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Lions Tour

ec18

Hi,

Just wondering has anyone ever gone on a lions tour with a package company?
or can recommend one?

Ec

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[Deleted User]

Buer wrote: »

If anyone could fill me in on the cruising altitude and the flight menu, it would be hugely appreciated.

https://fr24.com/BAW9111/283537c5

Former Former Former

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Looks like as part of their Level 4 lockdown South Africa are going to prohibit all sales of alcohol during the lockdown too.

I'd imagine it'll be a long tour for the lads, stuck in a hotel with no drinking.

Flight was delayed so the lads could run back to the duty free

Squidgy Black

Looks like as part of their Level 4 lockdown South Africa are going to prohibit all sales of alcohol during the lockdown too.

I'd imagine it'll be a long tour for the lads, stuck in a hotel with no drinking.

Buer

If anyone could fill me in on the cruising altitude and the flight menu, it would be hugely appreciated.

Captain_Crash

Flight is on the move now!

Burkie1203

AbusesToilets wrote: »

Any word on whether Cowan Dickie is still touring?

Yeah he arrived this afternoon with Hogg, Hill and Simmonds

AbusesToilets

Any word on whether Cowan Dickie is still touring?

Captain_Crash

Burkie1203 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/balders2/status/1409225446814801925?s=19

Just had a look on FlightRadar and yeah it’s still on the ground! There are a gazillion more likely reasons a charter flight might suffer a delay on departure tho so if it’s still on the ground come morning then we can speculate.

Burkie1203

https://twitter.com/balders2/status/1409225446814801925?s=19

Burkie1203

https://twitter.com/craigray11/status/1409216207279079424?s=19

Cookiemunster

RugbyLover123 wrote: »

It’s very unfortunate that it was the Boks turn to host the Lions this year and not Oz or NZ as a full tour could’ve happened with fans.

Goes against the Lions completely but realistically this tour should’ve been played in the UK once some sort of fans were allowed in and the lack of control on the virus in South Africa.

There may jave been fans in NZ or Oz, but none of the usual 30000 fans would have been travelling from Ireland or the UK.

Cookiemunster

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

I’m getting ominous feelings about this tour folks

Not sure if it’ll continue if the saffers are being ravaged with the virus

Or even if it is ethical to continue given the state of SA

Was it ethical for all the professional sports leagues and European competitions to continue last season when the whole of Europe was locked down and tens of thousands were dying across the continent?

These games will go ahead behind closed doors in secure bubbles just as all the above did over the winter.

RugbyLover123

It’s very unfortunate that it was the Boks turn to host the Lions this year and not Oz or NZ as a full tour could’ve happened with fans.

Goes against the Lions completely but realistically this tour should’ve been played in the UK once some sort of fans were allowed in and the lack of control on the virus in South Africa.

TRC10

stephen_n wrote: »

Forgot about the Georgia games, don’t know how they slipped my mind.

Familiarity and cohesion only stretches so far. Note players reintegrating with the provinces after spending eight weeks in Irish camp. Obviously they will be more familiar with each other than the lions. How much of an advantage that will be without meaningful tests on 21 months. I’d say it would fairly even itself out. A bit like Saracens players coming into the English squad.

I don't think the Sarecens players were any worse than the rest of the England squad. People were always going to point to the fact that they lacked sharpness if England played badly. If England won, they would have pointed at how fresh the Saracens players were. That whole England team were rubbish and I I didn't notice the Saracens guys playing any worse. In fact Itoje and George actually were 2 of England's better players. It's a theme with Eddie Jones where they have one brutal championship in a world cup cycle. They came 5th in 2018 and peaked at the WC, and I've no doubt they'll do so again.

Georgia aren't mugs and the Boks will gain a lot from those 2 games. They'll be fairly up to speed by the 1st test.

If the Lions don't have games against the provincial teams we'll be badly lacking in match sharpness and familiarity and it will also make for a pretty miserable mood in the camp if they're stuck in a hotel for a month with no games.

Sheep Shagger

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

I’m getting ominous feelings about this tour folks

Not sure if it’ll continue if the saffers are being ravaged with the virus

Or even if it is ethical to continue given the state of SA

Ethics has nothing to do with it, commercially the lions have to be seen to doing everything they can to complete the tours, the three tests at least. That way they don't have to hand back any money they've received as part of commercial deals.

Beechwoodspark

I’m getting ominous feelings about this tour folks

Not sure if it’ll continue if the saffers are being ravaged with the virus

Or even if it is ethical to continue given the state of SA

stephen_n

TRC10 wrote: »

Even if they didn't have 2 games vs Georgia (which they do)

They'd still have more familiarity and cohesion after 2 years than the Lions, who haven't player together EVER

Forgot about the Georgia games, don’t know how they slipped my mind.

