Still without doubt the best rugby after dinner speech I have every heard. 200+ from Huntingdon Stags all on an unlimited beer dinner completely silent for 45 minutes when Bentos told us about the Lions tour of 97. The atmosphere that crept into us all was amazing. Thanks Bentos.
I played club and school rugby for (exactly) 40 years. First as a 12 year old and then my final game at 52 as front row sub for the first team. No idea how many matches I played in but one - only one - sticks in my mind. I was on tour with an invitational club playing a local club who turned out to be almost all South Africans. I can’t rem,her if we drew or lost the first match but it was a very physical match. Between that match and the second one, a few of the senior players (ok old) were invited by the hosting club to a dinner in a very nice restaurant. Wine was poured and, about halfway through the dinner, their President began to slag us off. I’m sure it was the wine talking but me and one other took it personally and so we walked out. We went back to the team hotel and told everyone that we were not respected as players, as a team. The effect in uniting all the players; the sudden total solidity of the unit was just astounding - and outstanding. I remember getting up the following morning for team breakfast and thee was none of the usual banter; we were all focussed almost as one man on what we had to do. All through that day, we grew and grew as a team; for the first time for me at least, we looked very hard at each other’s eyes and said without words “ I will lay down my body for you and I know you will do the same” the most amazing 24 hours in my rugby life. My memory is not so good now and I can’t remember exactly but I think we won. I know I was tight head (not my favourite) against a very good, much younger loose head; he should have had me in all kinds of positions but my sheer will made me the cornerstone of that pack for 60 minutes. I was subbed then because my tank was empty. If only I, we, could have engendered that personal and team commitment every match.
Great Tour!!!!!! Saddly it was to be My Dear Father's Last he saw .However, he enjoyed every minute of The Whole Tour. A fantastic bunch of the Finest English. Irish. Scottish and Welsh. Well done to you " Bentley " Bentos " And to Everyone on this Great Tour!! Many thanks and Kind regards Colyn.
I was off work that summer and that tour was everything for me and my oppo. Even from 8000 miles away it was a visceral and wonderful experience. God bless them all especially Doddie, Tom and Joost
Not now... but in those days Loins tours were like the Boer War... we hated the Lions... but now maybe older and wiser, I dont know... but looking back it was good rugby and great times (when one wins😃) Bentley seems a nice man!
I flew down to watch the second test in Melbourne in 2013… the feeling of being on foreign soil and taking it over with masses of red is something which will last a lifetime with me, apart from chatting with some locals in our hotel bar I can hardly remember seeing any Wallabies fans.
