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In the Line of Fire: The Inside Story from the Lions Head Coach
'"Draw"' is an inadequate way to describe what the Lions did here. They stopped one point short of a miracle.' Daily TelegraphWarren Gatland's In the Line of Fire is the ultimate chronicle of this summer's remarkable Lions tour to New Zealand - home of the fearsome All Blacks, the double world champions - which culminated in an historic and nerve-shredding series draw.The book is the Head Coach's candid record of the perspiration and inspiration, the withering ferocity,and the turbulent peaks and troughs which go hand-in-hand with one of sport's toughest challenges. It gives rugby fans an unparalleled front-row seat with the squad and coaching team during every facet of preparing for and executing a successful tour on the opposite side of the planet, recounting intriguing details on everything from pre-tour planning and strategy, to on-tour experiences, analysis and decision-making.It all adds up to a thrillingly definitive exposition and post-mortem of a mind-blowing six weeks in the cauldron which forged the mighty All Blacks.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 10, 2018
Warren Gatland coached the Lions rugby team in 2017 to a drawn series against New Zealand - the best result from this composite team against the mighty All Blacks since 1971. This is his behind-the-scenes account of that tour.
I am not a fan of sports biographies - they tend to be very bland and offer information already available in the public domain. However, since this was a surprise Christmas present I decided to give it a bash. Unfortunately, it hasn't changed my opinion of this genre.
It is co-authored - or maybe that should be ghost written - by Irish Times journalist Gerry Thornley. The writing is plain and simple but adequate - no need to keep a dictionary to hand. The reader does get the inside track on the tour but it wasn't anything that I couldn't have surmised. The narrative moves quickly but I found it too superficial with short descriptions of nearly everything to make it interesting. I was surprised however to learn that Gatland's family live in his native New Zealand while he lives in the UK where he is the current coach of Wales. For me, that was as informative and as captivating as it got.
I am not a fan of sports biographies - they tend to be very bland and offer information already available in the public domain. However, since this was a surprise Christmas present I decided to give it a bash. Unfortunately, it hasn't changed my opinion of this genre.
It is co-authored - or maybe that should be ghost written - by Irish Times journalist Gerry Thornley. The writing is plain and simple but adequate - no need to keep a dictionary to hand. The reader does get the inside track on the tour but it wasn't anything that I couldn't have surmised. The narrative moves quickly but I found it too superficial with short descriptions of nearly everything to make it interesting. I was surprised however to learn that Gatland's family live in his native New Zealand while he lives in the UK where he is the current coach of Wales. For me, that was as informative and as captivating as it got.
July 2, 2024
I read this book a while ago, but I could not believe I hadn't given it a review on goodreads!
For me, this book never fails to bring back incredible memories from that heady summer watching the best of British and Irish rugby against the best rugby team in the world at the time. This is the sort of book that I read, and relived in my minds eye. Sport has a unique power to captivate. I cannot do credit to the sport this book relives. It is simply unrivalled.
For me, this book never fails to bring back incredible memories from that heady summer watching the best of British and Irish rugby against the best rugby team in the world at the time. This is the sort of book that I read, and relived in my minds eye. Sport has a unique power to captivate. I cannot do credit to the sport this book relives. It is simply unrivalled.
April 14, 2024
Fascinating to understand how Warren dealt and managed the tricky New Zealand press throughout the tour. Great coach, doesn’t get the credit he deserves
October 20, 2025
In the Line of Fire is a fascinating and refreshingly honest account from Warren Gatland, offering a deep dive into one of the most intense and talked-about rugby tours in modern history — the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.
Rather than a broad life story, the book focuses primarily on that unforgettable series, giving readers unprecedented access to the pressures, challenges, and triumphs of leading the Lions against the All Blacks on their home soil. Gatland writes with both passion and precision, taking us behind the closed doors of team meetings, selection debates, and media storms. His recollections are detailed and vivid, capturing not only the tactical and logistical complexities of managing a squad drawn from four nations but also the emotional strain of operating under relentless public scrutiny.
One of the book’s real strengths is Gatland’s honesty. He doesn’t shy away from addressing criticism — whether it came from journalists, former players, or even within the rugby establishment. His reflections on the media portrayal of him as a “clown” are particularly revealing, handled with humour but also with the steel and resilience that have defined his career. He gives credit where it’s due, praising his players and staff while also acknowledging moments when things could have been done differently.
The match accounts are gripping and detailed, offering readers a genuine sense of what it felt like to be in the thick of those fiercely contested tests. Gatland’s respect for the All Blacks is clear, but so too is his pride in how the Lions rose to the occasion, battling to a drawn series that many thought impossible.
