'Lions are bigger than the All Blacks'

[sifplay]

i'm going send you the bill for my new keyboard. I just spluttered my coffee over the old one!!!

You got a sticky keyboard? You sure its coffee

 

[Peat]

A bit of a stupid point to start off with. As others have mentioned, of course they are a bigger draw. They play every four years. It's an event. It's about the only time a lot of British people take a massive interest in international rugby. Seems like just stirring - which is odd considering they're not even playing the All Blacks (which is pretty luck for them).

Journalist: "Sir Ian, how big are the Lions?"
Geech: "They're bigger than the All Blacks"

Thats probably how it happened. He was asked a question and responded honestly, using the biggest draw in everyday rugby to establish the scale. Its not stirring, its just the most convenient way of saying what it is. Personally I'd say its a compliment that he used the All Blacks, but fair enough if you don't see it that way. And the journalist used the quote - possibly even asked directly "Are they bigger than the All Blacks" - to whip up excitement over here. I doubt either considered for one moment how it would play down in New Zealand.

---

Yoe, I think we know what national identity resonates most with us more than you. British is my own as much as English.

And I was going to type more, than realised I could not be bothered. Just go away. Any possible attempt at sensible conversation on this thread has been thoroughly destroyed by your incredibly ill-informed notions of what nationality means over here and why the Lions exist. Whether you accept it or not, you are being a clown here, and I have no time for it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

which is odd considering they're not even playing the All Blacks (which is pretty luck for them).

Very lucky.

 

[sifplay]

^Yeah someone should have told them the Samoan is not a team mate

 

[The big Kangaroo]

They better be considering how much more the tickets cost compared to the All Blacks Games

 

[ratsapprentice]

It's about the only time a lot of British people take a massive interest in international rugby.

To an extent, but it's still only available to watch on Sky.

Rugby could be so much bigger in this country if we had more terrestrial TV presence outside of the 6N and WC.
So frustrating.

 

[Big Ewis]

psychic duck :
I meant England are the best team in Europe (NH) historically. I'm aware Wales just won the 6N

​

Why would any kiwi want to comment after such an erudite refutation of Sir Ian's poorly chosen comments?

Yoe91, I tip my hat to you!!

I just don't like it. It's kitsch, silly and in terrible, terrible taste. In French we would say it "stirs the ****". And it's got nothing to do with my supposed general position about England, just objectively it's a cheap comment to make...NZ is the best, leave it at that...just leave it at that. Like, accept it, swallow it old man.

And I was going to type more, than realised I could not be bothered. Just go away. Any possible attempt at sensible conversation on this thread has been thoroughly destroyed by your incredibly ill-informed notions of what nationality means over here and why the Lions exist. Whether you accept it or not, you are being a clown here, and I have no time for it.

Saying "whether you accept it or not" doesn't magically make smt real or true. It's disappointing to read that from you Peat.

 

[big ginger 8]

Can anyone find Willie-John's speech before the first test in 2009?

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Can anyone find Willie-John's speech before the first test in 2009?

I was looking for that too a while ago, couldn't find it, there's only like 10 seconds of it in the Lions 09 DVD if that's where you got it from..

 

[dullonien]

Yeo, educate yourself and watch the 'Living with the Lions', and 'Living with the pride' dvd's, then get back to us and say it doesn't mean anything to those players.

Do you also think that Britain and NI competing as one at the Olympics is 'kitch and in terrible taste'?

 

[Big Ewis]

Yeo, educate yourself

OK.

P.S.: don't have doubts about players and fans relishing it. That was never the question.

 

[sifplay]

I think he was heavily mis quoted and misunderstood. The guy said show me any team that carry 35 000 supporters around with it half way around the world. That is how big it is and that is what he meant its bigger than the AB. Commercially the AB brand is bigger but in terms of of the occasion and experience which is a once in every 4 years experience for 35000 fans its big enougn to follow around. I think he has a point show me any team carrying that amount of support all over the world

 

[dasNdanger]

Can anyone find Willie-John's speech before the first test in 2009?

If this is the one, I can only find this much:

"It will be hard and it will be painful, at times you'll feel you don't want to continue, but you must push yourself through the pain barrier because the reward will make it all worthwhile."

There's also this speech in 2010 for the Six Nations:



Not the same, but it's still a good speech.


das

 

[big ginger 8]

If this is the one, I can only find this much:

"It will be hard and it will be painful, at times you'll feel you don't want to continue, but you must push yourself through the pain barrier because the reward will make it all worthwhile."



das

Yeah thats the one I've got the documentry on my itouch and the whole speech is brilliant shows how special the Lions is to people.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I completely understand a Frenchman not understanding the Lions, if it wasn't for all the history and tradition of the Lions tour and somebody pitched it for the first time today you'd probably tell him to **** off and stop wasting the Summer. The Lions is brilliant because of the history and nations not involved could easily think it to be stupid.

Even though the Lions is the pinnacle I think most people would choose to have caps for their country but no Lions caps than the other way around.

 

[smartcooky]

I just don't like it. It's kitsch, silly and in terrible, terrible taste. In French we would say it "stirs the ****". And it's got nothing to do with my supposed general position about England, just objectively it's a cheap comment to make...NZ is the best, leave it at that...just leave it at that. Like, accept it, swallow it old man.

Err, no need to insult me, I was agreeing with you, and congratulating you on your insight!!!

Really!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

Err, no need to insult me, I was agreeing with you, and congratulating you on your insight!!!

Really!!!

:lol:
yeah !!....and uh...take that !

 

[dasNdanger]

Yeah thats the one I've got the documentry on my itouch and the whole speech is brilliant shows how special the Lions is to people.

I did my best to find a transcript of the entire thing, but just couldn't. You would think there'd be one out there, somewhere...2009 isn't that long ago.

Edit: Oh, wait...that speech is from before (I found it in 2001). Is your date correct?



das

 

[big ginger 8]

I did my best to find a transcript of the entire thing, but just couldn't. You would think there'd be one out there, somewhere...2009 isn't that long ago.

Edit: Oh, wait...that speech is from before (I found it in 2001). Is your date correct?



das

I think he gave a speech in 2001 as well 2009 is definitely correct.

 

[dasNdanger]

I think he gave a speech in 2001 as well 2009 is definitely correct.

Ah, okay. For a minute there I thought I was an idiot.


das