The Lions rugby team

thelad95 · 24-06-2017 05:25PM #1

Am I the only one who can genuinely say that they literally just cannot muster up any enthusiasm for this concept of a team?

A group of players thrown together from four different countries with only a few weeks to bond getting sent to the other side of the planet too play against and supposedly be competitive against the best side in the world.

Anyone who looks at my posts can see I am a rugby fan and actually go to a few Leinster games every season so I'm far from an 'armchair' supporter either, I honestly and regrettably just don't have any affinity or feeling towards the idea of throwing 'the best' players from four different nations together.

The lions is something that started deep in the amateur era of rugby when it was essentially a glorified piss up with a few friendlies thrown in. Nowadays, we're supposed to care about these test matches. To me, it's simply an outdated concept and a part of rugby (along with numerous meaningless internationals which take precedence over actual competitive games being played at the same time) that is deeply rooted in the amateur era and only really being kept alive as a PR plug for all involved stakeholders.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 24-06-2017 05:27PM

You could say that about any national side for team sports such as Football or Rugby.

KERSPLAT! · 24-06-2017 05:28PM

It means a lot to the players going by what they say. Plenty of supports too. If you have no interest then don't watch it.

WesternZulu · 24-06-2017 05:43PM

I agree completely! I just don't get what the hype is at all about it. Firstly, it's a hiding to nothing because as the OP mentioned they're only together for a few weeks before meeting a top international side.

That's before getting into the concept of The Lions! The team itself has no identity, I mean how can you feel passionate about a team made up of multiple nations?
The fact that the team was called The British Lions up until 2001, and had God Save The Queen as their anthem up until the 90s, makes it even harder to identify with as an Irish supporter.

seachto7 · 24-06-2017 05:53PM

Don't watch it?

Richard Hillman · 24-06-2017 05:58PM

It's a bit of fun. Serious for the players but as fans it is brilliant seeing the novelty of all of these top players having to band together and become a coherent team.

Its a shame that combined teams don't really get taken seriously in other sports. Who wouldn't love to see a European XI in football tour South America or the other way around BUT would be played with full intensity.

24-06-2017 06:03PM

It's a massive money spinner for the host nation. So they have hyped up the media focus, understandably, and pretty much created an interest in it in the past decade or 2.

stimpson · 24-06-2017 06:06PM

I think they should use actual Lions. See how well the kiwis fare then.

24-06-2017 06:07PM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

It's a bit of fun. Serious for the players but as fans it is brilliant seeing the novelty of all of these top players having to band together and become a coherent team.

Its a shame that combined teams don't really get taken seriously in other sports. Who wouldn't love to see a European XI in football tour South America or the other way around BUT would be played with full intensity.

I remember they tried it with cricket about 10 years ago, it was a cool idea, all the top players from the world in one team against the Aussies but no one took it seriously and it was a flop, which was a pity.

pickarooney · 24-06-2017 06:21PM

riffmongous wrote: »

I remember they tried it with cricket about 10 years ago, it was a cool idea, all the top players from the world in one team against the Aussies but no one took it seriously and it was a flop, which was a pity.

The West Indies is basically a permanent Caribbean Lions team.

Poor Uncle Tom · 24-06-2017 06:36PM

I think it's far more meaningful and identifiable now than it was in the ninetys or noughties. It's fantastic to see how these players get on as a team after only recently meeting as opponents. I'm also delighted for Peter O'Mahony and also proud that he was chosen for the job.

Will they change history with their tour? of course not, but they should provide a lot of entertainment, and allow a lot of players to grow professionally. The Lyons tour is just another dynamic to the game of rugby and only to be welcomed.

Anyone who doesn't 'get it' or who don't like, just don't watch it.

24-06-2017 06:39PM

pickarooney wrote: »

The West Indies is basically a permanent Caribbean Lions team.

Hmm.. yes, no, well in a political sense maybe, but the islands never play independently except 'domestically', like Ireland is already a political mix of two countries, and then you have England which also includes Wales

Are Am Eye · 24-06-2017 06:42PM

The Lions is a very pro soft brexit concept.

Taking on their rugby-cultural-antithesis out there in the other half sphere of the planet. And losing convincingly.
As the great David Attenborough once said - 90% of Lion hunts end in failure.

The_Kew_Tour · 24-06-2017 06:46PM

Is it not a bit embarrassing that a total population of 3.5million can get a double score over a combined population of 70+million.

That's the worst bit:)

OldMrBrennan83 · 24-06-2017 06:49PM

This post has been deleted.

Arghus · 24-06-2017 06:54PM

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Is it not a bit embarrassing that a total population of 3.5million can get a double score over a combined population of 70+million.

That's the worst bit:)

Yeah, but that 3.5 million live and breathe rugby.

RobertKK · 24-06-2017 06:56PM

I don't watch as I have no interest, it is a nice holiday for them with a bit of rugby.

