The real stuff finally starts this Saturday as the British & Irish Lions take on the Provincial Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei. Let’s remind ourselves of how some previous openers went.
2013 – Western Force 17 – 69 British & Irish Lions
Technically, the first game of the 2013 tour was the win over the Barbarians in Hong Kong, but this blog only recognises games that are played in the country of the actual tour and not ones that are played in hypercapitalist meccas to appease sponsors. Therefore, it is this utter drubbing of the Force, featuring the inexplicable Sam Norton-Knight, that we reproduce here. Even Tom Croft scored a try! Interestingly, of the starting team selected here, only two (Sexton & Alun-Wyn) make the starting line up for the 2017 opener. Leigh Halfpenny slotted eleven kicks in this game, reminding up of the reason he may still feature prominently in this year’s tour.
2009 – Royal XV 25 – 37 British & Irish Lions 37
Opening games are meant to be a winning procession for the Lions, so imagine the level of shitting it among the fans when the cobbled together Royal XV side went into half time 18-10 up in this match. Things became much worse as the Lions gave a masterclass in not scoring, including Shane Williams dropping the ball over the line, alllowing the home side to take a 25-13 lead. Step forward Lee Byrne to get things moving with a magnificent try before two more were added to just about undeservedly spare the tourists’ shame.
2005 – Bay of Plenty Steamers 20 – 34 British & Irish Lions
Another year, another opening game that’s not really an opening game as the Lions this time beat Argentina in Cardiff, but given we’re not counting that, here are the Lions labouring past the fabulously monikerd Bay of Plenty Steamers. The Lions were 17-0 up at one point before the sprited North Island lot dragged themselves level leading to a better second half and victory for the visitors. As a reminded to everyone what the perils of touring are, Dallaglio did an ankle and was out of the tour after this match. That was one less out of form personal favourite for Woodward to pick in the test team at least.
2001 – Western Australia 10 – 116 British & Irish Lions
An absolute hammering for the part timers in this opening match, who instead focused on trying to kill everyone in a red shirt instead.
1997 – Eastern Province 11 – 39 British & Irish Lions
A proper game of rugby with some cracking physical confrontations and some lovely tries, including some vintage Guscott, in a suitably ramshackle stadium. An almost perfect vignette of the amatuer era giving way to professionalism.
The post A look back at previous opening matches for the British & Irish Lions appeared first on Blood & Mud.
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