The Lions

WumBuster · 05-07-2013 05:08PM #1

Does anyone really care about this team? I dont think it merits the hype it gets. For those not familiar with Rugby, its a team made up of the best rugby playing Irishmen, Englishmen, Welshmen and Scotsmen that gets together and tours down under every 4 years. I find it all a bit cringey really. Dont see the purpose of it.

4zn76tysfajdxp · 05-07-2013 05:10PM

Nobody cares about anything.

Phill Ewinn · 05-07-2013 05:11PM

'tis a busmans holiday.

HigginsJ · 05-07-2013 05:13PM

WumBuster wrote: »

Does anyone really care about this team? I dont think it merits the hype it gets. For those not familiar with Rugby, its a team made up of the best rugby playing Irishmen, Englishmen, Welshmen and Scotsmen that gets together and tours down under every 4 years. I find it all a bit cringey really. Dont see the purpose of it.

Then ignore it and move on.

Some people do care about it and enjoy it.

Pudsy33 · 05-07-2013 05:14PM

WumBuster wrote: »

Does anyone really care about this team? I dont think it merits the hype it gets. For those not familiar with Rugby, its a team made up of the best rugby playing Irishmen, Englishmen, Welshmen and Scotsmen that gets together and tours down under every 4 years. I find it all a bit cringey really. Dont see the purpose of it.

FYP

Mr.Prodston · 05-07-2013 05:14PM

Dey tewk arr bod :eek:

Nodin · 05-07-2013 05:19PM

WumBuster wrote: »

Does anyone really care about this team?.

Obviously, yes. Not one of them meself, but there ye go. It's better than field hockey, I suppose.

OhHiMark · 05-07-2013 05:21PM

Does anyone really care about *thing that I don't like*. I mean, I don't like it so I just don't get the fuss.

Ilik Urgee · 05-07-2013 05:21PM

Dis is de noicest soopersplit oi've ever had

DEFTLEFTHAND · 05-07-2013 05:22PM

Is this just because they dropped Drico or did you always consider the Lions Tour pointless and outdated?

I agree that it gets hyped too much up here alright, the south hem probably wouldn't be too bothered if it stopped happening. It's not going anywhere though imo, it goes back over 100 years and the jersey still holds a lot of pride for any Briton or Irishman selected to go.

Banjo String · 05-07-2013 05:30PM

Hitler cares.

Mint Sauce · 05-07-2013 05:42PM

WumBuster wrote: »

Does anyone really care about this team? I dont think it merits the hype it gets. For those not familiar with Rugby, its a team made up of the best rugby playing Irishmen, Englishmen, Welshmen and Scotsmen that gets together and tours down under every 4 years. I find it all a bit cringey really. Dont see the purpose of it.

Are South Africa and New Zealand classed/consider as down under, because they also tour there. They wont be back in Australia until 2025 (assuming format continues as it is).

But clearly people are interested, considering the number who go to the games, watch/follow it, and the amount of debate re BOD being dropped from the last test tomorrow.

Peregrine · 05-07-2013 05:43PM

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Are South Africa and New Zealand classed/consider as down under, because they also tour there. They wont be back in Australia until 2025 (assuming format continues as it is).

I think NZ is considered down under

But I've never heard SA being referred to as 'down under'

To answer your question OP, yes people follow it. People like things you don't..must be a shocker. Yes it's lost some of it's merit in the past few tourrs..especially this tour.

Lelantos · 05-07-2013 05:45PM

melekalikimaka wrote: »

at the level as BoD - not even close, POC is good but not a legend

POC is a god!

Lelantos · 05-07-2013 05:46PM

Is OP head of the Warren Gatland appreciation society?

Grandpa Hassan · 05-07-2013 05:47PM

So what do you care about OP? Music? Art? I'd guess it's something that I couldn't give a cr^p about!!

Mint Sauce · 05-07-2013 05:49PM

Nimrod 7 wrote: »

I think NZ is considered down under

But I've never heard SA being referred to as 'down under'

To answer your question OP, yes people follow it. People like things you don't..must be a shocker

That was my point to the OP referring to it as 'Down Under'. I wondered was he aware that they also toured other countries in the Southern Hemisphere, including at one point Argentina. as I too never heard of SA (or Argentina) being referred to as 'Down Under'.

Binge101 · 05-07-2013 05:52PM

People are very happy to keep their head in the sand regarding drugs in sports such as rugby and soccer.

Soccer is currently getting exposed,with the the investigation happening at Barcelona.

Why wouldn't ruby players dope?The testing is nothing compared to cycling.

In saying that BOD doesn't strike me as a doper,but there is always a doubt.

Ruudi_Mentari · 05-07-2013 06:09PM

Dya feel that; feeling in your stomach

Those are nerves....

