Premium bonding top priority for Lions
"We were a group of people who spent their careers as international rugby players kicking the s*** out of each other and suddenly we had to develop a sense of complete togetherness. We had one week to achieve it because if we didn't get on that plane feeling part of the same team, we wouldn't have had a hope in South Africa."
Lawrence Dallaglio, assessing the successful 1997 Lions tour, neatly sums up the challenge facing the latest pride of Britain and Ireland's finest heading to Springbok country next week.
As the squad assemble at their pre-tour base at Pennyhill Park in Surrey on Monday, they too have precisely a week to forge that same unity of purpose before next Sunday's overnight flight from Heathrow to Johannesburg.
On arrival in South Africa, there are then , excluding the midweek match before the first Test, to mould a team and a game-plan capable of beating the world champions.
It is a tall order, not helped by the fact that half-a-dozen players engaged in European finals next weekend - a quartet from Leinster, plus Leicester's Harry Ellis and Northampton's Euan Murray - will only be with the Lions on Monday for a spot of admin and kit allocation before rejoining the squad on the day of departure.
But regardless of the absentees, how the bonding process evolves over the next week will be of critical importance to the success or otherwise of the whole venture.
Players from the 2001 tour will recall their week at Tylney Hall stately home in Hampshire, where the highlight was every individual being given a musical instrument - tambourines, cow bells, drums - and asked to play in an orchestra.
Ronan O'Gara, now preparing for his third Lions tour, remembers dryly: "I was given a triangle. Not a major part. A sign of things to come."
As well as work-outs at the Army's Physical Education Centre in nearby Aldershot, there were assault courses in the grounds of the hotel, and exercises to build trust.
One involved climbing to a small platform 20m above the ground and allowing yourself to fall backwards into the arms of team-mates.
But those who drew confidence from proving their physical prowess and courage were also forced to reveal their more sensitive side.
Standing in front of a group, declaring your good and bad points, your private hopes and fears, in front of people you barely know, is not something most of us would choose to do.
"Some of what we did was quite deep," recalled Martin Johnson of the start of his second stint as captain.
"Martyn Williams told us about the death of his brother. Matt Dawson talked about the break-up of a relationship. It was quite moving and I think it helped us grow close."
In 2005, the Wales players gathering at their familiar base, the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel, before the New Zealand tour were impressed by the extra level of organisation and detail - name tags at meetings, personal red folders - under Sir Clive Woodward.
They may have questioned exactly why they were being asked to paint a collage into a Lions motif later in the week, or learning the words to the "Power of Four" anthem Woodward had commissioned, but did so with a degree of humour.
With a to prepare for, the only time the Lions have played on 'home' soil, there was little opportunity for socialising however.
One night out in Cardiff for those players not involved in the Pumas match was about it by all accounts.
This time it will be different, according to .
As well as two rugby sessions a day and team-building exercises involving sailing and canoeing this week, the 62-year-old Scots insists his latest pride "will definitely be going for a pint together".
In 1997, his third consecutive tour as head coach, the squad gathered at the Oatlands Park Hotel near Weybridge.
As well as agreeing on a set of protocols and 'rules of engagement', which became known as 'the Lions Laws', and formulating a senior players group who acted as a conduit with management, there was also time to unwind and get to know each other.
Tour manager took the whole squad to a local pub towards the end of the week, where alcohol proved a valuable lubricant in the team-building process.
"That is what won us the series, that week before we got on the plane," recalls Matt Dawson, who made his name in South Africa with his outrageous try in the first Test.
"It involved a couple of nights of just sitting in a room with a keg of beer, telling stories, and just getting to know players. That relationship just blossomed as the tour went on."
It is not just about going out and trotting out a few tall tales for the sake of it though.
McGeechan believes players who enjoy each other's company socially will not only find it easier to relax in their down-time in South Africa, but also function better on the field.
"They have to get to know each other because in the end, if you have got a mate next to you, you tend not to want to let them down," he explains.
"You only know that when you know the player and you know the man. I think that is what makes the Lions special because you do go through that together.
"I personally went through it [in 1974 and 1977], and I always try to get it over to the players that I coach, because it stays with you forever afterwards.
"To know that you can go through some pretty tough times, where you probably wish you were anywhere else in the world, because you know the pressure you are under, and you come through...those are very, very special moments."
The signs are that the players about to start that process, gnarled Lions and young cubs alike, already realize its importance if they are to triumph in South Africa.
Wales flanker Martyn Williams, whose Lions Test experience amounts to the final four minutes of the third Test in New Zealand four years ago, despite being a replacement for five of the tourists' last six Tests, sees 1997 as the benchmark.
"We have all watched that tour on tape, and perhaps the last two tours haven't quite lived up to what we saw there," he said.
"I just want to be part of a successful Lions side. You have got to put your ego to one side. Obviously we all want to start the Tests but to be part of a winning series would be the ultimate."
For England wing , who devoured stories of the 1997 tour from former Harlequins Will Greenwood, Keith Wood and Jason Leonard, the memories are also a vivid source of inspiration.
"It goes to show what guys are capable of with great leadership and great bonding and unity," he said.
"If we can emulate that, it will be an incredible tour. But when you look at the squad list, and the management and coaches involved, it is highly achievable. We are all going out there fully expecting to do something incredibly special."
I'm Bryn Palmer and I specialise in rugby union but stick my oar into most other sports, apart from rowing.
Comment number 1.
At 17th May 2009, rickeo wrote:Great blog Bryn, it sounds like under Geech the Lions are going back to basics and tours of old. A very good sign to begin what hopefully will be an incredible and successful tour.
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Comment number 2.
At 17th May 2009, SULTAN_OF_SWING wrote:Call me old school(I was 16 when the Lions last went to SA), But the respect commanded by Geech and Jim Telfer really helped to drill home the mantra of togetherness and spirit that was required to win the series. Telfer had no issues telling those players exactly what he thought at all times, and they respected him enough to listen. There was much potential on that tour, it just needed to be realised.
He also had the Alex Ferguson type mentality of supporting those players to the death. Total Respect, heart, will and bonding will light the players way on this tour. Guile, support and tactics will be the coaches work.
The 36/37 players must stick like solvite to have any chance against the world champions.
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Comment number 3.
At 18th May 2009, backlineguru wrote:While the bonding time is important, personaly I can't wait for the first match for the Lions to make their statement as to the style of rugby they will play, '97 was fantastic as from the first whistle they played excellent expansive rugby and really took it to South Africa, this time round given the empthasis of size I wonder if they may play a tighter more forward orientated style sensing perhaps that the South Africans aren't as good up front as 12 years ago, all will be revealed in a few weeks. Injuries in the first few games will again be crucial, at least 5 or 6 poor souls are likely to be on early planes home, lets just hope its none of the key players as lets be honest there isn't a huge amount of world class talent in the squad. Can Geech work his magic one more time, lets hope so after the disapointments of the last two tours.
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Comment number 4.
At 18th May 2009, iknowsitnow wrote:"With a pre-tour match against Argentina to prepare for, the only time the Lions have played on 'home' soil, there was little opportunity for socialising however."
Bryn, you're wrong here.
They played against a Welsh XV in 1955 (Cardiff), the Barbarians in 1977 (Twickenham for the Jubilee) and 1986 (Cardiff). I went to the last one where the attendance was negligible from my memory. It's the only time I've ever seen the Lions, though hopefully not the last if I can persuade my wife that a fortnight's jaunt in Australia in a couple of years is time and money well spent.
Don't hold your breath though...
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Comment number 5.
At 18th May 2009, Deadly_Ledley_ wrote:Top blog Bryn, always good to hear about the bonding the team goes through. I rememeber the Living with Lions dvd, which had a lot of the off the field bonding on it, is there going to be anything similar with this years team?
