This is your Everest boys

“This is your f***ing Everest, boys. Very few ever get a chance in rugby terms to get to the top of Everest. You have the chance today.
Being picked is the easy bit. To win for the Lions in a Test match is the ultimate, but you’ll not do it unless you put your bodies on the line. Every one jack of you for 80 minutes. Defeat doesn’t worry me. I’ve had it often and so have you. It’s performance that matters. If you put in the performance, you’ll get what you deserve. No luck attached to it. If you don’t put it in, then we’re second-raters.
They don’t respect you. They don’t rate you. The only way to be rated is to stick one on them, to get right up in their faces and turn them back, knock them back. Outdo what they do. Outjump them, outscrum them, outruck them, outdrive them, outtackle them, until they’re f***ing sick of you. Remember the pledges you made. Remember how you depend on each other at every phase, teams within teams, scrums, lineouts, ruck ball, tackles.
They are better than you’ve played against so far. They are better individually or they wouldn’t be there. So it’s an awesome task you have and it will only be done if everybody commits themselves now. You are privileged. You are the chosen few. Many are considered but few are chosen. They don’t think f*** all of us. Nothing. We’re here just to make up the f***ing numbers. Nobody’s going to do it for you. You have to find your own solace — your own drive, your ambition, your own inner strength, because the moment’s arrived for the greatest game of your f***ing life.”

Jim Telfer on eve of 1st Lions test in South Africa, 1997

Those words are every bit as relevant today as they were 12 years ago. This is do-or-die time for the Lions. Later today we will know whether the 2009 Lions still have a chance to join the greats or whether they will be consigned to history as another unsuccessful tour.

Losing today will make the final week of the tour desperate and seem like an eternity – something they do not want to suffer.

This is your Everest, boys. Go out there and win.

Posted in Lions, Rugby

The Wait is Almost Over……

We are almost there. Just one more sleep until the test series is upon us and I, for one, cannot wait! The Lions have steadily amassed six wins out of six – the first time since 1989 that they have won all their pre-test games. Let’s hope that that is a good omen given they went on to defeat Australia 2-1 in that series. And if the Lions are to triumph in this series, they must surely win the first test in Durban tomorrow. With the second and third tests both being at altitude then it would be a huge mountain to climb to come back from losing that first rubber.

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Posted in Lions, Rugby

The 11th hour and selection still all to play for

So we’re four games into the Lions tour and we have had four wins to cheer, although the performances in each have varied considerably. Unbelievably we are now only two matches and a week away from the all important first test in Durban. Clearly this gives the players little time to stake their claims for a test spot if they haven’t already done so to date. So what do we know so far and how many spots are still realistically up for grabs?

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Posted in Lions, Rugby

West Indies provide little test for the challenges ahead

England have now completed the test and one day series with the West Indies and despatched them with ease. Next up, after the small matter of the Twenty20 World Cup, is Australia and The Ashes. Have the matches against the West Indies actually told us anything we didn’t know though or given us any clues as to how the summer might progress? Arguably not although at least they should have boosted the confidence of several players ahead of the tougher challenges ahead.

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Posted in Cricket

Penalty shoot outs work in football but not rugby

The second Heineken Cup semi final between Cardiff and Leicester was a thoroughly enjoyable match which had both fans and neutrals on the edge of their seats. The ending via the ‘penalty shoot out’ certainly contributed to that but was it the best way to decide such a thrilling contest? It’s certainly the first time I have witnessed such an event and I admit to being hooked by the entertainment offered but can honestly say that I was glad not to be a Cardiff or Leicester supporter.

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Posted in Football, Rugby

Balanced squad gives Lions every chance to roar

So the Lions squad has been announced and picked apart by all the national newspapers and in every pub in the British Isles & Ireland. Everyone has their favourites that either have or haven’t been included and, depending on what you read or hear, the Lions will either be triumphant or crash to an embarrassing beating from those big, bad South African bullies! Well Ian McGeechan has picked his own set of bullies and, overall, I’d say that the make up of the squad looks balanced and stands every chance in the series.

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Posted in Lions, Rugby

Breaking News: Lions Squad Announcement

The waiting is finally over, Ian McGeechan has unveiled his squad. The chosen few are:-

Paul O’Connell; Phil Vickery; Simon Shaw; Matthew Rees; Andrew Sheriden; Jerry Flannery; Lee Mears; Ugo Monye; Nathan Hines; Euan Murray; Lee Byrne; Rob Kearney; Shane Williams; Leigh Halfpenny; Luke Fitzgerald; Tommy Bowe; Tom Shanklin; Jamie Roberts; Brian O’Driscoll; Keith Earls; Riki Flutey; Ronan O’Gara; Stephen Jones; Mike Phillips; Harry Ellis; Tomas O’Leary; Jamie Heaslip; Andy Powell; David Wallace; Stephen Ferris; Alan Quinlan; Joe Worsley; Martyn Williams; Alun Wyn-Jones; Donncha O’Callaghan; Gethin Jenkins; Adam Jones

More analysis to follow

Posted in Lions, Rugby

Test Match Special Comes to the Suburbs

I have to say that I am extremely excited to hear the news that West Indies legend Richie Richardson has signed up to play for Thames Ditton Cricket Club in the forthcoming season. As bizarre as this may sound, I can assure you that it is true! Richie is a friend of Alan the Fishman who has been selling his fish from his Fishman Direct van on Thames Ditton High Street for a while now. Richie has accompanied Alan on his deliveries several times and clearly took a shine to the place. We may well see other stars of the future down there. “It’s nicely laid out in a village setting and there is a lovely green. It’s beautiful.” says Richie, “We can hopefully form a relationship between Thames Ditton and Antigua in terms of inviting cricketers to come on cricket tours and enjoy our hospitality,” Richardson said. “In return we might be able to bring across one or two cricketers to come and play in this beautiful part of the world.”

At this stage, rumours that another of Alan’s friends - Curtly Ambrose - is to sign up for TDCC are, as yet, unfounded. Don’t bet against it though as Curtly plays guitar alongside Richie in their fantastically named band, Big Bad Dread and the Baldhead.

So get down to Thames Ditton CC this summer to see a legend in action. Finally, a word of warning to anyone driving past the Giggs Hill Green pitch whilst Richie is in full flow - its not exactly the biggest ground so don’t be surprised if you find cricket balls raining down on your windscreen! My tip – park up, watch the cricket and then enjoy a sundowner whilst listening to Big Bad Dread.

Posted in Cricket

Lions: the chosen few part II - backs

So we have selected our forwards in the belief that they will be able to provide a solid platform and provide secure and quick ball. But what about the backs who need to maximise that possession and convert it into scoring opportunities? Do we have the players who are good enough to break through the defense of the World Champions? Do they themselves have the defense to prevent the likes of Habana and De Villiers from breaking their own goal line.? The answer in both cases is yes and here are my selections to complete the final touring party.

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Posted in Lions, Rugby

Lions: the chosen few part I - forwards

In just under a month, Ian McGeechan will announce his squad for this summer’s tour of South Africa. The recent Six Nations will hardly have spread fear amongst the Rainbow Nation but things are far from as bad as people make out. In fact, McGeechan has a difficult job for the right reasons – there are many good players within the Home Unions and there will be several who find themselves unlucky to be left at home.

I have attempted to select my touring party based on 36 players overall - split as 19 forwards and 17 backs. Apart from one or two notable exceptions which will be plainly obvious, I have only considered players who have appeared in the recent internationals whilst fully accepting that McGeechan will throw in his own left-field selections. The backline will be dealt with separately later on but, firstly, lets consider the make up of the forwards.

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Posted in Lions, Rugby