjerseys.com/ . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Tom Brady Jersey .Y. - New York City has been selected to host the NBA All-Star weekend in 2015, with the game played at Madison Square Garden and the slam dunk contest and other skills events held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Womens Tom Brady Jersey .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week.Michael van Gerwen produced a record average of 123.4 to beat Michael Smith 7-1 in their week-four Betway Premier League match in Aberdeen. Mighty Mike recorded the highest mark in the history of televised darts in a simply sublime display against his shell-shocked English opponent to better Phil Taylors previous record average of 118.68.Taylor also produced an impressive performance, ending with an average of 115 himself after a 7-5 win over Dave Chisnall, while Gary Anderson gained his first win against Raymond van Barneveld during an epic night of action in Scotland. Michael van Gerwen gives his reaction to his remarkable achievement Van Gerwen started with an 11-darter and had his average above 130 over the first three legs, the third of which he finished in only 12 darts.He secured a second break to move 4-0 in front with some exhibition stuff, hitting a 132 finish with two bullseyes.The world No 1 was six darts into a nine-darter in leg five before missing a rare shot, but he made it 5-0 in quick style and blazed his way into a 6-0 lead before Smith responded, Van Gerwen missing three darts at a double to take a couple of points off his average. If you play like this, its amazing for yourself. This is what I can do and Im glad it came out tonight. Michael va Gerwen But he made light of those rare errors to finish off the 7-1 victory, finishing on double-16 to complete a 123.40 average and make it three wins from four Premier League outings this season.I felt confident straight away and I also played really well, said Van Gerwen. If you play like this, its amazing for yourself. This is what I can do and Im glad it came out tonight. Phil Taylor beat Dave Chisnall 7-5 and also paid tribute to Michael van Gerwen After the loss of his long-standing record, Taylor seemed determined to steal some of his Dutch rivals thunder and twice went close to a nine-darter, falling short with the seventh dart on both occasions.ddddddddddddThe Power did complete a dazzling 126 finish, but was grateful for wasteful finishing from Chisnall in the last leg which allowed him to close out the victory on double eight. Phil Taylor impressed after losing his long-standing record Taylor described Van Gerwen as phenomenal afterwards and insisted his heroics would serve as motivation.Hes phenomenal, he really is, said Taylor. Im not frightened of Michael, he inspires me.Anderson finally kick-started the defence of his title with a comfortable 7-3 victory over Raymond van Barneveld. Gary Anderson picked up his first points in front of his home fans A vociferous home support seemed to unnerve Anderson a little, although he still managed to punish lapses in concentration from the erratic Van Barneveld.Peter Wright remains a point clear at the top of the table after he snatched a 6-6 draw with Robert Thornton.The unbeaten Snakebite struggled with a new set of darts and was forced to battle back after Thornton claimed his first point of the competition.Earlier in the night, Adrian Lewis had edged a closely fought clash with James Wade, firing in a 142 checkout in a 7-5 win. Watch Adrian Lewis and James Wade struggle to hit a double in the closing stages Also See: Fixtures/Results On Sky TV Prem Table Darts betting Get Sky Sports ' ' '