The Lions! Whats the point?

Danye

After watching the Lions game with a few friends earlier and we got talking about the whole reason behind the lions tour, and why is it held in such prestige?

What is the point in it? Is there really any satisfaction in the "Lions" winning? After the season the Ireland rugby team had and Leinster would Ireland on their own not give South Africa a run for their money?

I just dont get the whole concept or reason? Just wondering if guys who understand the game a lot better than me could possibly explain what the attraction is.

Thanks guys....:)

Diabhal Beag

The prestige is when Schalke Burger doesn't get sent off for eye-gouging. Something disgraceful always happens on these tours

need assistance

Because some thinks have a history, beat the **** of each other every year in six nations and come together (sod the french) and see how good one can be, Dream of being harlem globe trotters.

remus808

It's an age old rugby tradition. Read about the 1974 tour, and watch the 1997 DVD: (Living With The Lions), and you'll start to understand why it's such a big deal.

fifth

I love it, it's a great rugby spectacle, regardless of who you support. I hope it continues.

thomond2006

A thread on this already.

davestar

there's no heart in the lions team .

thomond2006

davestar wrote: »

there's no heart in the lions team .

:eek::eek::eek::eek:

Did you watch the last two games?

Did you see Living with Lions?

davestar

thomond2006 wrote: »

:eek::eek::eek::eek:

Did you watch the last two games?

Did you see Living with Lions?

i was being sarcastic lol . . . i think this forum in itself is pointless.

thomond2006

davestar wrote: »

i was being sarcastic lol . . . i think this forum in itself is pointless.

Sorry, the sarcasm wasn't evident to be fair.

I agree this forum is pointless, bad grapes from today tbh.

davestar

thomond2006 wrote: »

Sorry, the sarcasm wasn't evident to be fair.

I agree this forum is pointless, bad grapes from today tbh.

true , sorry lol

that s*** on fitzgearld was disgraceful .

escobar

need assistance wrote: »

Because some thinks have a history, beat the **** of each other every year in six nations and come together (sod the french) and see how good one can be, Dream of being harlem globe trotters.

Can't say I agree with the reference to the Harlem globetrotters..... They'd probably win a match or two ......something the lions seem incapable of.

Seriously where's the prestige in being part of a team that looses all the time....and is rife with politics...After all this team is the best of the northern hemisphere minus a few frenchies.......Not that great that they can't beat one country.....

Neil Francis was of the opinion on Setanta a few days ago that the lions were on the way out. He said they had to at least win test two and play very well in test three to continue........Unfortunately it didn't happen...

The reason being that in the modern professional rugby age. The lions can no longer go on a 22 match tour to prepare and although there are players of very good quality when you bring them together they are less than the sum of their parts.......

thomond2006

escobar wrote: »

Neil Francis was of the opinion on Setanta a few days ago that the lions were on the way out. He said they had to at least win test two and play very well in test three to continue........Unfortunately it didn't happen...

That guy is a tool and plus he never was a lion so how can he talk?

The Lions Tour will never die as long as it makes money. Simple as that.

Amabokke

Danye wrote: »

After watching the Lions game with a few friends earlier and we got talking about the whole reason behind the lions tour, and why is it held in such prestige?

What is the point in it? Is there really any satisfaction in the "Lions" winning? After the season the Ireland rugby team had and Leinster would Ireland on their own not give South Africa a run for their money?

I just dont get the whole concept or reason? Just wondering if guys who understand the game a lot better than me could possibly explain what the attraction is.

Thanks guys....:)

It brings nations together, it's commercially good, between WCs it's almost like the NH vs the SH, it's a huge honour, etc. etc.

Irish players is definitely looking good and I'm looking forward to our match against Ireland in November. Full strenght and disciplined boks team should be a good match against them.

OldJay

Danye wrote: »

After watching the Lions game with a few friends earlier and we got talking about the whole reason behind the lions tour, and why is it held in such prestige?

What is the point in it? Is there really any satisfaction in the "Lions" winning? After the season the Ireland rugby team had and Leinster would Ireland on their own not give South Africa a run for their money?

I just dont get the whole concept or reason? Just wondering if guys who understand the game a lot better than me could possibly explain what the attraction is.

Thanks guys....:)

The only people who can answer a question what the point is properly are international players and coaches who aspire to be part of what is the only 'proper' tour left.

asdasd

I find it hard to believe that anybody watched that scintillating game yesterday and are questioning the reason for the Lions. If the reason for the Lion's existence is entertainment then that reason is good enough; if the reason is entertainment and tradition - even better.

Frankly, however, we can ignore tradition. Were the Lions concocted as an idea this year I would have been cynical until yesterdays match. Then I would be a convert.

davyjose

I don't know which of the 200 threads on this to reply in, so I'll go for this one.