Beyond the rugby itself, the book offers thoughtful reflections on leadership, trust, and team culture. Gatland’s ability to unite players from four rival nations into a single, cohesive unit is at the heart of the story — and it’s told with warmth, humour, and humility.
Overall, In the Line of Fire is an outstanding read — insightful, candid, and full of personality. It’s not just a sports book; it’s a study in what it takes to lead under pressure, to make tough calls, and to stand tall in the face of criticism. For rugby fans, especially those who followed the 2017 Lions tour, this is an absolute must-read.
A brilliant, honest, and engaging account from one of the game’s great leaders.
Rather than a broad life story, the book focuses primarily on that unforgettable series, giving readers unprecedented access to the pressures, challenges, and triumphs of leading the Lions against the All Blacks on their home soil. Gatland writes with both passion and precision, taking us behind the closed doors of team meetings, selection debates, and media storms. His recollections are detailed and vivid, capturing not only the tactical and logistical complexities of managing a squad drawn from four nations but also the emotional strain of operating under relentless public scrutiny.
One of the book’s real strengths is Gatland’s honesty. He doesn’t shy away from addressing criticism — whether it came from journalists, former players, or even within the rugby establishment. His reflections on the media portrayal of him as a “clown” are particularly revealing, handled with humour but also with the steel and resilience that have defined his career. He gives credit where it’s due, praising his players and staff while also acknowledging moments when things could have been done differently.
The match accounts are gripping and detailed, offering readers a genuine sense of what it felt like to be in the thick of those fiercely contested tests. Gatland’s respect for the All Blacks is clear, but so too is his pride in how the Lions rose to the occasion, battling to a drawn series that many thought impossible.
Beyond the rugby itself, the book offers thoughtful reflections on leadership, trust, and team culture. Gatland’s ability to unite players from four rival nations into a single, cohesive unit is at the heart of the story — and it’s told with warmth, humour, and humility.
Overall, In the Line of Fire is an outstanding read — insightful, candid, and full of personality. It’s not just a sports book; it’s a study in what it takes to lead under pressure, to make tough calls, and to stand tall in the face of criticism. For rugby fans, especially those who followed the 2017 Lions tour, this is an absolute must-read.
A brilliant, honest, and engaging account from one of the game’s great leaders.
January 3, 2022
It tells a story that this was the only book I received this Christmas! A sign of the times, as I have previously been a keen reader but the birth of my son has left me bereft of time (not his fault, of course - he's the best)! This, then, was a lovely reintroduction to reading after a few months of reading nothing at all.
That said, it's not a great read and I really couldn't recommend this too highly. As another reviewer has written, it has the feel of being ghost-written and Warren attests at the end to the need to 'get this out on time' as it was, of course, written to satisfy the interest of fans just after the conclusion of the tour. It was a plain, easy read as was expected. I had forgotten some of the games of the tour, results and even the players who played so this was somewhat of a recap for me. It gives an insight into the difficulty of a Lions tour, particularly in New Zealand. It seems Gatland was copping flak from the NZ media and this, along with a few other points, were reiterated on numerous occasions.
I can't say that there is much that I took from this. I won't read it again but it was an okay read for a rugby fan, fan of Warren Gatland (which, as a Welsh fan, I am) or someone who loves the British & Irish Lions.
That said, it's not a great read and I really couldn't recommend this too highly. As another reviewer has written, it has the feel of being ghost-written and Warren attests at the end to the need to 'get this out on time' as it was, of course, written to satisfy the interest of fans just after the conclusion of the tour. It was a plain, easy read as was expected. I had forgotten some of the games of the tour, results and even the players who played so this was somewhat of a recap for me. It gives an insight into the difficulty of a Lions tour, particularly in New Zealand. It seems Gatland was copping flak from the NZ media and this, along with a few other points, were reiterated on numerous occasions.
I can't say that there is much that I took from this. I won't read it again but it was an okay read for a rugby fan, fan of Warren Gatland (which, as a Welsh fan, I am) or someone who loves the British & Irish Lions.
July 15, 2022
As interesting as the detail into the selection process and the Lions Tour was, it became a bit samey,
also Gatland seemed to use this book as an opportunity to make digs and comments about the New Zealand press and act innocent and sweet as pie.
The results that the Lions achieved we're incredible, this book / diary wasn't
also Gatland seemed to use this book as an opportunity to make digs and comments about the New Zealand press and act innocent and sweet as pie.
The results that the Lions achieved we're incredible, this book / diary wasn't
September 18, 2020
Fantastic
A great insight into the tour the people that make it happen and the passionate people off the rugby world
A great insight into the tour the people that make it happen and the passionate people off the rugby world
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews