Lions 2013: Learning the lessons from a special tour
The Lions tour to Australia of 2013 provided many memorable moments and friendships that will last a lifetime.
Last-minute Lion: Alex Corbisiero joined the long list of players not originally selected who became a star of the tour Photo: EPA
By Will Greenwood
6:00AM BST 08 Jul 2013
14 Comments
1 Winning does not always make you feel better
Warren Gatland made a huge call when he dropped Brian O’Driscoll, and he was slated in many quarters for it. But even when he was proved right, you could see how tough it was for him to do. Up close after the game, Gatland talked about the difficulty of cutting BOD, of not wanting the victory to be a vindication. High-stakes selection is about performance not emotion, but even the consistently stoic Gatland has moments where it affects him.
2 Alun-Wyn Jones is my new hero
For how he conducted himself on and off the field. Everything about him on tour has been special. He channelled direct, driven energy. When he led that team on Saturday night and when you look back at the video, I suspect there will be very few frames without him in it.
3 Wallaby unsung hero was Ben Mowen
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4 Certain positions matter and need specialists
In a modern rugby world, where people are trying to get everyone to do a little bit of everything, you need a tight head prop, fly-half or inside centre who know the position. You can get away with it for a while, but in Test match rugby you will get caught out.
5 From zero to hero does happen on Lions tours
Alex Corbisiero missed out on the first round of selection and now finds himself on that long list of last-minute Lions. Worth remembering that if you do not make the plane to New Zealand don’t head to the pub, and make sure you have your phone turned on. Anything can and often does happen.
6 Comebacks do not always have a fairy-tale ending
George Smith, out of retirement, and into a game that nearly had him carried off in the first 10 minutes.
7 As a neurotic paranoid, I prepare for every eventuality
I had a list of questions ready for Gatland had the Lions lost the third Test. “You made some big calls, did you get it wrong?” “As a coach why do you find Australia so hard to beat?” “Did you put too much faith in the power game and one style of play?” I have never been happier to put a piece of paper in the bin.
8 Rugby fans are the sport’s greatest assets
Wallabies supporters donned their gold and green and cheered as loudly as they could. They responded to the invasion of Lions red with humour, friendship and banter that made the tour special from start to finish.
9 Mayfly memories
Within half an hour of the third Test ending, the talk had turned to the group of death at the 2015 World Cup, where Australia have been put with England and Wales. The Lions unity had been replaced with the old rivalries that exist between the Home Nations teams. That is why the Lions tour is so special – a short moment when normal divisions are forgotten and friendships are formed that last a lifetime.
10 Winning matters
Roll on New Zealand. Suddenly, a trip to the Land of the Long White Cloud looks less daunting and the youth of the Lions party means many players will be hitting their prime in four years’ time. Forget the fear, the fans are smelling victory. Could be a cracker.
11 Rugby players are becoming rock stars
In Hong Kong, there was glamour and glitz. Asia loved the Lions and they revelled in it. Dark glasses, security entourages, and a 20-minute stage appearance that could have been the run for One Direction. Wages are going up and players are getting close to the million-a-season mark. The next time the Lions roll around do not be surprised to see them not only making music-industry money but also enjoying the lifestyle.
12 Changing rooms are like surgery rooms
The kit man Patrick ‘Rala’ O’Reilly and his team are geniuses at what they do, and I have never seen changing rooms quite so neat. Name plaques above seats, playing jerseys on a hanger perfectly new. Towels folded, programmes for each man, a personal set of post-match toiletries. After 60 seconds it looks like a bomb site. But that first impression, for that first minute, it gives the players a feeling of being special, of belonging to a magical club where extraordinary things happen. Small details, nothing overlooked, everything to perfection. That is the plan and the changing room is a thing of beauty.
13 Confidence is catching
Want to see what playing for the Lions can do to your personality and chat? Look at the two interviews I did with Stuart Hogg. In Hong Kong he was hesitant, unsure, a young man at the start of a big tour with a lot of history. After his game at Newcastle he was a different man. Buzzing, bouncing, full of vim and vigour. It will be interesting to see how the other players who did well carry it into next season. These are career-changing tours. Suddenly players are not afraid of the green and gold of Australia.
14 Lions are logistics
Coming back to the hotel after a game, in the dark and increasingly cold Australian nights, you see a 7.5-tonne truck parked up near the front entrance. For the backroom teams the work is just beginning. All the kit, pads, training equipment, foods, supplements, cones and strapping need to be moved to the next stop on the trip. Lions tours are like moving a small army unit around a massive country. Some things can be bought, others are carried for the whole trip. If that is not bad enough, the laundry bill must make your eyes water.
15 The bubble is still leaky and that is great for the game
There is a lot of control around this tour, from sponsorship experts to press officers. But there is still a chance for fans and players to mingle and interact. I am yet to see an autograph turned down or photo refused. A real effort to build bridges between the people in the stands and those on the pitch. In Newcastle, team and supporters were very close, players relaxing in the centre of the town, having coffee or a wander about. No one got too close, no one was too nutty, a perfect example of everyone getting along and making sure that all the tourists have a good time. #onlyinrugby.
