Can't wait for for Australia, the lions tour is over and we lost. The lions brand has won, the last two lions tours had forgotten the brand ethos of the lions. This tour has restored the importance of the lions and gone back to the brand that is the lions. Where did the lions lose its way as a brand? It started in 2001 when they selected a Kiwi, Graham Henry as head coach. The theory behind this obviously was that he had done so well as Wales coach that this brilliant organiser would be able to do the same with the lions. Henry could not, he was blessed with a side that had the nucleus of a world cup winning side. Despite this he managed to lose the series. In 2005 Clive Woodward took the lions challenge, it was a disaster. The lions brand has suffered.
Ian McGeechan was appointed head coach, this was a simplification of the role he been given. McGeechan had been given the role of custodian of the values of the lions. The values he learnt on the 1974 lions tour to South Africa under the greatest lion of them all Willie John McBride. It was his job to make the lions special again, not only that it was his job to invigorate a younger generation of lions to appreciate what it means to be a lion. The historical parallels can not be ignored. Willie John McBride went on a losing lions tour in the 60's and was bullied ,in his words . This formulated his philosophy that led to the victories in 1971 and 1974 he refused to take a backwards step and if the opposition went after his forwards he would make sure his forwards should not step backwards. This lions team has learnt similar lessons, they came together well. In the first test they were blown off the park by aggressive South African scrummaging in other words they took a step back.
The second test came and the lions showed up with strength and aggression and barring injury would have won the test match. The lions won the third test, the players looked like they were genuinely happy. More importantly they played with such a sense of joy that it has added to what has already been a fantastic test series That is the important concept about the lions. In most sports it is about the trophy, next paycheck etc. The lions is about four nations who spend four years battering hell out of each other then coming together to try and beat the southern hemisphere nations. They did not win but they came together and held up the traditions of the lions.
So what next for the lions? A tour Australia in four years time, but this tour will not be about lions survival. This tour will be about beating Australia. The great thing will be the amount of young players who were on this lions tour They were also on tour with Ian MCGeechan this means when the lions go to Australia they will full of traditional lions spirit. The key will be the hosts. If Australia treat the lions like a cash cow. They make them criss-cross a continent to milk them them and remarkable fans the tour will fail. If the Aussies keep the lions in a smaller geographical area such as Canberra and Sydney the lions may have a chance. They will also have a chance if the warm up games are competitive. Part of the problem with this lions tour is the warm up games were so poor, the lions were undercooked going into the first test. The consequence of that was the lions got destroyed in the first half by South Africa. These remedies put in place and the lions could be competitive.
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