**Official** 2005 Lions tour of New Zealand

[cbuts]

The hope was that they could at least win one match and be really competitive in the other matches, so far it has not been achieved against the All Blacks.

mate, they never have been competitive. apart from 1971, when the world of rugby must of felt like they were in a twilight zone, they have never been competitive. we have no won 38 games against the lions. they have won 6

 

[cbuts]

The nature of the British sports fan is that the following won't diminish!

Just look how many followed the Cricket team in the late 90s and early 00s!

the reason the come is cos it is a tour. its a once n a 4 year event, whether its the lions or england, wales, irelnad. no one tours anymore, thats why there was so much hype of this

 

[cbuts]

But the numbers won't be as high as the current 10,000 -20,000 range , when the next Lions Team tours Southern Hemisphere !!

If they expect the result to be a white wash like this they may as well go to Majorca or Algarve than spend a fortune on air travel and other expenses to get drubbed !!

gotta remeber mate, rugby is a rich mans game over there, so they can easily afford it. going to south africa next, where they actually owon last time

 

[cbuts]

I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same numbers.

It's also an opportunity to see the country, something I think a lot of people want to do.

the chance to tour

 

[cbuts]

the lions were definitely let down by their english players...

dont know if they were let down, cos look at the english team now. if you ask me they played possibly better tahn they have been!!!

 

[cbuts]

he never said 'judge me on the world cup',thats a hugely mis read quote.

he said 'whether we like it our not,coaches are always judged on how well they do in world cups'.

clive was always going to be too ambitious for a lions tour,what he did with england took 5 hard years,he had 6 months with the lions and it shows.

he did say new zealand is not the best in the world cos 'we have the world cup' and 'wait till you come to europe fo the grand slam and olay week in week out' well as i recall we went to europe last year, played arguably the two best teams, france and wales and won both.

personally id rather be the best year in year out and not win the world cup - which is what we do. thna to win a world cup and be shithouse the years before it and even worse the years following it

its no great loss to the country that he is gone. he is an idiot

 

[cbuts]

He should go back to League.

he should. he is **** at rugby. its alot harder for a league player to come to unioin. im mean hell, players that have played all thier life dont even understand the breakdown. let alone trying to learn it over the summer. rugby is to complex a game for most leagies

 

[cbuts]

SA have forwards to burn, so they could just replace them at the break if the forwards get tired, the replacements would be just as good as the starters.

i dont think they do have the depth that the once had. they struggled up fron in the super 12 this year. they seem to be lacing in skill levels

 

[Tim]

South Africa have improved immensely under Jake White, but with NZ & Australia stepping up a gear in recent times im not sure if they can go any higher.

They will be tough to beat at home thats for sure.

 

[Blaze]

mate, they never have been competitive. apart from 1971, when the world of rugby must of felt like they were in a twilight zone, they have never been competitive. we have no won 38 games against the lions. they have won 6

Actually you are wrong.. They have been competitive in the past. Look back no further than their last tour in 1993. They lost the series 2-1 but should have won the first test. They lost in the last minute to a grant fox penalty goal courtesy of a dodgy referee decision

 

[Smudge]

It's inaccurate to say they've never been competitive.

In 1977, they lost 3-1although the ABs were reduced to three-man scrums in the test at Auckland. Had it over us in the forwards, but we somehow snuck through.

In 1959, the Lions had great players like Tony O'Reilly and Dicky Jeeps. In the first test at Carisbrook, the Lions scored five tries to none - and lost. Don Clarke banged over six penalties (tries were worth 3 points in those days), and a lack of conversions cost the Lions the victory. ALthough that series was also won 3-1, only the third test (22-8) could be considered a blowout in favour of the All Blacks.

The 1983 side was competitive in all but the last test. They suffered from having the third-choice hooker, Ciaran Fitzgerald, forced upon them as captain.

The 1950 series was 3-0, but it was all square after the first test was drawn.

This series, however, has been rather lopsided.

