Best Lions XV 1989 to date (yes, there are Sotsmen in it. And a pacific islander.)

[FrankfurtRugbyWatcher4]

That was a good point. Since the 70ties the lead changed between defence and attack. With attackers trying to find space and defenders filling it. Until the advent of the Blitz or umbrella defense it was a lot about handling the drift.

Fitness improved on a broad level together with more liberal replacement rules.
So collisions and recycling became more important. With different types of playes required. Stuff like jackling.

I think it is hard to compare, each episode had their thrills. And none exclusively had exiting games.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...-of-south-africa-set-to-go-ahead-as-scheduled

 

[FrankfurtRugbyWatcher4]

That was a good point. Since the 70ties the lead changed between defence and attack. With attackers trying to find space and defenders filling it. Until the advent of the Blitz or umbrella defense it was a lot about handling the drift.

Fitness improved on a broad level together with more liberal replacement rules.
So collisions and recycling became more important. With different types of playes required. Stuff like jackling.

I think it is hard to compare, each episode had their thrills. And none exclusively had exiting games.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...-of-south-africa-set-to-go-ahead-as-scheduled

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...-of-south-africa-set-to-go-ahead-as-scheduled

"British & Irish Lions 2021 tour of South Africa set to go ahead as scheduled
Test series due to take place in July and August next year"

Good to have this confirmed. The shortened itinery was hard enough to bear already.

 

[unrated]

The shortened tour bothers me deeply. Theoretically it should favour the Boks more but damn Atleast include the Cheetahs and Bloemfontein in the tour instead of some silly composite site.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The shortened format was desperately needed, you'd always get 1 or 2 career ending/massively detrimental injuries in nothing games v club sides. Such a bad way to go out.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The shortened format was desperately needed, you'd always get 1 or 2 career ending/massively detrimental injuries in nothing games v club sides. Such a bad way to go out.

Midweek games after the tests have started have always been completely pointless - no one gave a crap about them, or the result. Doubt the players even really get up for them considering most know that their tour is done if they play in one of those.

 

[General Melchett]

The shortened format was desperately needed, you'd always get 1 or 2 career ending/massively detrimental injuries in nothing games v club sides. Such a bad way to go out.

Check out 30 seconds and 1:00 minute. They are essentially bitter thugs not good enough to be picked for the national side who try and make a name for themselves as hard men by crocking a Lion. Probably less of a problem these days but still.

 

[McTallshort]

Check out 30 seconds and 1:00 minute. They are essentially bitter thugs not good enough to be picked for the national side who try and make a name for themselves as hard men by crocking a Lion. Probably less of a problem these days but still.

Remember that kick on Doddie Weir, cowardly cheap shot. Apparently the bloke who did it still struts round his local club thinking he's the dogs whatits. IMO he handed in his man card with that kick.

 

[Blachernaecastle]

Remember that kick on Doddie Weir, cowardly cheap shot. Apparently the bloke who did it still struts round his local club thinking he's the dogs whatits. IMO he handed in his man card with that kick.

Anything eating away at the Lions concept is a bad thing. They are an endangered species. What a loss that would be.

And: It takes time for the Lions to reach cruising altitude. In 2005 the bicycle could not really be picked up. The Auckland victory came too late to resurrect anything. In 1997 the groundswell of the provincial games was extremely positive (despite the one loss.) A rites-of-passage for that squad that got results.

To reinforce this point: Saving Springboks closer to the tests is something that does no good to either the Lions nor the hosts. (Despite successes like in the case of a weakened Wellington in 2017.) So I do agree with the scepticsm voiced above.

It is only three tests nowadays not four. So gloves off for both sides selectionwise in all games. Don't mind if a quasi fourth or fifth test resulted.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Anything eating away at the Lions concept is a bad thing. They are an endangered species. What a loss that would be.

And: It takes time for the Lions to reach cruising altitude. In 2005 the bicycle could not really be picked up. The Auckland victory came too late to resurrect anything. In 1997 the groundswell of the provincial games was extremely positive (despite the one loss.) A rites-of-passage for that squad that got results.

To reinforce this point: Saving Springboks closer to the tests is something that does no good to either the Lions nor the hosts. (Despite successes like in the case of a weakened Wellington in 2017.) So I do agree with the scepticsm voiced above.

It is only three tests nowadays not four. So gloves off for both sides selectionwise in all games. Don't mind if a quasi fourth or fifth test resulted.

What is a Lions?