16 Lions fans love to travel and make noise
No matter where you go, the Lions fans are here, building up in numbers and decibels. They back their countrymen yet support the team with incredible passion. However Lions tours pan out in the future, their needs have to be at the forefront of any consideration. As big a money spinner as these tours have become fans can never feel as if they are taken advantage of. As I have travelled around Australia there have been gripes from the local fans about the cost of the tickets this time round. Some have even said that they will wait until the All Blacks or Boks come back into town before they buy any more tickets. The Lions cannot afford for their long-standing and newly-converted fans to feel that they are not appreciated or are being priced out.
17 Australian sports stars are spoilt when it comes to the facilities they have to use
We were so impressed by the stadium in Newcastle, which is a town of 150,000 people, that we did a piece for Sky TV about it. When I mentioned it to some Australian commentators, they said that it was not even the best stadium in Newcastle. If you want to be serious about your sport, you need to be serious about where you play and train, and the Aussies have known this for a while.
18 The Lions team are bigger than you even imagine
I used to think you could drop an amateur player into most matches and they would be able to survive. Not today and not at this level. Out here, against these guys they would be put through the mincer.
19 Support staff matter
The Lions is all about what happens on and off the pitch. The medical staff are second to none. Dr James Robson has been working with the Lions on six tours. He saved my life when I was knocked unconscious in 1997, was on hand when Thom Evans broke his neck and most recently when Beau Robinson was knocked out in the Reds game he was the first man on the scene, rushing from the Lions bench to help a man down, no matter the shirt on his back. He is a saint of a man. And spare a thought for people such as the masseuse, Richard Wegrzyk. I would not say he was unhealthy looking but he very rarely sees a lot of daylight. Players are always coming to see him with knocks and bumps and on a busy tour the massage room is one of the quietest places to be, so even if they do not need a rub, it is a good spot to unwind. Overworked, people like this are the glue that holds the tour together. Hands of steel as well.
20 Boozing is a much quieter affair
The players still like a drink every now and then, but it’s not what it was. Alcohol is an afterthought rather than a motivating force. As it should be for professional athletes. Also makes life much easier for the security team.
The Lions tour to Australia of 2013 provided many memorable moments and friendships that will last a lifetime.
Last-minute Lion: Alex Corbisiero joined the long list of players not originally selected who became a star of the tour Photo: EPA
By Will Greenwood
6:00AM BST 08 Jul 2013
1 Winning does not always make you feel better
Warren Gatland made a huge call when he dropped Brian O’Driscoll, and he was slated in many quarters for it. But even when he was proved right, you could see how tough it was for him to do. Up close after the game, Gatland talked about the difficulty of cutting BOD, of not wanting the victory to be a vindication. High-stakes selection is about performance not emotion, but even the consistently stoic Gatland has moments where it affects him.
2 Alun-Wyn Jones is my new hero
For how he conducted himself on and off the field. Everything about him on tour has been special. He channelled direct, driven energy. When he led that team on Saturday night and when you look back at the video, I suspect there will be very few frames without him in it.
3 Wallaby unsung hero was Ben Mowen
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06 Jul 2013 - Australia v Lions, third Test: as it happened
06 Jul 2013 - Deans and Gatland's necks are on the line
05 Jul 2013 - Bowe: we'll win Lions series decider for O'Driscoll
05 Jul 2013
4 Certain positions matter and need specialists
In a modern rugby world, where people are trying to get everyone to do a little bit of everything, you need a tight head prop, fly-half or inside centre who know the position. You can get away with it for a while, but in Test match rugby you will get caught out.
5 From zero to hero does happen on Lions tours
Alex Corbisiero missed out on the first round of selection and now finds himself on that long list of last-minute Lions. Worth remembering that if you do not make the plane to New Zealand don’t head to the pub, and make sure you have your phone turned on. Anything can and often does happen.
6 Comebacks do not always have a fairy-tale ending
George Smith, out of retirement, and into a game that nearly had him carried off in the first 10 minutes.
7 As a neurotic paranoid, I prepare for every eventuality
I had a list of questions ready for Gatland had the Lions lost the third Test. “You made some big calls, did you get it wrong?” “As a coach why do you find Australia so hard to beat?” “Did you put too much faith in the power game and one style of play?” I have never been happier to put a piece of paper in the bin.
8 Rugby fans are the sport’s greatest assets
Wallabies supporters donned their gold and green and cheered as loudly as they could. They responded to the invasion of Lions red with humour, friendship and banter that made the tour special from start to finish.