As a player, it's one of the highest honours in the game - to play for/against the lions.
Now I wouldn't expect the fairweatherer's to understand what goes through the mind of a guy who's dedicated his life to the sport, so I won't waste my time elaborating... oh look, Big Brother's starting...

pickarooney

Wouldn't it be more fun if the Lions played a Tri-Nations combo team?

NickNolte

I find it very hard to become emotionally invested in the Lions like I am with, say, Ireland or Leinster. I did enjoy some of the matches, particularly yesterday's game, but I wouldn't be going on tour with them or even buying a jersey.

I know about the history and tradition of the Lions but from what I can see it's really just a money-making exercise now. Obviously most professional sports are these days but the Lions is fairly unnecessary. Players in the professional are have a demanding enough season as it is - 6 Nations, Heineken Cup, domestic leagues, World Cup, etc. I think the Lions should have run its course and players should be keeping themselves fit for the important matches and tournaments. The injury count of Lions players suggests to me that the whole thing is a bad idea.

thebaz

the players just looked knackered at the end - what they need is more break and down time , like American football - since its gone professional, players are expected to play more - they need time to recover - in a couple of week pre season starts - they need about 3 months off - just my thoughts

d'Oracle

pickarooney wrote: »

Wouldn't it be more fun if the Lions played a Tri-Nations combo team?

It would be more Valid.
But the Sanzars don't want to.

Why would they?
They can all kick the lions around on their own.

asdasd

Why would they?
They can all kick the lions around on their own.

I think the Northern Hemisphere would get on better as a team than the southern hemisphere. and if they came on tour it would be a different story.

Imagine, the tour would come to Cardiff, London, Landsowne, Murrayfield etc. Great show.

asdasd

Probably given the reality of the four nations there would have to be four tests at least., though - one in each national stadium. Which may be a problem.

Stealdo

NickNolte wrote: »

I think the Lions should have run its course and players should be keeping themselves fit for the important matches and tournaments. The injury count of Lions players suggests to me that the whole thing is a bad idea.

What makes a competition important?

tughfc

if you really want to know what a lions tour is just talk to someone who was involved in one. the simple look on their face when the word lions comes to question is good enough to send shivers down your spine and then you really understand what the lions are!!

escobar

tughfc wrote: »

if you really want to know what a lions tour is just talk to someone who was involved in one. the simple look on their face when the word lions comes to question is good enough to send shivers down your spine and then you really understand what the lions are!!

Eh.... seriously........... is that shivers of fear......

The lions don't win matches. I actually find it quite embarassing following a team that's the NH minus a few french that can't win.

The lions need a much longer tour to gel properly. In the professional era there's just not the time......... hence the loses.......So unless we can put a team out there that can win ..........:(

what's the point...

spoon

I've been talking to a relation of a player who got his first tour this year. He's been having an incredable experience by the sounds of it. He's also said he learned a lot. It has to be very valuable for the players who tour, where else could they get together with the best players from four countries and train for a few weeks?

asdasd

The lions need a much longer tour to gel properly. In the professional era there's just not the time......... hence the loses.......So unless we can put a team out there that can win ..........

meh. The thing about historical events is that they seem immutable, and inevitable. We sent out a team which could've won on Saturday - nearly did win. You are now probably going to return and say that they "didnt" win, but that is the tryanny of hindsight. They certainly could've.

d'Oracle

asdasd wrote: »

I think the Northern Hemisphere would get on better as a team than the southern hemisphere. and if they came on tour it would be a different story.

Imagine, the tour would come to Cardiff, London, Landsowne, Murrayfield etc. Great show.

Maybe.

But the SH team would be better.
Better players, better depth.

They get their unions stronger, while we all gather together in the name of inferiority every 4 years.

SomeFool

Just watch Shaw's post match interview from Saturday to see what it means to the players.
There is a massive challenge in bringing together players who usually knock lumps out of each other for a one off series every four years and getting them to gel as a team.

If the Lions won all the time it would become redundant far quicker I think.

I think the Lions is something that is incomparable in sport, and just like the haka it is a tradition that makes rugby what it is and the sport would be worse off without them.

escobar

asdasd wrote: »

meh. The thing about historical events is that they seem immutable, and inevitable. We sent out a team which could've won on Saturday - nearly did win. You are now probably going to return and say that they "didnt" win, but that is the tryanny of hindsight. They certainly could've.

That's the way it is in sport................ Could have, should have ....Doesn't really matter if you don't though. To quote the papers.


''Because, for all the drama, excitement and the 'coulda, shoulda and wouldas' of the first two Tests -- boil it all down and you're left with a bunch of ... that's right, say it with me ... losers. ''


''This is the week where weary Lions, battered by a long season, just want to go home. We'll meet them when they're laden down with shopping bags in Johannesburg's malls and we'll avert our eyes. We'll stick dictaphones in their faces and record quotes that we know we won't be using and we'll ring home and try and create drama where none exists to people who will pretend to listen.''

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/lions-tour/limp-lions-are-fogotten-men-1795582.html