North vs. South the ultimate Test!

[SavageLez]

It is great seeing the British Lions team up against one nation every four years or the Barbarians play one nation every now and again.

BUT

Wouldn't it be great to see the best players from the Southern Hemisphere play a 3 match SERIES against the Northern Hemisphere?

This should end the annual hemisphere debate!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

This should end the annual hemisphere debate!

No it would not. When would the game be played. Where would it be played? Who would cover the costs? Who would coach? Be off-season for one team and pre-season for the other ... can't really do it.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Yep, that's what we need, more matches. Please try to keep some amount of reality in your suggestions.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

No, it would be a great idea, because we can turn out the team we would pick for each.

For North-

Martyn Thomas
Will Harries
Rhrodi Gomer-Davies
Ashley Smith
Aled Brew
Jason Tovey
Wayne Evans

Joe Bearman
Gavin Thomas
Dan Lydiate
Luke Charteris
Rob Sidoli
Pat Palmer
Steve Jones
Huw Gustafson

Just because picking the entire Dragons XV might make up for them not being in the Wales side.

 

[ORothlain]

There should be 1 match. World Club Challenge just like league. Heineken Cup Champions vs. Super 14 Champions.
We've had this debate on the forum before. So, there's my two cents.

 

[durbutter]

I don't think i want to see anymore NH teams embarrassed by the SH teams.

On a separate note i cannot understand how rugby is much more a commercial success in NH, yet produce continually poorer teams, and vice versa for the SH.

I guess population, and continually importing SH players.

 

[Teh Mite]

Oh goody, another inter-hemisphere cock swinging contest. I assume this means the SANZAR nations are thinking of themselves again as a big happy family until Saturday...

 

[smartcooky]

There has in fact been an effective "Champion or Champions" (6N champions v 3N Champions) match several times in the last 10 years. In each case, the teams were their respective champions at that time;

2009 South Africa v Ireland (Croke Park, Nov 28, 2009 - Ireland won 15-10)
2008 New Zealand v Wales (Millenium Stadium, 22 Nov 2008 - New Zealand won 29-9)
2007 no match
2006 New Zealand v France (Lyon, 11 Nov 2006 - New Zealand won 47-3)
2005 New Zeakand v Wales (Millenium Stadium, 05 Nov 2005 - New Zealand won 41-3)
2004 no match
2003 New Zealand v England (Carisbrook, 12 Jun 2004 - New Zealand won 36-3)
2002 New Zealand V France (Stade do France, 16 Nov 2002 - Drawn 20 all)
2001 Australia v England (Twickenham, 10 Nov 2001 - England won 21-15)
2000 Australia v England (Twickenham, 18 Nov 2000 - England won 22-19)

NH 3 wins
SH 4 wins
DRAWS 1
NO MATCH 2

All that needs to happen is for the iRB to make sure that the current 6N Champions and 3N Champions are scheduled to play on either the November or June tour immediately following the 6N Championship, and to market it as a Champion of Champions match and perhaps make it the last match of the tours. No extra match would be required, and it would put give some "edge" to the game.

 

[SavageLez]

No it would not. When would the game be played. Where would it be played? Who would cover the costs? Who would coach? Be off-season for one team and pre-season for the other ... can't really do it.

Look for the solutions, not the problems mate! If this were a fixture it could be played every 4 years, alternating between NH and SH for each series, costs would be covered by broadcasting rights, sponsorships and match ticket sales. If it is only every 4 years a coach can be appointed temporarliy (like Baabaas).

The British Lions manage to fit in a hectic schedule with midweek games. It could be done in a world cup year when the Tri Nations is generally shortened?

 

[SavageLez]

There has in fact been an effective "Champion or Champions" (6N champions v 3N Champions) match several times in the last 10 years. In each case, the teams were their respective champions at that time;

2009 South Africa v Ireland (Croke Park, Nov 28, 2009 - Ireland won 15-10)
2008 New Zealand v Wales (Millenium Stadium, 22 Nov 2008 - New Zealand won 29-9)
2007 no match
2006 New Zealand v France (Lyon, 11 Nov 2006 - New Zealand won 47-3)
2005 New Zeakand v Wales (Millenium Stadium, 05 Nov 2005 - New Zealand won 41-3)
2004 no match
2003 New Zealand v England (Carisbrook, 12 Jun 2004 - New Zealand won 36-3)
2002 New Zealand V France (Stade do France, 16 Nov 2002 - Drawn 20 all)
2001 Australia v England (Twickenham, 10 Nov 2001 - England won 21-15)
2000 Australia v England (Twickenham, 18 Nov 2000 - England won 22-19)

NH 3 wins
SH 4 wins
DRAWS 1
NO MATCH 2

All that needs to happen is for the iRB to make sure that the current 6N Champions and 3N Champions are scheduled to play on either the November or June tour immediately following the 6N Championship, and to market it as a Champion of Champions match and perhaps make it the last match of the tours. No extra match would be required, and it would put give some "edge" to the game.

Brilliant idea, but I would love to see the "British Lions", throw in a few French Fries up against the likes of Fourie Du Preez, Cooper, McCaw, Burger, Rokocoko,Giteau and Habana, It would be magical!

 

[Teh Mite]

The Scotsman displaying his encyclopaedic knowledge of the Northern Hemisphere season yet again by expecting to magic another couple of weeks into the calender year. So outside the 42 weeks of domestic and test rugby (then a further 3-6 weeks of tours), when are the players supposed to get any time off before the pre-season training and match schedule begins?

