Lions Tour

[Hardy]

I have to say there was a lump in my throat when the heroic Britain and Ireland captain scorned the easy option of going for a win with the last penalty and, scoffing in the face of mediocrity, called up the intrepid Owen Farrell, beloved all over Britain-Ireland, to take the game by the scruff of the scrotum and go all-out for the draw.

I nearly burst with pride for our sister islands when it sailed over and the daring draw was all but assured. It warms the cockles of the heart to see gallantry so richly rewarded and doubly so when the achievement is wrought by lads from your own archipelago.

[Mikhailov]

A truly epic finale to a series that will live forever in history.

An hour and a half after the match ended and I'm still shaking.

Every bit of hype that surrounded this series was justified and then some.

The two greatest teams in world rugby threw everything, more than everything, at each other and still couldn't be separated.

We saw the very pinnacle of the game of rugby football today.

This, as Jim Telfer once said, was the British Lions' Everest. Today they are Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. They have arrived at the summit hand in hand with the New Zealanders. And half the DHL Cup can be couriered back home to sit alongside the Tom Richards Cup won in 2013.

My how this team and squad has grown. Credit to Gatty for creating a wonderful spirit in the camp. There were no Englishmen, Irishmen, Welshmen or Scotchmen out there today. There were only Lions and they were our Lions. I cheered as much for the brilliant Jonathan Davies, the indomitable Anthony Watson, the force of nature that is Maro Itoje and the hapless turned clutch Owen Farrell as I did for Jonny Sexton, Conor Murray or Sean O'Brien.

The great sporting spectacles always carry the possibility of a draw. The Charity Shield (it'll always be the Charity Shield) the Ashes, the Ryder Cup, fixed world title boxing fights, and, of course, a British Lions test series.

This series has been the sporting equivalent of The Italian Job.

A true classic where our British boys went abroad to bring home the prize against the odds. An exhilarating plot which built up to an incredible climax which was cut just as we were on the verge of finding out who would prevail.

It feels incredibly frustrating right now after three titanic tests, but I guess this is how it is meant to be.

And in time, as with the 1968 classic, we'll come to appreciate the unconventional beauty of the ending.

We'll never know what would have happened had it gone on, and that's the genius of it.

This series is about the result, of course it is, but its also about the legacy left behind. The legacy of courage, skill, flair and refusal to give in, ever. And that legacy will be a very rich one.

This team has well and truly put the pride in "pride of Lions".

We are privileged to have witnessed this tour and these test matches.
[/quote

Sid, you are not wise. Have you feck all to do on a Saturday than write that load of crap. Still shaking 90 minutes after the game LOL !!!

The Lions would have been wiped out like a massacre if Dan Carter was still about - the AB's have some strength in depth when you consider who was missing.

Remember this is a county with similar population to Ireland, similar weather, shed loads of sheep but legendary rugby players - all credit to them that they are world best !!

[Syferus]

How are some of you so lacking in self awareness that you can't tell an obvious WUM from a genuine poster?

[Boycey]

How are some of you so lacking in self awareness that you can't tell an obvious WUM from a genuine poster?

In fairness I'm not sure whether ur a WUM or not..

[Main Street]

It's needed to spell it out more clearly as Sid being 'akin to Alf Garnet' didn't register.

Sid's spoofing. Sid's post are a spoof. A spoofer is our Sid and a good one at that.

[trileacman]

To be fair in the varied pantheon of WUM's he's a fairly good one. Usually all it takes on here is to say how much you love the queen or how great the DUP are, using the auspices of the Lions to get a rise out of someone is a new one on me.

[bennydorano]

Surely she's just copied & pasted a genuine report from somewhere like the Mail, Sky Sports or somewhere? If not that's like O'Neill like dedication to the cause. Maith thu

[sid waddell]

I don't mind saying it - I love the British Lions.

And as an Irish Republican who would like Amhran na bhFiann to be played before all Ireland matches, I have no problem saying that I think God Save The Queen should be played before British Lions matches - let's face it - the team represents the British Isles.

It's only fair if we want to impose our cultural supremacy on themmuns as regards flags and anthems in a potential united Ireland that we allow the mainland to sometimes impose its cultural supremacy on us when the boot is on the other foot.

But the great thing about the Lions is its inclusiveness - there's something for everybody - well, maybe not Scotch rugby at the moment.

Ireland can't say it isn't recognised in the colours - the tops of the players' socks firmly demonstrate that.

As somebody whose political persuasion is firmly to the left, I take inspiration from knowing that a successful Lions tour is a bit like a microcosm of a successful socialist society - one for all, and all for one goal, not one individual. Everybody must pull together. The camp cannot be a happy one unless the weakest feel part of it.

However those on the right can take solace from the essential imperial, civilising mission ethos that Lions tours still have as we attempt to metaphorically put the boot on the throat of the colonies.

I can take solace that the famous 1974 tour gave the black majority in South Africa a team to support against the hated white oppressor. Our thrashing of the Springboks that year brought great joy to the oppressed in that country and was the first shot against apartheid, I believe.

Conversely, those of the opposite political persuasion to me can take solace that that tour strengthened friendships with the Afrikaaner oppressor and gave support to the regime there.

In the famous coaching partnership of Sir Ian McGeechan and Jim Telfer, you had divergent political opinions too.

Telfs is a hard as nails socialist from the Borders who famously stated both that he hated Margaret Thatcher, and that after an afternoon at Twickenham, every Scot would be a fanatical supporter of independence, while the Geech is on record as being a fervent supporter of the Union.

The greatest Lions coach of all, Carwyn James, coach to the 1971 history makers in New Zealand, was a Plaid Cymru separatist.

I think it's tremendous that all these divergent, multi-cultural backgrounds can come together in such harmony and give us such great sport and a rallying cause to unite these islands for a few short weeks.

Roll on South Africa 2021.

[The Subbie]

Jolly good Sidney old chap, jolly good, marvellous effort, please do carry on ........ 

[theticklemister]

Us Irish like getting recognised by the Brits too much.

[Main Street]

When Ken catches the ball, it's going backwards from the original point of contact, Ken was onside.

When the Lion goes up to catch the ball the AB nr 8 makes a feeble attempt to disguise a mid-air assault on the Lion.

[bennydorano]

Garland has quit. Not too impressed with Sean O'Brien either.

[Syferus]

Garland has quit. Not too impressed with Sean O'Brien either.

Was surprised O'Brien had the balls to dare to criticise the lad who has had it in for Irish players for the last 17 years or so. Went up in my estimation. I don't think many in Ireland will be sad to see the back of Gatland.

[screenexile]

Garland has quit. Not too impressed with Sean O'Brien either.

Was surprised O'Brien had the balls to dare to criticise the lad who has had it in for Irish players for the last 17 years or so. Went up in my estimation. I don't think many in Ireland will be sad to see the back of Gatland.

Nah just means there will be a load of hype around the 6N game but it's in Dublin this time so wouldn't worry about it too much!

[GetOverTheBar]

Surprised Gatland has quit, maybe he's got word there's a big southern hemisphere job going to open up after 2019.

Don't think the Kiwi's like him much though, suppose he was leading a rival team against the all blacks - he must have expected that he'd get a bit of stick in the press.