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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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Blackheath

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

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.

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: »

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Burkie1203

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

Burkie1203

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

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.

AbusesToilets

Any word on whether Cowan Dickie is still touring?

Burkie1203

AbusesToilets wrote: »

Any word on whether Cowan Dickie is still touring?

Yeah he arrived this afternoon with Hogg, Hill and Simmonds

Captain_Crash

Flight is on the move now!

Buer

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

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.

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

[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

Podge_irl

Buer wrote: »

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

Sure thing!

Squidgy Black

Former Former Former wrote: »

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

I heard it was Rala scrambling to throw as many bottles in a few of the kit bags as possible, and some blue wkd for the backs.

stephen_n

Podge_irl wrote: »

Sure thing!

Yeah but what’s the inflight meal?

Podge_irl

stephen_n wrote: »

Yeah but what’s the inflight meal?

Not sure. Though if you're curious this is the seat configuration they will be eating it in

Wonder who gets the first class seats...

[Deleted User]

This is peak Lions content

jacothelad

Bazzo wrote: »

Were you on that tour yourself Jaco?

No. I was too old to be selected.....:D:D

Squidgy Black

Sky are launching a dedicated channel for the Lions

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/12343738/sky-sports-to-launch-dedicated-british-irish-lions-channel

sprucemoose

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Sky are launching a dedicated channel for the Lions

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/12343738/sky-sports-to-launch-dedicated-british-irish-lions-channel

interesting to see o gara is involved, seem to remember hearing him say a few times recently that he disliked sky's coverage and thought it wasnt great compared to other options. would also imagine the 2nd test in 09 will be mentioned repeatedly

but a dedicated channel seems like overkill tbh

Cookiemunster

sprucemoose wrote: »

interesting to see o gara is involved, seem to remember hearing him say a few times recently that he disliked sky's coverage and thought it wasnt great compared to other options. would also imagine the 2nd test in 09 will be mentioned repeatedly

but a dedicated channel seems like overkill tbh

They're not actually launching anything. They'll just be renaming one of their 8 sports channels for the period of the tour (and I see from the press release it's Sky Sport Action). They do it all the time. Sky Sports Ryder Cup will happen in September and I wouldn't be surprised if one of the channels got renamed Sky Sports The Open for the week that's on.

OneLungDavy

Interesting to see Nigel Owens on the panel too, does he usually do analyses/punditry?