Above all else though, it's not as if anyone would actually give 2 shits about a team made up of "people from the hemisphere" anywhere, unless they're butthurt about "oh, dem norfers/southists are offending me".

 

[SavageLez]

Yep, that's what we need, more matches. Please try to keep some amount of reality in your suggestions.

You have a point, to prevent an increase in matches the British Lions (Eng, Ire, Scot and Wales) should play a SH team consisting of SA,NZ and OZ @ four years instead of 1 nation. It would be a cracker!!!

 

[SavageLez]

The Scotsman displaying his encyclopaedic knowledge of the Northern Hemisphere season yet again by expecting to magic another couple of weeks into the calender year. So outside the 42 weeks of domestic and test rugby (then a further 3-6 weeks of tours), when are the players supposed to get any time off before the pre-season training and match schedule begins?

Above all else though, it's not as if anyone would actually give 2 shits about a team made up of "people from the hemisphere" anywhere, unless they're butthurt about "oh, dem norfers/southists are offending me".

Bullitt: Made a suggesion earlier, tweaked it a little. B/ Lions (4 nations) could play a series against the 4 SH teams (Arg, NZ, OZ and SA) @ 4 years instead of playing against one test nation! There would be no more matches. Imagine that, the best players from NH vs. the SH!

 

[Teh Mite]

No they shouldn't. The whole point of the Lions is it's a tour, not a throw-away exhibition.

 

[SavageLez]

No they shouldn't. The whole point of the Lions is it's a tour, not a throw-away exhibition.

The British Lions Tour was great last year but there were some problems. Franchises were not playing their full strength teams in the mid week games because the Test players were being rested for the weekend Test matches.

I would suggest that tours continue as usual but with a few changes.The host nation could keep rotating @ 4 years. The midweek teams should consist of hosting nations SUPER teams instead of Provincial teams. The teams would be stronger because fewer Test players will be involved as the Test team will be diluted. The Test team will be a combo of SA, NZ and OZ! This can only be absolutely amazing, the worlds top players vs eachother!

 

[SelimNiai]

The British Lions Tour was great last year but there were someproblems. Franchises were not playing their full strength teams in the mid week games because the Test players were being rested for the weekend Test matches.

I would suggest that one tour go to OZ, then NZ followed by SA. This should keep rotating as it currently is @ 4 years. The midweek teams should consist of hosting nations SUPER teams instead of Provincial teams. This would be stronger because fewer Test players will be involved as the Test team will be a combo of SA, NZ and OZ! This can only be absolutely amazing, the worlds top players vs eachother!

I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at. Isn't that what they already do?

Regardless, the Lions are special and mean a hell of a lot to all involved and all who watch them. I'll say this that if in 2009, The Sharks, Lions, Cheetahs et al played their full teams including SA internationals and some got injured you'd kick up a fuss about, well not you personally after all your are Scottish (bs).

 

[SavageLez]

1) Currently the midweek games are against weakened Provincial teams not Franchises (S14 teams)
eg: Wetern Province plus Boland = Stormers, but Lions only play Western Prvince!

2) Test matches are currently against one nation, either SA, NZ or OZ. It would be great if the Test matches were against a combination SH Test team including the likes of Schalk Burger, Richie McCaw, Fourie Du Preez, Daniel Carter.

3) This would increase the strength of the mid week matches. Less players from one nation will be involved in the weekend Test matches freeing them up for the mid week games and therfore B/Lions wil face stiffer opposition. The better the players on show the better the ticket sales. It can only be a win win situation.

 

[Teh Mite]

You really don't have a ******* clue what a tour is all about. A test match is against a registered team; The Lions are the only registered combination team about (The PIs being the closes equivalent, but they don't count as they're not registered as one nation).

Any combination match against them would not be granted test status. Therefore it's meaningless as nobody gives a flying **** about the dirt-trackers.

Only the NZ Maori can stir up a passion about a non-test status international. Or the Barbarians when the organisers bother to select a decent squad.


Aussies would never cheer Kiwis. Kiwis would never cheer Saffas. Saffas would only notice themselves while pretending they're Scottish. Then the whole SH love-in would fall around its ears.

 

[SavageLez]

There you go again. Why are you so defensive. I am just suggesting something and you get all tense and abusive!
If the British Lions and the Baaabaas can be given Test match status then so can the Southern Hemisphere team.
The closest match we have seen with the worlds top players was the Baabaas game vs. NZ in 2009 end of year tour. The Baabaas consisted mostly of SA, Oz and a NZ. The players got on well and beat the All Blacks. The point is it would be great to see the strongest NH vs. the strongest SH and with my suggestion this could become a reality!

 

[Thingimubob]

getting rid of the Lions matches against the local provincial clubs would be the worst thing you could do to the Lions tour. It's one of the best parts of it, and is something that the single Nation tours are finally getting back to. Even if it is against weakened club sides, it's great seeing the Lions playing against the local teams, and is something that should never been taken out of the Lions schedule. In turn, it was great seeing New Zealand play Munster, Australia play the Ospreys, Gloucester and the Cardiff Blues, and South Africa play Leicester and Saracens over the past 4 years.
Having the Lions play a team made up of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina would be terrible, because, as Bullitt said, nobody will give a rats arse about a team like that! The Lions tours are a brilliant tradition that you don't really see in any other sports (ok there's a Great Britain side in Rugby League, but it's not often you see many Welsh, Irish and Scottish players in there, and it doesn't create the same feeling accross Britain and Ireland that the union Lions tours do) and making them play a gimmicky 'SH Stars' side would simply ruin it.