British and Irish Lions Tour 2013

[Syferus]

I'd love to see the Lions win a test series. I was only a little buckeen in 1997 so I really have never seen it happen. It's been a great series.

[yellowcard]

I enjoy watching rugby but the whole Lions concept is based on an over hyped commercial brand playing representitive matches that I'm not too bothered about the result in. Its a great honour for the players to be selected for the team but why put so much emphasis on 4 nations combined playing a test series against Southern Hemisphere sides when these individual nations themselves frequently tour against the same teams. Sky Sports do a great job in 'selling the product' but I would far rather see an Irish province win a HC or the Irish side win a 6 nations than some representitive team win a test series against an Australian team that Ireland beat on their own in the last WC.

Nail on head.

I enjoy watching it and following it but let's be honest, very few of us actually care whether the Lions win or lose. It's like the Ryder Cup - nobody supports Europe. You hope they do well and enjoy following the Irish contingent. Sky would have you believe it's the greatest show on earth - they need something to keep people interest until their next Transfer Deadline Day extravaganza. What will they do without 'Arry in the Premier League?

Yep agree, I'd put it on a par with the Ryder Cup in terms of how much the result matters to me. I want to see Ireland well represented and will watch the matches but the hype is way disproportionate to how much I care about the result. I'm fairly sure a large percentage of people feel the same way about it. 

[Walter Cronc]

I enjoy watching rugby but the whole Lions concept is based on an over hyped commercial brand playing representitive matches that I'm not too bothered about the result in. Its a great honour for the players to be selected for the team but why put so much emphasis on 4 nations combined playing a test series against Southern Hemisphere sides when these individual nations themselves frequently tour against the same teams. Sky Sports do a great job in 'selling the product' but I would far rather see an Irish province win a HC or the Irish side win a 6 nations than some representitive team win a test series against an Australian team that Ireland beat on their own in the last WC.

Nail on head.

I enjoy watching it and following it but let's be honest, very few of us actually care whether the Lions win or lose. It's like the Ryder Cup - nobody supports Europe. You hope they do well and enjoy following the Irish contingent. Sky would have you believe it's the greatest show on earth - they need something to keep people interest until their next Transfer Deadline Day extravaganza. What will they do without 'Arry in the Premier League?

Catch yourself on!!! No one supports Europe. What a ridiculous comment. Thousands attend Ryder Cup matches and travel to the states to see the tournament. I support Europe, I follow the Lions. For people with a love of rugby it was important to us in pre skysports!!

[Count 10]

I think that since professionalism the Lions has been diluted somewhat. Realistically the pick of four countries (3 ranked in top 10) should have little trouble beating any of the tri-nations teams...but it hasn't proved to be the case. Looking forward to Saturday and a great game.

[muppet]

I enjoy watching rugby but the whole Lions concept is based on an over hyped commercial brand playing representitive matches that I'm not too bothered about the result in. Its a great honour for the players to be selected for the team but why put so much emphasis on 4 nations combined playing a test series against Southern Hemisphere sides when these individual nations themselves frequently tour against the same teams. Sky Sports do a great job in 'selling the product' but I would far rather see an Irish province win a HC or the Irish side win a 6 nations than some representitive team win a test series against an Australian team that Ireland beat on their own in the last WC.

Like Man Utd, Arsenal or Liverpool?

Like the above the Lions concept had tradition before they all became over-hyped brands.

[CorkMan]

Realistically the pick of four countries (3 ranked in top 10) should have little trouble beating any of the tri-nations teams

The three tri-nations teams (quad-nations now) are all top 3 in the world.

[yellowcard]

I enjoy watching rugby but the whole Lions concept is based on an over hyped commercial brand playing representitive matches that I'm not too bothered about the result in. Its a great honour for the players to be selected for the team but why put so much emphasis on 4 nations combined playing a test series against Southern Hemisphere sides when these individual nations themselves frequently tour against the same teams. Sky Sports do a great job in 'selling the product' but I would far rather see an Irish province win a HC or the Irish side win a 6 nations than some representitive team win a test series against an Australian team that Ireland beat on their own in the last WC.

