Bob Dwyer Rugby Workshops

The 2009 British & Irish Lions Tour of South Africa

In many ways this was an unusual tour.

The Springbok management made an early, strategic decision to withdraw the top thirty-nine (39) players from the provincial games. This meant two things – one, the Lions had no truly significant opposition on which they and we could base their form, and, two, all of the Springbok players would be well short of match fitness come Test time.

The Lions played in half-full stadia, the atmosphere at these games was lacking – thank the Lord for the Lions supporters – and, perhaps as a consequence, the Lions never played really well.

In the lead-up to the First Test, we were confused in our thinking, on the one hand wondering whether the Lions would be up to it and, on the other, wondering whether the Springboks would be ready for it.

The anticipation of the contest is a wonderful thing. It nearly surpasses the contest itself. I remember reading the words of the wonderful old Welsh rugby writer (and player), Vivian Jenkins on this very subject. “Who is going to win, is of paramount importance. Who has won, is only history.”

We needed not to have concerned ourselves about any of this. I’ll state the obvious again and say,

”This was a marvelous series!”

I wrote on Sunday that rugby, when played at its best, to the full extent that the laws allow, is a beautiful game. The best game.  And so it was in South Africa these past two weeks, or so.

For this we owe a lot to the British & Irish Lions. They were underdogs and not expected to be physically up to the level required against these most physical of opponents. But they were brave and ambitious, and benefited from the opportunities that this game allows to those who seek them.

They were determined and kept coming back to test their self-belief. In the end, that belief was justified.

They had many champions in this squad, but for me, the giant was Paul O’Connell, just as Martin Johnson had been a giant twelve years earlier. Maybe it’s a lock for captain for every Lions tour to South Africa from now on. Come to think of it, wasn’t Willie John McBride also captain and successful a few years back. But, be careful, they may all be locks but, most importantly, they are all special men.

I read today where Ian McGeechan believed that the Lions won four of the six halves that were played. True, but not by the margin that the Boks won the other two, indeed the other vital two.

He added that he thought the Lions had played the greater proportion of the quality rugby played in the series. I would also agree with this. This is not however the full analysis. Good rugby against good defence is a stalemate, as is poor rugby against poor defence.

What was required to separate the protagonists, given that the quality of the defences was always going to be very good, at worst, was some outstanding rugby to overcome very good defence.

This, I believe, was what South Africa produced. Some flashes of outstanding rugby, that even the very good Lions defence in the first two tests, was not able to resist.

John Smit’s try in the early part of the first test was a gem – a combination of power, pace and accurate support. The speed of the recycle added the irresistible element.

Two of their tries in the second test, one from each winger, one from a set scrum and the other from a lineout, were gems of execution. Runners in motion, each a threat to the defence, some arriving earlier - maybe a double bluff - others later - providing alarm - and all at speed, presented an almost impossible task for the very good defence.

These were the gems for me and the reasons for the Springbok series victory.

In the third test, the Lions lifted their attacking performance and strategy to, at times, an outstanding level. The “ensemble game” was much more prevalent, as was the close but deep support, and the “early ball and back up” was the order of the day. Remember the early ball and loop from Shane Williams that gave him the space down the left wing in the first half. There was no score on this occasion, but these gems pray on the minds of defenders and lift the spirit of team-mates.

For a few reasons, the Springbok defence in this match dropped to less than very good at times, whilst that of the Lions was excellent and sometimes mind blowing .

Thus it was that the Boks won two and the Lions one.

South African fans might not agree, but there were no real losers from all of this. Certainly not amongst the fans.

There were a few unsavory incidents, on both sides and from both players and officials, but they will all learn from the example given which clearly demonstrated that the game, the real game as played here during this series, is above all of this nonsense.