Geech: SA stronger than ’97
19 May 2009
Ian McGeechan expects a tougher tour than 12 years ago but warned how the Lions phenomena will swamp South Africa from next week.
In both the 1997 and 2009 Lions tours to South Africa the Boks were world champions but McGeechan highlighted the settled nature of the hosts this year. In 1997 Carel du Plessis had just been appointed coach, while the Boks had also lost World Cup-winning captain Francois Pienaar.
Now the Boks still have the senior players who took them to world domination in Paris in 2007, while mentor Peter de Villiers has also had more than a year to settle in his job.
‘I think they are a stronger side than 1997,’ said McGeechan. ‘They have a very good coaching team with a settled group of core players. They know what they are doing.
‘South Africa have a huge tradition of winning series against touring teams but a Lions Test series is different. That is why this is a massive event. This is the first time since 1997. You can see from their players how big it is,’ he said.
Despite the global economic recession, over 30 000 fans are expected to arrive from Britain and Ireland, while adidas Lions jerseys are expected to sell more than soccer clubs Real Madrid and Chelsea’s shirts this year. British Airways have also got behind the Lions as they have named the plane carrying the team into Johannesburg next Sunday ‘Air Force Scrum’.
‘The Lions are even bigger now, maybe because of 1997,’ McGeechan said in reference to how the brand has grown. ‘At that time it was the first professional Lions tour but people were saying it could be the last Lions tour. But in many respects the Lions have got bigger.’
Despite the advances of professionalism McGeechan has gone back to the old ethos of touring in order to mould the squad together quicker at their training camp that began on Monday. Players will share rooms – which wasn’t the case in 2005 – while the social aspect has been promoted.
‘This is still a group of players who want to achieve in a Lions jersey,’ said the coach. ‘You can be professional or amateur but that is the tradition, that is the experience they want as much as anybody over the last five decades. That is the bit that doesn’t change.
‘We are sharing rooms, we are doing things together. Those are the things that just accelerate the understanding, where you get to know each other as a room-mate not just a team-mate.
‘We will be finishing this week with a barbecue and a beer because the best way to get to know someone is over a quiet drink in a less formal environment.
‘The social bit is important. When 90% of the tour is off the field that will impact on where we can get to as a group of people.’
In team news, Alan Quinlan will appeal his 12-week ban for eye gouging and could still be involved in the tour, but will miss the start. His hearing will take place next Wednesday in Glasgow.
13 Comments
19 May 2009, 10:57 am
here the dragons come
19 May 2009, 11:00 am
Eish!!! Edrich Lubbe….
19 May 2009, 11:23 am
“In both of the last Lions tours to South Africa the Boks were world champions but McGeechan ”
Right, is there another world cup that we won that I’m unaware of?
It should read “In both of the Lions tours to South Africa the Boks were world champions but McGeechan “
19 May 2009, 13:53 pm
Are BA still the official airways of the Boks?
If so “British Airways have also got behind the Lions as they have named the plane carrying the team into Johannesburg next Sunday ‘Air Force Scrum’.”
WTF?
19 May 2009, 13:55 pm
#3 deadlypea: When they say “both of the last Lions tours” do they mean 97 and this one?
Because the upcoming one is still in the future, so cant be a “last one”
And we ARE World Champs, not were
19 May 2009, 14:29 pm
XhosaKid – Edrich Lubbe looked like a Nazi Child ek se!!! Man Carol 2Plus3 was a rubbish coach. I just looked at the team on genslin.us and it was full of the RWC95 Boks, but it goes to show how a bad coach can get bad things out of good players.
19 May 2009, 17:20 pm
percy as 2nd center?
19 May 2009, 17:56 pm
These mind games.. The Lions are are very cocky and expect to win. The Big talk of selection has been the main view here in the UK. Do not sleep on the Lions they may deliver. SA need to prepare well and be at their best.. I I want nothign more than to see the Lions leave as losers, but we must not be over confident.. Go Bokke!!!
19 May 2009, 17:58 pm
#7 St.Petersburgbok: I rem,eber him playing there, of which he played really well. I was at school when Percy made his debute at 2nd center.. Good days..
19 May 2009, 18:16 pm
I think Geech is right though. I know Bok fans do not want to hear this but the 95 world cup was fluke… The AB’s were awesome that year and should have won. No wonder we lost to the Lions in 97.
I believe the Boks had faith workign on their side.Even the rugby the Boks played at that time from around 95 to 98 was average at best. Bok rugby improved in around 2000. Plus I also believe that transformation was truly achieved in at that time too. I recall the Boks receiving consecutive hidings from the AB’s religiously during the 95-98 period.
A new era for Bok rugby was produced in the 2000′s and changed the game. Bok rugby become more flare oriented in the 2000′s, prior to that it was just the bok aggression and a few exceptional stars like Joost, Andrews, Wiese, Honiball. Skinstad and family were a golden generation and I believe SA rugby came back. Isolation stagnated Bok rugby growth hence continued *** kicking from the Pommes and the ABs. However we have caught up and have overtaken most nations (except for the ABs). The 2007 RWC was an example of how far Bok rugby has come. Sorry Boks fans but I used to cringe when whatching Naas play in the early 90′s and James Small. He never burnt anyone on an overlap.. I am a Bok fan..
19 May 2009, 18:16 pm
#4 bokfan1: No think its SA now.
20 May 2009, 09:08 am
It seems that the Boks have so many internal issues re squad and injuries that to mention a settled team would be stretching the truth.
We know that if the right players are selected in each position they will blast the Lions off the park.
PdV needs to get his team announced asap and get the country behind those players. People get upset when names are “smuggled” through last minute.
Was there any conclusion to the FSteyn issue y’day of him not being selected ?
20 May 2009, 11:13 am
#11 Puma: Ah ok – thats good news!
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