Somebody pick @the_man_himself off the floor.
Thereâs a hierarchy to British Lions tours.
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- Australia
Australia were only deemed worthy of a stand alone tour in 1989 after 101 years. Well done to Gatty on winning the Tom Richards Cup in Australia in 2013 but failure to win the series in South Africa in 2009 as assistant coach and New Zealand in 2017 leaves him some way adrift of Carwyn James, Syd Miller and Sir Ian McGeechan in the pantheon of British Lions coaching greats.
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It was ridiculous it even went to three tests in 2013. The fact ireland, England, South Africa and Australia all beat New Zealand after 2017 took the gloss off the 2017 result too. We should have won that series. Another failure for Gats.
What result ? A drawn series is a loss and only for sbw getting a red it would have been a comfortable 2-1 test for nz .
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A lot of the gatland fans on here were bigging up the drawn series. It was abject failure not to win that series.
I wouldnât turn my nose up too much at a drawn series in New Zealand considering there was only ever one series win there in 1971.
On their nine trips to Australia, the only time the British Lions came out on the wrong side was in a one off test in 1930 and on the 2001 tour which was in fairness against an exceptional Australia side most of whom had won the World Cup in 1999.
Ooooooooooft
Given New Zealandâs form sense I think it was a poor result. New Zealand without carter are not the same outfit.
Possibly. Mind you until Sonny Billâs moment of madness in the 2nd test in Wellington they were heading for a 3-0 whitewash. New Zealand still werenât too far off 2015 levels in 2017.
Thatâs a cracking post
No mccaw, kaino, carter, smith or nonu.
Sir Ian was coach in 2009
I think a strong argument can be made that South Africa is the number one British Loins destination
Perhaps the most storied tours of all time have been there
The last two times our boys have gone there it has been to play the world champions
That may well be the case again in 2021
Iâm looking forward to comparing notes on prospective selections using the correct format and etiquette on Saturday
South Africa probably is the best country to tour. Itâs a great country for a rugby tour. 1955 possibly the most storied tour of all.
New Zealand was always the ultimate test though. Itâs a hard difficult place. Theyâre so uncompromising and in your face all the time. Itâs a bloody bleak place in winter particularly on the South Island.
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Proper rugby conditions
I have already provided the evidence that the Wales Rugby Union consider Gatland to have won the 6Nations with them 4 times, never mind what someoneâs match day souvenir tells them. Even Rob Howley wouldnât back himself to be left in charge of Wales for a 6Nations campaign without Gats overseeing everything from backstage.
The 97 dvd living with the lions is a cracker.
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The footage from the 1977 tour of New Zealand is something else. It was seemingly one of the wettest winters in New Zealand of the 20th century. Every match is a mud bath. It rained pretty much non stop for the three month duration of the tour.
1971 on the other hand was quite a dry winter in New Zealand.
And even worse, Kentucky Fried Chicken hadnât reached New Zealand by 1977
Our boys must have felt like Shackleton on Elephant Island
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I was in New Zealand for the first time in the early 90âs. It was bleak and behind the times then. Can only imagine what it was like in the 1970âs and earlier.