The British & Irish Lions is a touring team consisting of the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Since 1888, it is the experience of touring that has defined the essence of the team. We tour once every four years with the next tour heading to Australia in 2025.
On the field, the Lions are the very best players the Home Unions can offer, a team of rival players joined together to commit to a single purpose. Off the field, the 'Team Behind The Team' are tasked with ensuring the Lions continues to thrive both during and between tours.
Commenting on his size is interesting. A fellow international of the period - R J Longland of England - was 6 ft and 14.5 stones. He was a top line prop and there were many who thought he should have been selected for this tour. He was not. When England played Ireland in Feb 1938, Raymond came up against Mayne. Mayne was on the losing side, England winning 36-14
Watching in 2024 and I truly believe this is a cinematic masterpiece for sport. To be able to re-live this series through content such as this is something special, massive credit to BIL media team
Sonny, league player... Red card, but maybe today yellow (24), depending what sport. Sonny Bill Williams plays Rugby Union, Rugby League and is also a profesionnal boxer. He's rough, but it's not worth a red ! 39:07
This wasn’t one those tests that England played against a touring side as the last game of a tour and the touring side had just played twice a week for a month, exhausted, injured, thinking only about going home. They never had. the courage to ever play the Kiwi side first up. The English have always tried to load matters to their advantage, rather play the rules than the game. The Welsh were the ones that played the game most like the colonials, with flair and daring, the game being the prize not the winning. The Scots and Irish played a hard more dour but honest version of the game than the Welsh. The English played the least impressive version of the game where the winning was more paramount than the game. Sadly Englands influence on/in the professional era has turned all home nations rugby into a colossal bore. If I watch rugby at all. these days it is League. Even the colonials versions have become a bore.
I'm just here to remind everyone that this was the 3rd test in the series and the boks already won the previous 2. I see lions fans really hold on to this win as if it wasn't a dead rubber against a fringe team.
*It's a game that they're treating like their lives depended on it. If this were a battle situation - as in life and death - I'd take this more seriously. I understand they need motivation to win the game, but this was just over-the-top. It bordered on disturbing. Rugby Union is a game you play in the park with some friends without the need to 'destroy' your opponent. Nobody dies. But there was a load of money floating around, that's the certainty of professionalism*
Felt sorry for Rob Norster but the Lions felt they needed Dooleys bulk and power and they were right. That was a good comeback considering the 1st Test which was a disaster.
