Lions Tour Interview With Scott Hastings |
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We speak to two-time Lion player, and former Scotland Rugby Union player, Scott Hastings, about his predictions on the upcoming Lions Tour.
So, what have been two of your favourite Lions moments?
First time putting on the Lions jersey - I played against WA in Perth on the last winning Lions tour to Oz, and for me, representing the Lions was very special, in that I was wearing a jersey that so many great players from the past had also pulled on. [Also] Winning the test series on the tour to Oz and playing in the second and third test wins with Gavin [Hastings].
A tough question, but we're going to push you anyway; who would make your starting XV for the Lions tour?
Halfpenny, North, Davies, Roberts, Sexton, Cuthbert, Philips, Healy, Youngs, Jones, O'Connel, Grey, Warburton, Healsip, [and] Tiperic.
Given the power of the Lions forwards, many are predicting them to whitewash the Aussies. What are your predictions?
2-1 to the Lions - whoever loses the first test will win the second!
With rivalries between the four Lions nations, how difficult is it to put those differences aside to play as a team?
Differences need to be put aside, and an enjoyable tour comes with good leadership, and laying down values and principles for the squad. That sets the tone and winning performances are also key.
Thanks so much Scott!
I won't be over in Oz. I will be in Moscow commentating on the Rugby World Cup 7s as the second test in Melbourne clashes with this tournament. However should my predication come good, I may find my way to Sydney for the final test!
World Sport |
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Lions Tour 2013: Greatest Lions Moments |
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To celebrate the return of the Lions Tour, we take a walk down memory lane...
The '99 Call' and Undefeated Tour In 1974 the Lions went to South Africa and returned undefeated, 21 wins from 22 games with one draw. However, upset with the rough nature of South Africa's play and the leniency awarded from the referees, the Lions dressing room decided on a 99 call. Meaning "One in. All in." if one Lion retaliated the rest of the team would 'get involved' as well. The ref would have to send off the whole team, or no-one. The result was JPR Williams running half the length of the field to deck an opponent during the "Battle of Boet Erasmus Stadium." Teamwork at its best.
Kangaroo Court Ever wondered exactly what it is like on tour? Well thanks to the 'Living with the Lions' DVD you can experience some of it from a safe distance. The iconic, not to mention a little disturbing, scene featuring members of the squad in fancy dress create a 'court' to punish (usually in the form of alcohol) those who committed offenses on tour has gone down in folklore. If you learn nothing else from this video, it is to not use your phone near Keith Wood, and that coach Ian McGeechan can glug his whisky.
Greatest Lion – Willie John McBride With Lions tours only every so often, most great players manage two tours, maybe three if timing is on their side. Willie John McBride, who didn't start playing rugby until he was 17, went on five Lions tours appearing in 17 tests in the process. A rough-hewn lock from Ulster, he went through the bad times (1966's tour to New Zealand) before captaining the undefeated team in 1974. He is also known for creating the famous/infamous "99 call" and was an inaugural inductee into the Rugby Hall of Fame in 1997.
Jeremy Guscott's Drop Goal 1-0 up in the three match series, the Lions went to Durban and were drawing 15-15 going into the final minutes. As it got scrappy, and players were dragged out of position, center Jeremy Guscott found himself at fly-half as the ball came out the ruck. With nobody on the overlap he decided to have a dig and slotted the series clinching kick straight between the posts. And what does Guscott have to say about his career defining moment? "I don't really remember it. My overriding feeling is still 'what if I'd missed?'" Well we've enjoyed your success Jez, even if you're unable to.
BO'D Spear Tackled The big one. The Lions, away to New Zealand. A hugely experienced squad is assembled along with the largest backroom staff ever all under the stewardship of World-Cup winning coach Sir Clive Woodwood. And it all went horribly wrong. The Lions are pulverized in every test match (and some of the warm up games as well). The misery possibly best summed up in the opening ten minutes of the first test as Captain Brian O'Driscoll is cleared out/spear tackled from the ruck by Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu, dislocates his shoulder and is carried off on a stretcher. Game, tour, and nearly the Lions altogether, over.
Telfer's Everest Speech Comparing facing the Springboks to tackling Everest, Lions coach Jim Telfer tells the scrum forwards, getting picked for the Lions is the easy compared to facing the 'Boks. Using some old fashioned "look what they said about you" techniques, and a liberal lacing of expletives, Jim rallies his troops to look inside themselves and find the will to, in his words "to get right up in their faces, and turn them back, knock them back, out do what they can do. Out jump them, out shove them, out ruck them, out drive them, out tackle them, until they're fucking sick of it." |
Fixtures for the Lions Tour 2013 |
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So you don't miss a second, here's the full list of games for the Lions tour 2013...
June 1 - Lions v Barbarians - Hong Kong (1930 - local time)
June 5 - Lions v Western Force - Perth (1800- local time)
June 8 - Lions v Queensland Reds – Brisbane (1930 - local time)
June 12 - Lions v Combined New South Wales/ Queensland Country – Newcastle (1930 - local time)
June 15 - Lions v New South Wales Waratahs – Sydney (1930 - local time)
June 18 - Lions v ACT Brumbies – Canberra (1930 - local time)
June 22 - Lions v Australia – Brisbane (2000 - local time)
June 25 - Lions v Melbourne Rebels – Melbourne (1930 - local time)
June 29 - Lions v Australia – Melbourne (2000 local time)
July 6 - Lions v Australia – Sydney (2000 local time)
Bars in Sydney |
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Here is the full listing for the 2013 Lions Squad...
Full Backs Leigh Halfpenny - Wales, Cardiff Blues Stuart Hogg - Scotland, Glasgow Warriors Rob Kearney - Ireland, Leinster
Wings Tommy Bowe - Ireland, Ulster Alex Cuthbert - Wales, Cardiff Blues Sean Maitland - Scotland, Glasgow Warriors George North - Wales, Scarlets
Centres Jonathan Davies - Wales, Scarlets Brian O'Driscoll - Ireland, Leinster Jamie Robers - Wales, Cardiff Blues Manusamoa Tuilagi - England, Leicester Tigers
Outside Halves Owen Farrell - England, Saracens Jonathan Sexton - Ireland, Leinster
Scrum Halves Conor Murray - Ireland, Munster Mike Phillips - Wales, Bayonne Ben Youngs - England, Leicester Tigers
Props Dan Cole - England,Saracens Cian Healy - Ireland, Leinster Gethin Jenkins - Wales, Toulon Adam Jones - Wales, Ospreys Matt Stevens - England, Saracens Mako Vunipola - England, Saracens
Hookers Dylon Hartley - England, Northampton Saints Richard Hibbard - Wales, Ospreys Tom Youngs - England, Leicester Tigers
Locks Ian Evans - Wales, Ospreys Richie Gray - Scotland, Sale Sharks Alun Wyn Jones - Wales, Ospreys Paul O'Connell - Ireland, Munster Geoff Parling - England, Leicester Tigers
Back Rows Tom Croft - England, Leicester Tigers Toby Faletau - Wales, Newport Gwent Dragons Jamie Heaslip - Ireland, Leinster Dan Lydiate - Wales, Newport Gwent Dragons Sean O'Brien - Ireland, Leinster Justin Tipuric - Wales, Ospreys Sam Warburton - Wales, Cardiff Blues |
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