posted Jul 4, 2009

The Lions need to be given a better chance to succeed in subsequent tours.
The domestic season needs to be adjusted every year of a Lions tour so that they are given the best chance of winning a series in future. Maybe the clubs / regions must play home or away during those seasons, rather than home & away. The European final should be earlier and league play-offs and EDF (if it continues) should 'give way'.
The Lions need more time to gel as a team, because even with a lengthy injury list they obviously got better as the tour progressed.
As an experiment, why can't a Lions team compete between tours in a tri-nations comp? This would show how good they can be if given a chance to play against the SH sides at home.
By the way, Nugget was fantastic again today. The 'rag-doll treatment' he received was because he was having a great game - slowing their ball down even better than S.Africa could do it to us. This upset them, I think.

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posted Jul 4, 2009

Seriously what a tournament, can't believe it's over, so many players deserved to win. I'm annoyed at the papers at home are calling 'last orders' on the Lions. I reckon every other year with exception of RWC years, play at home, let France, Italy and even Argentina (most of them play in France anyways) play the Lions at home. Then in the Autumn, let the touring sides play the Lions after the home sides have a go. Expand the franchise not smoother it.

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posted Jul 4, 2009

Sceptical

Have you seen any of the other SH games? NZ were shocking, disjointed and without any strategy. Oz were poor and lived on breaks by their backs. In their last game, France were totally lifeless at the end of a long season and the score flattered Oz. SA to win the tri - no doubt.

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posted Jul 4, 2009

One heck of a series.
hate to say it, but the diference between the teams was the ref over the three Tests.
Somebody, somewhere, has got to get a grip of it, otherwise the game cannot continue to prosper.
Heaslip had a huge game today. Kearney - wow - where did that come from? Brilliant. Monye was superb today - should not have been dropped - the flyer on the SA wing got nowhere near him. I doubt if Peterson's try last week would have been conceded if he had been playing. Not to knock Fitzgerald unfairly - I just think that Fitz is a couple of seasons too raw for the Lions.
Hell of a series though.

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posted Jul 4, 2009

But it's not about the ref - it's about the team's ability to play to the ref.
Watching the other SH games against france and italy, the ball came back very slowly when the NH teams took it in, but when the SH took it in, it came back quickly as the NH roll away faster giving cleaner ball (que lots of comments from SH fans). It's not about cheating though, it's a different style of game. The lions (as did the other NH teams) struggled to adapt, and with mostly SH refs, they play to that style of game. The NH teams expect the opposition to roll over. They won't and until the NH learn to deal with that then they will struggle.

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posted Jul 4, 2009

Well done Lions.

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posted Jul 4, 2009

So, the Lions tour came to a fanatic close this afternoon with a match that certainly didn't suggest it being a 'dead' rubber. Anyway, not for the Lions. From a personal experience, this tour has been thoroughly enjoyable to witness and observe, reading and analyzing every article to try and increase my ever expanding knowledge of the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

And my conclusion? Well, it was a pleasure to watch and was one of the greatest test series I have ever watched. It was pure sporting drama, perfectly highlighting what the Lions are all about. Whilst we won today's battle, losing the war, the concept of the Lions is still burning as brightly as ever. It was a fantastic advertisment for rugby union and to a man, we can all say the Lions could have done nothing more to have won the series.

In what was supposedly a nothing match with the series already being won win there being nothing to play for, the Lions had other ideas. We played refreshing, inventive, counter attacking rugby catching the Springboks out cold on a number of occasions. As has proved the case in previous test matches, we tore the Boks to shreds. For sure, they can and probably will make excuses about how many changes they made. What rubbish.

It was their choice to name an experimental side and it badly backfired on South Africa. Showing that they have a soft underbelly, they were a shadow of themselves and thankfully, the Lions took full advantage. 3 tries to nil really tells you all you need to know. Once again, there were some simply outstanding performances from the men in red but I do not want to name individuals as it was a team effort.

Down to the bare bones having been taken to the limit in our domestic season on our own shores, our performance was heroic. To a man, we stood up to our green and gold opposition refusing to take a step back. Without our first choice prop and centre pairings, it looked as if we would struggle to complete. I have to admit I thought we would be walloped but I was in for a pleasant surprise.

Everything fitted into place today as McGeechan and co sent the hordes of Lions fans back to Britain and Ireland very happy indeed. South Africa looked half asleep which is understandable considering they already had the series in the bag but I am sure they would have wanted to have whitewashed the Lions. And, they failed, miserably. It was a pathetic effort really but the Lions must be fully congratulated.

We showed tremendous amount of character, refusing to give up. Building a healthy lead, I just felt desperately disappointed that we weren't still playing for the test series. But I suppose that that is sport, that is life. I will go away from this tour feeling it was a missed opportunity. But, I will also go away from this tour with fantastic memories that will live with me forever and a day.

What a tour it has been. After the shambles of 4 years ago, this was a great sporting occasion and is something that should rightfully be talked about for years and years to come. 3 epic test matches that all proved compelling viewing, it was one of THE great series. Alas, the Lions have finally won a test match and all appears rosy again. Roll on Australia in 2013, I just have a sneaky feeling we might achieve the impossible. You never know, they have captured 4 countries hearts.

Looking at the series as a whole, the Lions weren't given a prayer. Losing a succession of players to injury, it appeared as if luck was not going to be on our side. But, we showed how much strength in depth the 4 home unions have collectively. With the likes of Ross Ford, Tom Croft and John Hayes all playing some part in the test series after being called up to the Rainbow Nation as replacements, this is perfectly highlighted.

Players reputations have been enhanced on this tour. I am just desperately disappointed that we couldn't come away with the test series victory that we so badly craved. Having a fantastic blend of youth and experience under the stewardship of Gerald Davies and Geech, it is fantastic that we have been able to push the world champions to the brink in their own backyard.

Now being obsessed with the whole ethos and history of the Lions, the tour has been remarkable. Simple. For sure, there are areas that could have been improved such as crowd attendances but I am sure these problem areas will be addressed in due course.

On the whole, it was a tour that will go down as one of the most legendary in the illustrious history of the British and Irish Lions.

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posted Jul 5, 2009

Great series, well done Springboks! It takes two great teams to produce rugby and drama of that level (with a sprinkling of bizarre refereeing - both sides suffered from this). However I do believe the Lions have had their day and should be retired. It is a great money spinner but in the modern era of rugby it is too much to ask of the B&I players to take on the well prepared and extremely talented SH sides. They already play enough rugby. I would rather see the six nations teams tour as their individual countries. The Lions with its imperialistic beginnings is an anachronism that has had its day. Commercial interests aside what does a Lions match really mean nowadays?

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posted Jul 5, 2009

Also meant to say well done Lions and Geech's gang.

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posted Jul 8, 2009

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