by Conor O'Shea
At the Castletroy Park Hotel in the summer of 1997 the Ireland Development Squad was preparing for the tour from hell to New Zealand. At that stage no one knew what was ahead of us as the squad flew out but one player was diverted even before we left our shores. An injury to Peter Clohessey meant that Paul Wallace ended boarding the plane to South Africa. Instead of joining us in New Zealand and getting beaten from North Island to South Island and back again, he got to be one of 1997 Lions squad that went on to win both the Test series and a place in rugby folklore.
Wally did more than just get on the plane - he ended up winning a Test place alongside Keith Wood and Tom Smith in the Test side. That is the beauty of the Lions. Names will be made and given the size of the 2009 party, some of those names, may not even be in the squad yet.
The class of 1997 was supposed to be the last tour of its type. People said the Lions were a throwback to an amateur age; one that couldn’t survive the onset of professionalism. The Lions of 1997 not only ensured its survival as a brand but probably secured its place on the touring roster forever.
All rugby people will remember Jim Telfer and Ian McGeechan’s words before the test matches, the dressing room scenes from the 'Living with Lions' video at that time are etched into anyone with an interest in the game’s memory.
1997 Lions: a special Tour
The DVD reinforced the sense that the 1997 group was all about a special bond amongst special players. Only four Irish players were on that tour, which pales in comparison to the Lions of 2009 who boast 13, but their contribution to that group was immense. Three of the test match front five that beat the Boks in Wallace, Keith Wood and Jeremy Davidson starred and in the back row the contributions of a young Eric Miller was immense. It may only have been four players in total, a sign of the times for Irish rugby, but they, like all Irish tourists, made key contributions both on and off the pitch!
How do the class of 2009 compare to 1997. Both parties may have the canniest Lion of them all as their head coach in Ian McGeechan. This time, though, the bulk of the party is drawn from Ireland and Wales, instead of England, who supplied the majority of the personnel in 1997. For Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio and Jeremy Guscott read Paul O’Connell, David Wallace and Brian O’Driscoll.
The senior players who will take responsibility for winning on this tour are mostly Irish players. It is a responsibility they will relish but they are up against a much stronger Boks squad than 1997. On that occasion, their 1995 RWC winning team had fallen apart within two years. The 2009 Boks may have injury concerns but their top Super 14 teams have done well and they have players on form. They have retained many of the RWC 2007 stars, with some staying on specifically because of this tour. The challenge is made all the harder by the Lions’ horrible itinerary and with the size of the squad they all have to muck in.
South Africa is a tough place to go.
I was never fortunate enough to get picked for the Lions but I had the opportunity of playing in South Africa/Zimbabwe/Namibia for Ireland on a development tour in 1993, at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa and in 1998 with the Warren Gatland-coached tour to South Africa. There are a things that are different about playing in South Africa.
Altitude an issue for any team in South Africa
First, it is incredibly difficult going up and down from sea level to altitude and it can be really draining. No matter how well prepared you are there may be players who suffer altitude sickness or just feelings of lethargy or tiredness. People react differently. This Lions team will be prepared, even more so than in 1997, but the Springboks have made sure that in terms of recovery on this tour the itinerary has been as hard as it can be on the Lions.
Secondly, and for the 50,000 supporters this is a positive, rugby is a religion in South Africa. They are fanatical and in between matches everyone knows who you are an why you are there, and they will be nice to you. But come match day the crowds at Blomfontein, Pretoria, Ellis Park, Durban’s King’s Park will be incredibly intimidating. Their supporters, like their playing, have more than their fair share of massive men.
That size issue is part the reason why the coaching trust of McGeechan, Shaun Edwards and Warren Gatland have gone for big physical men both in the backs and forwards. The Lions’ aim will be to take the Boks on and win the battle of the break down.
Matching the physical challenge critical for Lions
It is a risky strategy because you don’t get bigger Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies and Schalk Burger and they want to win. I have named only four but in every game there will be a physical challenge and onslaught. That was the thinking behind the selection of the likes of Joe Worsley and Alan Quinlan, though Quinlan has now been ruled out. I will say that Quinlan’s suspension and the selection of Tom Croft could provide the party with the 2009 version of Paul Wallace. Croft can give the balance to a team between brawn and skill.
The team need to play with balance and if Croft and Jamie Heaslip combine well in the back row, along with David Wallace, then there are options available. The Lions would be capable of playing in different ways. Croft would also give the team an exceptional jumping option, a potential key against a very strong Springbok lineout.
Selection of course will evolve, will it be O’Gara or Stephen Jones at fly half? Can James Hook stake a claim?
Overall, I suggest you enjoy this tour for what it is: a great rugby occasion and a testament to where Irish rugby is now in terms of the important players they have provided to the squad. As a challenge, this is far greater than the 1997 tour.
Their legend will be greater if they win.
