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Lions Tour Interview With Scott Hastings

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Lions Tour 2013 ImageWe 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

 

Lions Tour 2013: Greatest Lions Moments

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Lions tour Australia 2013To 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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The Lions tour Australia 2013 imageSo 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

 

The Lions Squad 2013

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Lions Tour Australia ImageHere 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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Lions Tour Interview With Scott Hastings
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 putt
Lions Tour 2013: Greatest Lions Moments
To celebrate the return of the Lions Tour, we take a walk down memory lane... The '99 Call' and Undefeated TourIn 1974 the Lions went to South Africa and returned undefeated, 21 wins from 22 games with one draw. However, u
Fixtures for the Lions Tour 2013
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