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Comment number 6.
At 18th May 2009, fergaljpc wrote:good blog Bryn. Though the knives are always sharp.
This Lions team is good but I dare say they will all fall into their usual groups; Munster boys here, Osprey boys there, Blues over there and the English guys on their own. I hope they can gel, there is nearly a month before the first test on June 20th.
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Comment number 7.
At 18th May 2009, Tinoflyer wrote:"That is what won us the series, that week before we got on the plane," recalls Matt Dawson
But this time, things will be different. This week will already see a split in the cap with 6 of the squad in other duties.
1997 was a magical tour, not just because of the result because of the way the players still talk about it now. Whilst the Lions management are trying their hardest this time round, they are being undermined by the state of professional rugby.
The heineken cup could so easily have been Munster v Blues - that would have been nearly half the squad not attending this hugely important week.
Why did the Lions have just a constrained tour? Why is it the first game is just a matter of days after the Northern Hemisphere season ends with the Heineken Cup - why are the tours so short?
Its so frustrating to see a team hindered before it sets off on a marathon of a tour. When you need everything to go right to stand a fighting chance, the very programme, the first thing you sort out, is against you.
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Comment number 8.
At 18th May 2009, TheWarlord_Mashaka wrote:Good Blog, but one question?
You say: "With a pre-tour match against Argentina to prepare for, the only time the Lions have played on 'home' soil, there was little opportunity for socialising however."
Does the 1977 Silver Jubilee match at Twikkers between the Lions and Barbarians not count as a full test match?
See the link to the match programme.
Regards,
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Comment number 9.
At 18th May 2009, handofjohnson wrote:I fear this old school mentality of 'team building' is the beginning of the end for the Lions.....whilst this 'togetherness' and late night dinking sessions WAS fundamental in 1997, this is an era of professionalism and will count for very little, unfortunateley this 'amateur' ethos has also reflected the squad selection, with the best athletes and players being replaced with the boys with the best team morale!!!!
What is the real difference in selecting an england/Wales/Ireland etc touring party, whom have been kicking the S*** (as lawrence so eliquently put it) in club rugby....the rivalries of Munster v Leinster, Cardiff V Ospreys, Leicester v Bath is just as ferocious as England vs Ireland......I feel this article is a 'Mooo point'.....which is a point made by a cow......which is of course nonsense, as is this article
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Comment number 10.
At 18th May 2009, Bryn Palmer wrote:Thanks to iknowsitnow and TheWarlord_Mashaka for pointing out my error.
What I meant to say was that the Argentina game was the only full-blown international the Lions have played on home soil. All the other games were one-off matches against invitational teams to mark particular occasions I believe. The Lions also played in Paris in 1989, but I don't know about you; I'd be happy if they never played 'at home' again. That Argentina game four years ago felt all wrong to me.
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Comment number 11.
At 19th May 2009, U13967209 wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 12.
At 20th May 2009, Hookers_Do_It_Best wrote:I'm glad to hear that the Lions will be having a pint together. That is what rugby is all about, playing with your mates and having a pint together afterwards. These days, even at university level it seems to be more and more about time in the gym and time at training. Yet there is no real bond between new players and the old guard. A bit of back to basics for Geech is just what is required!
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Comment number 13.
At 20th May 2009, mac wrote:Great article Bryn.
I stuck the Living with Lions DVD on last night intending to watch the two wins to get me in the mood for the start of the current tour, I ended up staying up 'til 4am watching all of both discs. I felt a bit ropey this morning so I phoned my boss to say I'd be in late and told him why. No bother, he said, on one condition, I lend him the DVD.
On the subject of the 'bonding sessions', one of the funniest quotes (no names, but he's Welsh and no stranger to hair gel) I read about them was "I didn't really see the point of it, I mean all that happened was we got to know each other and how to work as a team." Priceless.
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