 

[KennyD]

he should. he is **** at rugby.

He is not sh*t! You're sh*t!

...Yeah!

 

[BoyBrumby]

It's inaccurate to say they've never been competitive.

In 1977, they lost 3-1although the ABs were reduced to three-man scrums in the test at Auckland. Had it over us in the forwards, but we somehow snuck through.

In 1959, the Lions had great players like Tony O'Reilly and Dicky Jeeps. In the first test at Carisbrook, the Lions scored five tries to none - and lost. Don Clarke banged over six penalties (tries were worth 3 points in those days), and a lack of conversions cost the Lions the victory. ALthough that series was also won 3-1, only the third test (22-8) could be considered a blowout in favour of the All Blacks.

The 1983 side was competitive in all but the last test. They suffered from having the third-choice hooker, Ciaran Fitzgerald, forced upon them as captain.

The 1950 series was 3-0, but it was all square after the first test was drawn.

This series, however, has been rather lopsided.

Substitute "rather" for "totally" & I think you're spot on.

I have to say that even as a Lions supporter some of SCW's hubris has been rather distasteful. & the less said about Campbell the better. In an interview with him in The Sunday Times this week (I think it was anyway) the pompous turd said that the Rugby writers had "missed an opportunity" by not using him properly. The f*cking arrogant tw@t, pardon my French! These are experienced Rugby men who've got along pretty well without his spin thus far.

Er, I seem to have wandered from my point a bit, but I simply wanted to say that even I as an Englishman almost enjoyed seeing the un-dynamic duo choke on their badly-chosen, mealy mouthed words. To not credit the ABs for a job thoroughly well done smacks of poor sportsmanship at best & sour grapes at worst.

 

[cbuts]

South Africa have improved immensely under Jake White, but with NZ & Australia stepping up a gear in recent times im not sure if they can go any higher.

They will be tough to beat at home thats for sure.

yea, always are increadibly tough at home

 

[cbuts]

Actually you are wrong.. They have been competitive in the past. Look back no further than their last tour in 1993. They lost the series 2-1 but should have won the first test. They lost in the last minute to a grant fox penalty goal courtesy of a dodgy referee decision

doesnt matter if u win by 1, or 91. a win is a win. and it is 38-6 to us

 

[Blaze]

doesnt matter if u win by 1, or 91. a win is a win. and it is 38-6 to us

Yeah but you claimed they have never been competitive which is wrong

 

[cbuts]

It's inaccurate to say they've never been competitive.

In 1977, they lost 3-1although the ABs were reduced to three-man scrums in the test at Auckland. Had it over us in the forwards, but we somehow snuck through.

In 1959, the Lions had great players like Tony O'Reilly and Dicky Jeeps. In the first test at Carisbrook, the Lions scored five tries to none - and lost. Don Clarke banged over six penalties (tries were worth 3 points in those days), and a lack of conversions cost the Lions the victory. ALthough that series was also won 3-1, only the third test (22-8) could be considered a blowout in favour of the All Blacks.

The 1983 side was competitive in all but the last test. They suffered from having the third-choice hooker, Ciaran Fitzgerald, forced upon them as captain.

The 1950 series was 3-0, but it was all square after the first test was drawn.

This series, however, has been rather lopsided.

but a good team would get the wins. they wouldnt just get close. as i say 38-6, maybe next time people wont get so excited. bring on the 3N and lets have some real rugby

 

[cbuts]

He is not sh*t! You're sh*t!

...Yeah!

one wonders if youve ever seen the guy play

 

[Smudge]

but a good team would get the wins. they wouldnt just get close. as i say 38-6, maybe next time people wont get so excited. bring on the 3N and lets have some real rugby

Ahhh, read my post.

I'm saying the Lions, for the most part, over the years have been competitive.

There's a difference between being competitive and winning.

 

[KennyD]

one wonders if youve ever seen the guy play

Whatever man.

Get on the field yourself and play for any national team.

Then I will accept it when you call an international player "****".

Until then don't.