Use them, to remove yourselves from the ballpark because real lions don't get nervous you deluded fools

Frosty McSnowballs · 05-07-2013 06:13PM

I.DONT.GIVE.A.FCUK.ABOUT.RUGBY

Dancor · 05-07-2013 06:20PM

I don't get why they are called the lions. They should be renamed to something native to the Celtic/British isles region like "the jack russles" or something.

melekalikimaka · 05-07-2013 06:21PM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

You can't compare a lock to a centre, both excel in their respective positions.

BoD is internationally recognised as a player of a generation...POC as a Munster hero

SeaFields · 05-07-2013 06:22PM

Mr.Prodston wrote: »

Dey tewk arr bod :eek:

No they didn't! Therein the problem apparently.

WindSock · 05-07-2013 06:28PM

Javion Brave Neck wrote: »

Nobody cares about anything.

Wrong! Everyone cares about nothin'.

RobertKK · 05-07-2013 06:45PM

I would love to be on the Lions team, it is an expenses paid foreign holiday that last for weeks.

humanji · 05-07-2013 06:57PM

I've had to delete several posts and replies to those posts. It really shouldn't have to be said that you don't go making libellous accusations about people.

Potential-Monke · 05-07-2013 07:10PM

I don't fall out with it. It's not my interest really, rugby. People give out to me because i didn't jump on the bandwagon when Munster started winning everything back a good few years ago. Even being from Limerick i never even knew of games of rugby being played until the plastic supporters jumped on board and everyone was suddenly a rugby historian!

However, i am quite PO'd with the amount of **** on bookface about that O'Driscoll lad. God it annoys me so much...

Duckworth_Luas · 05-07-2013 07:34PM

The Lions goes back to the 19th century. Back then it wasn't really possible for Ireland, Scotland & Wales at least to find the players who could all take 6 months of work to travel to SA or NZ. Instead they picked a "British Isles" team which had the added bonus of being able to compete, on paper at least.

The name British and Irish Lions is fairly recent. Up to 1993 the were called British Lions or British Isles. This wasn't popular with players from the Republic of Ireland so they more PC moniker is now used. On occasion God Save the Queen has been played by the host nation as the Lions anthem, which has been embarrassing for some Irish players.

The team symbol, the Lion, was bestowed on them by a South African journalist when they toured there many years ago. It has nothing to do with any royal or English symbols. BTW those "three lions on my chest" are not lions, they're actually leopards.

Historically the Lions was never a particularly big deal for the casual fans at home in Ireland and Britain. This all changed with satellite TV after the hugely successful tour to SA in 1997. Sky have the rights so, like with all sports they broadcast, they hype the $hit out of it. It seems to work. This is what non-soccer fans have to put up with for 10 months of the year.

O'Driscoll was dropped. The manager has a job to do and he has put his reputation on the line with the team he's picked. If they lose he'll be vilified in Ireland and England. If they win well he's one of the few Lions coaches to have a winning tour.

WumBuster · 05-07-2013 09:27PM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Is this just because they dropped Drico or did you always consider the Lions Tour pointless and outdated?

I agree that it gets hyped too much up here alright, the south hem probably wouldn't be too bothered if it stopped happening. It's not going anywhere though imo, it goes back over 100 years and the jersey still holds a lot of pride for any Briton or Irishman selected to go.

Well Im not happy at the fashion one of Ireland's greatest sporting heroes has been humiliated, at their expense. Thats for sure. Also, the premise of the Lions bugs me. Why not include french and italian players and just make it a ''best of six nations'' lions. I think its become outdated in that sense. But i dont see the need for it anyway. I find it irritating when i hear players saying ''its the crowning moment of their career'' lining out for the lions. No, their crowning moment of their career should be playing for their country. Can you imagine a joint British/Irish representative team in any other sport? perhaps its that uniqueness that appeals, but it wouldnt appeal to me at all.

mackg · 05-07-2013 09:37PM

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/gatland-s-dricectomy-matters-the-lions-winning-doesn-t-1.1453007

Good article in the irish times about this today. Short version: all people care about is that their players get picked of everybody else and no one really cares if they win or not. I agree to an extent, I'm more pissed off about BOD being dropped than I would be if they lost the series. Saying that I do still want to see them win.

WumBuster · 05-07-2013 09:47PM

mackg wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/gatland-s-dricectomy-matters-the-lions-winning-doesn-t-1.1453007

Good article in the irish times about this today. Short version: all people care about is that their players get picked of everybody else and no one really cares if they win or not. I agree to an extent, I'm more pissed off about BOD being dropped than I would be if they lost the series. Saying that I do still want to see them win.

That article sums it up perfectly. I'd watch it for the sake of watching something or out of curiosity but whether they win or lose is futile to me. If anything I'll be going for Australia.

The Lions

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