9 Mayfly memories
Within half an hour of the third Test ending, the talk had turned to the group of death at the 2015 World Cup, where Australia have been put with England and Wales. The Lions unity had been replaced with the old rivalries that exist between the Home Nations teams. That is why the Lions tour is so special – a short moment when normal divisions are forgotten and friendships are formed that last a lifetime.
10 Winning matters
Roll on New Zealand. Suddenly, a trip to the Land of the Long White Cloud looks less daunting and the youth of the Lions party means many players will be hitting their prime in four years’ time. Forget the fear, the fans are smelling victory. Could be a cracker.
11 Rugby players are becoming rock stars
In Hong Kong, there was glamour and glitz. Asia loved the Lions and they revelled in it. Dark glasses, security entourages, and a 20-minute stage appearance that could have been the run for One Direction. Wages are going up and players are getting close to the million-a-season mark. The next time the Lions roll around do not be surprised to see them not only making music-industry money but also enjoying the lifestyle.
12 Changing rooms are like surgery rooms
The kit man Patrick ‘Rala’ O’Reilly and his team are geniuses at what they do, and I have never seen changing rooms quite so neat. Name plaques above seats, playing jerseys on a hanger perfectly new. Towels folded, programmes for each man, a personal set of post-match toiletries. After 60 seconds it looks like a bomb site. But that first impression, for that first minute, it gives the players a feeling of being special, of belonging to a magical club where extraordinary things happen. Small details, nothing overlooked, everything to perfection. That is the plan and the changing room is a thing of beauty.
13 Confidence is catching
Want to see what playing for the Lions can do to your personality and chat? Look at the two interviews I did with Stuart Hogg. In Hong Kong he was hesitant, unsure, a young man at the start of a big tour with a lot of history. After his game at Newcastle he was a different man. Buzzing, bouncing, full of vim and vigour. It will be interesting to see how the other players who did well carry it into next season. These are career-changing tours. Suddenly players are not afraid of the green and gold of Australia.
14 Lions are logistics
Coming back to the hotel after a game, in the dark and increasingly cold Australian nights, you see a 7.5-tonne truck parked up near the front entrance. For the backroom teams the work is just beginning. All the kit, pads, training equipment, foods, supplements, cones and strapping need to be moved to the next stop on the trip. Lions tours are like moving a small army unit around a massive country. Some things can be bought, others are carried for the whole trip. If that is not bad enough, the laundry bill must make your eyes water.
15 The bubble is still leaky and that is great for the game
There is a lot of control around this tour, from sponsorship experts to press officers. But there is still a chance for fans and players to mingle and interact. I am yet to see an autograph turned down or photo refused. A real effort to build bridges between the people in the stands and those on the pitch. In Newcastle, team and supporters were very close, players relaxing in the centre of the town, having coffee or a wander about. No one got too close, no one was too nutty, a perfect example of everyone getting along and making sure that all the tourists have a good time. #onlyinrugby.
16 Lions fans love to travel and make noise
No matter where you go, the Lions fans are here, building up in numbers and decibels. They back their countrymen yet support the team with incredible passion. However Lions tours pan out in the future, their needs have to be at the forefront of any consideration. As big a money spinner as these tours have become fans can never feel as if they are taken advantage of. As I have travelled around Australia there have been gripes from the local fans about the cost of the tickets this time round. Some have even said that they will wait until the All Blacks or Boks come back into town before they buy any more tickets. The Lions cannot afford for their long-standing and newly-converted fans to feel that they are not appreciated or are being priced out.
17 Australian sports stars are spoilt when it comes to the facilities they have to use
We were so impressed by the stadium in Newcastle, which is a town of 150,000 people, that we did a piece for Sky TV about it. When I mentioned it to some Australian commentators, they said that it was not even the best stadium in Newcastle. If you want to be serious about your sport, you need to be serious about where you play and train, and the Aussies have known this for a while.
18 The Lions team are bigger than you even imagine
I used to think you could drop an amateur player into most matches and they would be able to survive. Not today and not at this level. Out here, against these guys they would be put through the mincer.
19 Support staff matter
The Lions is all about what happens on and off the pitch. The medical staff are second to none. Dr James Robson has been working with the Lions on six tours. He saved my life when I was knocked unconscious in 1997, was on hand when Thom Evans broke his neck and most recently when Beau Robinson was knocked out in the Reds game he was the first man on the scene, rushing from the Lions bench to help a man down, no matter the shirt on his back. He is a saint of a man. And spare a thought for people such as the masseuse, Richard Wegrzyk. I would not say he was unhealthy looking but he very rarely sees a lot of daylight. Players are always coming to see him with knocks and bumps and on a busy tour the massage room is one of the quietest places to be, so even if they do not need a rub, it is a good spot to unwind. Overworked, people like this are the glue that holds the tour together. Hands of steel as well.
20 Boozing is a much quieter affair
The players still like a drink every now and then, but it’s not what it was. Alcohol is an afterthought rather than a motivating force. As it should be for professional athletes. Also makes life much easier for the security team.