Familiarity and cohesion only stretches so far. Note players reintegrating with the provinces after spending eight weeks in Irish camp. Obviously they will be more familiar with each other than the lions. How much of an advantage that will be without meaningful tests on 21 months. I’d say it would fairly even itself out. A bit like Saracens players coming into the English squad.

TRC10

stephen_n wrote: »

The world champions haven’t played together in nearly 2 years at this stage.

Even if they didn't have 2 games vs Georgia (which they do)

They'd still have more familiarity and cohesion after 2 years than the Lions, who haven't player together EVER

stephen_n

TRC10 wrote: »

I can't see that happening.

Not only would it mean half the squad won't even play.

But you may as well hand SA the series now if they expect 15 lads who've never played together to rock up and beat the world champions.

Also, locking 37 men away for a month in a foreign country and not letting them play isn't really a viable option.

Anyway, the provincial games are an integral part of Lions tours.

The world champions haven’t played together in nearly 2 years at this stage.

Blackheath

I see Rassie has named the 3 players at his press conference who have tested positive, koch, Jantjies and Nkosi.

Burkie1203

The idea of the tour being played out almost entirely in Cape Town is increasingly likely and the SA president is to address the nation in a few hours

TRC10

Richie_Rich89 wrote: »

How much did Henson as first-choice 12 and Gatland as coach overlap. Not by much, I'd have thought.

2008-2009

His first 2 seasons in charge

Richie_Rich89

TRC10 wrote: »

No, Gavin Henson in his early years with Wales.

Gatland is a pragmatist. He'll do what he needs to do to win.

Roberts, Williams and Parkes happened to be the best 12s he had for that period so he used them and played to their strengths.

But in his early years, Henson (who is in the complete oposite mould of 12) was the best he had so he used him and played to his strengths.

Te'o went well v the Crusaders and the MABs but as soon as he knew it wouldn't work, he changed it and brought Sexton in and shifted Farrell to 12.

Gatland is very much a pragmatist.

How much did Henson as first-choice 12 and Gatland as coach overlap. Not by much, I'd have thought.

TRC10

bilston wrote: »

Agree. Bundee is the sort of 12 that Gatland likes. Even as Ireland coach it was Maggs or Henderson at 12, with Wales it was Jamie Roberts and Scott Williams. The one exception being the last Lions tour in the 2nd and 3rd tests with Sexton and Farrell at 10 and 12, even then he went with Ben Te'o in the 1st Test.

No, Gavin Henson in his early years with Wales.

Gatland is a pragmatist. He'll do what he needs to do to win.

Roberts, Williams and Parkes happened to be the best 12s he had for that period so he used them and played to their strengths.

But in his early years, Henson (who is in the complete oposite mould of 12) was the best he had so he used him and played to his strengths.

Te'o went well v the Crusaders and the MABs but as soon as he knew it wouldn't work, he changed it and brought Sexton in and shifted Farrell to 12.

Gatland is very much a pragmatist.

bilston

ClanofLams wrote: »

Missed the game yesterday, watched today, Aki was one of the best players on the field, himself and Henshaw look very comfortable together. Think he’s in the mix for a test place, if Farrell was nailed on at 12, he would have likely got captain I’m guessing.

Agree. Bundee is the sort of 12 that Gatland likes. Even as Ireland coach it was Maggs or Henderson at 12, with Wales it was Jamie Roberts and Scott Williams. The one exception being the last Lions tour in the 2nd and 3rd tests with Sexton and Farrell at 10 and 12, even then he went with Ben Te'o in the 1st Test.

Burkie1203

https://twitter.com/neilfissler/status/1409173105528999938?s=19

TRC10

youcancallmeal wrote: »

There was talk on RTE radio that they might do away with the warm up matches altogether and just play the 3 test matches. I guess it's not completely out of the question, will have to wait and see

I can't see that happening.

Not only would it mean half the squad won't even play.

But you may as well hand SA the series now if they expect 15 lads who've never played together to rock up and beat the world champions.

Also, locking 37 men away for a month in a foreign country and not letting them play isn't really a viable option.

Anyway, the provincial games are an integral part of Lions tours.

youcancallmeal

There was talk on RTE radio that they might do away with the warm up matches altogether and just play the 3 test matches. I guess it's not completely out of the question, will have to wait and see

aloooof

Shaka Hislop wrote: »

I think he's going to start the first test, Gatland and Tandy seem to love his defensive brilliance.... Farrell is probably looking at the bench in that one

The one issue with his defence is his tackle technique. But that’s not exactly making a case for Farrell either.

Shaka Hislop

Clegg wrote: »

Every time I watch Aki play I'm constantly startled at how big he actually is. He's built broader than most backrows.

I think he's going to start the first test, Gatland and Tandy seem to love his defensive brilliance.... Farrell is probably looking at the bench in that one