The_Kew_Tour · 24-06-2017 06:56PM

Arghus wrote: »

Yeah, but that 3.5 million live and breathe rugby.

Sure this is "rugby country":P

JPCN1 · 24-06-2017 07:00PM

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Rules a little too complex for you?

bmwguy · 24-06-2017 07:02PM

I am a big rugby fan I played all my life and I am watching the lions tour. Enjoying it too but I just honestly don't really care if they win or lose. It's not Ireland but I hope the Irish lads go well.

I was in Chicago in November and it was the best match I was ever at. Now, I seriously cared there who won. Didn't enjoy that match at all though it was so stressful! Just wanted it to be over.

The lions don't get me going like that at all.

OldMrBrennan83 · 24-06-2017 07:02PM

This post has been deleted.

Billy86 · 24-06-2017 07:07PM

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Sure this is "rugby country":P

If you mean Ireland it's the third or biggest sport here. In NZ it's bigger than all the other sports combined, hence why they're almost routinely the best team in the world and back to back WC champions. I guess every country in the world should be embarrassed, so.

As for the Lions, it's a fun sideshow and no more for me. Overhyped but then something of that nature (like 'all star' games in American sports) will typically be.

Yourself isit · 24-06-2017 07:09PM

I love the lions. Hope some day to go on the tour with some English friends. The fact that we can drop ethnic loyalties is good. It's not like people supporting Leinster care about every body on the team being from Leinster or ireland. It's a club. So is the lions.

This is the best of the islands of britain and ireland against the best of the southern hemisphere.

The modern rugby fan who ignores this tradition is a bit of a johnny come lately.

fullstop · 24-06-2017 07:11PM

thelad95 wrote: »

Am I the only one who can genuinely say that they literally just cannot muster up any enthusiasm for this concept of a team?

A group of players thrown together from four different countries with only a few weeks to bond getting sent to the other side of the planet too play against and supposedly be competitive against the best side in the world.

Anyone who looks at my posts can see I am a rugby fan and actually go to a few Leinster games every season so I'm far from an 'armchair' supporter either, I honestly and regrettably just don't have any affinity or feeling towards the idea of throwing 'the best' players from four different nations together.

The lions is something that started deep in the amateur era of rugby when it was essentially a glorified piss up with a few friendlies thrown in. Nowadays, we're supposed to care about these test matches. To me, it's simply an outdated concept and a part of rugby (along with numerous meaningless internationals which take precedence over actual competitive games being played at the same time) that is deeply rooted in the amateur era and only really being kept alive as a PR plug for all involved stakeholders.

Yeah it's a load of bollix to be fair, they have no chance of winning a series against the AB's. And people who make reference to the fans and how much it means to them...the vast majority are there for a piss up. Someone I know has been at less than a handful of rugby matches before and has paid nearly a grand for a ticket to the third test...which will probably be a dead rubber.

Junkyard Tom · 24-06-2017 07:12PM

I'd have a lot less interest in it than Munster's Pro12 and ERC Cup games (and the other provinces) or Ireland games. I was a bit disappointed when Johnny Sexton was picked because I think he's too valuable an asset to the Irish team to be risking injury for a bit of nothing competition.

The_Kew_Tour · 24-06-2017 07:26PM

Billy86 wrote: »

If you mean Ireland it's the third or biggest sport here. In NZ it's bigger than all the other sports combined, hence why they're almost routinely the best team in the world and back to back WC champions. I guess every country in the world should be embarrassed, so.

.

Well the Countries who play rugby at competive level should.

And NZ are very good at many sports. You only have look how well they do in Olympics. Too many excuses.

Junkyard Tom · 24-06-2017 07:34PM

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Is it not a bit embarrassing that ....

That whole population thing is rather silly. China should win all competitions in all disciplines of sports if it the numbers game had any sort of 'logic'.

The_Kew_Tour · 24-06-2017 07:37PM

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

That whole population thing is rather silly. China should win all competitions in all disciplines of sports if it the numbers game had any sort of 'logic'.

Well they do well in many sports.

It depends on other factors of course. I was not being so black and white.

pauliebdub · 24-06-2017 07:38PM

It's meant to be the biggest honour for a British and Irish player to be picked for the Lions, bigger than the world cup or six nation's. I follow rugby but can't muster up any enthusiasm for the games either, the fact that they are only televised at 8 am on sky sports doesn't really help.

tastyt · 24-06-2017 07:38PM

what i think is funny is the sky sports add

it shows a maouri with face paint on and goes " being an all black is in their blood"

then it shows an actual lion and says " being a lion is in ours "

Am no, its definitely not. Their is not 1 lion in any of our countries that isn't locked up in some zoo after being flown in from Africa where it is actually part of their culture.

seachto7 · 24-06-2017 08:17PM

riffmongous wrote: »

Hmm.. yes, no, well in a political sense maybe, but the islands never play independently except 'domestically', like Ireland is already a political mix of two countries, and then you have England which also includes Wales

Eh? England includes Wales?

The Lions rugby team

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