Like Man Utd, Arsenal or Liverpool?

Like the above the Lions concept had tradition before they all became over-hyped brands.

Wouldn't disagree with that.

[muppet]

Realistically the pick of four countries (3 ranked in top 10) should have little trouble beating any of the tri-nations teams

The three tri-nations teams (quad-nations now) are all top 3 in the world.

Yip but what is the point of Cork playing Limerick in football or Man Utd playing some vegetables in an open draw FA Cup. Sport doesn't always have to make sense.

[yellowcard]

Administrators and sponsors love it because it generates significant cash. The media love it because it generates significant hype for months and months on end (mostly around selection issues and not the actual matches). The players love them mainly beacuse they are competitive beasts and getting selected for the Lions represents them getting to the top of their tree individually in their profession.

I'm sure that some supporters love them because they can immerse themselves in an ideology and a heritage which harks back to the amateur era and is more rose-tinted than real, plus they are an excuse for a decent trip abroad. However a very many supporters aren't too bothered by the result but will tune in to watch the matches out of curiosity and in support of individual players. I would fall into the latter category.

[screenexile]

I don't know about the rest of you but the drama and quality of last year's Ryder Cup was unreal.

I've yet to watch any sport that has come close to it since!!

[J OGorman]

I don't know about the rest of you but the drama and quality of last year's Ryder Cup was unreal.

I've yet to watch any sport that has come close to it since!!

Eamon Coughlan, 1983, Helsinki trumps them all. 

[muppet]

I don't know about the rest of you but the drama and quality of last year's Ryder Cup was unreal.

I've yet to watch any sport that has come close to it since!!

Eamon Coughlan, 1983, Helsinki trumps them all. 

Aga Khan Trophy 1979, in a jump off!

[gallsman]

I enjoy watching rugby but the whole Lions concept is based on an over hyped commercial brand playing representitive matches that I'm not too bothered about the result in. Its a great honour for the players to be selected for the team but why put so much emphasis on 4 nations combined playing a test series against Southern Hemisphere sides when these individual nations themselves frequently tour against the same teams. Sky Sports do a great job in 'selling the product' but I would far rather see an Irish province win a HC or the Irish side win a 6 nations than some representitive team win a test series against an Australian team that Ireland beat on their own in the last WC.

Nail on head.

I enjoy watching it and following it but let's be honest, very few of us actually care whether the Lions win or lose. It's like the Ryder Cup - nobody supports Europe. You hope they do well and enjoy following the Irish contingent. Sky would have you believe it's the greatest show on earth - they need something to keep people interest until their next Transfer Deadline Day extravaganza. What will they do without 'Arry in the Premier League?

Catch yourself on!!! No one supports Europe. What a ridiculous comment. Thousands attend Ryder Cup matches and travel to the states to see the tournament. I support Europe, I follow the Lions. For people with a love of rugby it was important to us in pre skysports!![

Perhaps I should have typed "supports". It's not the same and you know it. It's like an added bonus on top of the day in, day out stuff. The element of caring and feeling truly involved isn't there. I want the Lions to win on Saturday and I want Europe to win the Ryder Cup every time. However, if the Lions lose on Saturday, I'm not going to wake up on Sunday morning with the same feeling I'd have had if Stephen Jones had nailed his penalty in '09.

[AZOffaly]

I don't know about the rest of you but the drama and quality of last year's Ryder Cup was unreal.

I've yet to watch any sport that has come close to it since!!

Eamon Coughlan, 1983, Helsinki trumps them all. 

He said 'since'.

Aga Khan Trophy 1979, in a jump off!

[muppet]

I don't know about the rest of you but the drama and quality of last year's Ryder Cup was unreal.

I've yet to watch any sport that has come close to it since!!

Eamon Coughlan, 1983, Helsinki trumps them all. 

He said 'since'.

Aga Khan Trophy 1979, in a jump off!

Yes but I didn't.