The British and Irish Lions vs The SANZAR Giants

chupacabra

How about this for a way to change the tour format? The B&I Lions playing a super team made up of the best players from the tri-nations? A 3 match test series, one match in each nation, and 6 warm up games against the top 2 club/provincial sides in each country (Bulls, Sharks, Chiefs, Crusaders, Waratahs, Western force for example) and maybe 2 pre-tour games against France/Italy/Argentina.

ALH-06

chupacabra wrote: »

How about this for a way to change the tour format? The B&I Lions playing a super team made up of the best players from the tri-nations? A 3 match test series, one match in each nation, and 6 warm up games against the top 2 club/provincial sides in each country (Bulls, Sharks, Chiefs, Crusaders, Waratahs, Western force for example) and maybe 2 pre-tour games against France/Italy/Argentina.

The concept is pretty awesome but it consigns the traditional rugby 'tour' to the history books, and for that reason I'd hate to see it happen. The Lions tours have held a special and entirely unique place in world sport for 120 years, that's what makes them so important.

Surely the format doesn't need changing? Don't let the botched SARU ticketing scheme taint your opinion of how this tour went - I watched every match and enojyed it immensely, as did hundreds of thousands of rugby fans, even though we fell short of a series win...

CoDy1

It would be the ultimate, but i do believe there is nothing wrong with the current format.

A tour like that would almost make the world cup redundant!

Orizio

It would be a massacre really, and not in our favour. The SH simply has superior players to us.

Chucky the tree

We can't even beat one bloody SH team we'd have no chance beating the three combined.

Iang87

Chucky the tree wrote: »

We can't even beat one bloody SH team we'd have no chance beating the three combined.

ah thats harsh lets see how quick they could come together

Stealdo

I think if you take the tradition out of the Lions, which this would do, you reduce it to a Barbarians style nice fest. Which is fine if that's what you're into, but the ultra competitive nature of it would be gone. The most comparable thing that springs to mind is the pro-bowl in the NFL where guys don't even tackle eachother properly because of some agreement no to have injuries.

jdivision

They hit each other alright they just don't cut each other which is when you hit a guy without the ball below the waist, typically through his knees, players get messed up a lot from it.

Stealdo

jdivision wrote: »

They hit each other alright they just don't cut each other which is when you hit a guy without the ball below the waist, typically through his knees, players get messed up a lot from it.

Either way - point is it's a watered down version of the game which I think you get when you bring composite teams together, The Lions is different only because of the history. Change it too much and see what you end up with.

thomond2006

I don't think the Lions players would want to board a plane again after the OP's suggested tour. :D:D

handsomecake

the lions would have their arses handed to them in that format

Amabokke

Your concept is a bit like the Lions squad, full of good ideas(players) but the execution would be poor.

Why stop with the 4N? Why not include Italy, France and Argentinia?

themont85

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_and_Irish_Lions#Lions_Home_Matches

No reason they couldn't. They played the Barbarians before and others in one of games. It would be great.

Who would be on the SANZAR team?

d'Oracle

I recall hearing that a SANZAR tour was suggested.
Not sure though.
I believe that there was no intrest from SANZAR.

Nothing to gain.
I would like to see the s15 winner play the ERC winner.
That would be worth a look.

Stev_o

thomond2006 wrote: »

15. Francois Steyn
14. Joe Rokocoko
13. Stirling Mortlock
12. Ma'a Nonu
11. Bryan Habana
10. Matt Giteau
9. Fourie Du Preez

1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Stephen Moore
3. John Smit (c)
4. Victor Matfield
5. Bakkies Botha
6. Rocky Elsom / Heinrich Brussow (big call there :eek:)
7. Richie McCaw
8. Pierre Spies

Your having a laugh with Steyn at FB, it goes to Mils Muliaina every day of the week. McCaw id replace with Brussow or George Smith. Replace Botha with Howell and Smoking Joe with Sivivatu.

thomond2006

Stev_o wrote: »

Your having a laugh with Steyn at FB, it goes to Mils Muliaina every day of the week. McCaw id replace with Brussow or George Smith. Replace Botha with Howell and Smoking Joe with Sivivatu.

You're right. :(:(:(:(:(:(

thomond2006

15. Mils Muliana
14. Sitiveni Sivivatu
13. Stirling Mortlock
12. Ma'a Nonu
11. Bryan Habana
10. Matt Giteau
9. Fourie Du Preez

1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Stephen Moore
3. John Smit (c)
4. Victor Matfield
5. Bakkies Botha
6. Rocky Elsom / Heinrich Brussow (big call there )
7. George Smith
8. Pierre Spies

Who is Howell stevo?

anonymous_joe

Personally I'd have Carter at 10 and Giteau at 12. Assuming both were fit obviously.

funky penguin

TBH if you were gonna do this France and Italy would want a look in.

JoeyDoh

thomond2006 wrote: »

15. Mils Muliana
14. Sitiveni Sivivatu
13. Stirling Mortlock
12. Ma'a Nonu
11. Bryan Habana
10. Matt Giteau
9. Fourie Du Preez

1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Stephen Moore
3. John Smit (c)
4. Victor Matfield
5. Bakkies Botha
6. Rocky Elsom / Heinrich Brussow (big call there )
7. George Smith
8. Pierre Spies

Who is Howell stevo?

You do realise Brussow is an openside right?

Also,McCaw on form kicks george smiths' ass anyday of the week

I'd have Elsom in at 6 and replace Habana(horribly overrated player) with Joe Rococoko

Also,Carter at 10 with Giteau at 12.

Assuming all players were fit ofc.