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SANZAR v Lions

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Bardon

Bardon

Peter Fenwicke (45)
Ignoto said:
Surely for a one in 100 year thing the 6-nations could either be moved to a later time or have a break during that period?
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There is actually a natural break during that period in the 6 nations as it normally starts with games 2 weekends in a row, a week break, a weekend of games, another week break, then the final two weekends of games. The problem with holding the game in a RWC year in the middle of the 6 nations time slot is that so many players would be pulled by their unions you'd be lucky if most of the Lions players have ever been heard of in the SH. Those that had would be has been who can no longer get into their national squads and it would have the look of a Barbarians team.

Already teams hold back in the 6N in RWC years and Wales threw the 2011 competition in order to rest key players and avoid injuries.

That kind of thing not only cheapens the Lions but also is not a very good way to pay respects to people who deserve the utmost respect.

Such an important event deserves a full blooded test match between the best on offer from both the Lions and the Anzac team. In reality such an event actually deserves a 3 test series. But where to fit even the one off game in a RWC year is the problem.

Play it during the 6Ns and there won't be any NH players of note in the team. During RWC year there's no June test window and clubs wont release players for a window that wasn't agreed the last time they had negotiations with the RFU and don't forget the French clubs. Also I would expect an Anzac team to be largely devoid of players who would possibly be involved in the finals of that years S15. Play it in August and it's just another WC warm up game with players wrapped in cotton wool so close to the WC that you'd get more intensity from a toddlers side.

The only sensible time to hold it would be after the world cup is over. Then it would be a case of last man standing after the ravages of the RWC. The most suitable date around the time of year would be as close as possible to Armistice day.
 
kiap

kiap

Steve Williams (59)
TOCC said:
JON also mooted a ANZAC team in 2015 to mark 100 years since Gallipoli.

Just as long as they don't come up with a jersey design like this abortion of a design below:
Manly-ANZAC-Jersey-2012-440x524.jpg
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For 2015, ANZAC makes sense. And the 1989 jersey wasn't too bad:

ib0l9YKeKVAhMx.jpg


iba6LAxyHWytXj.jpg

Mark McBain in background, Michael Lynagh chasing Ieuan Evans.


The original ANZAC XV:
1989_ANZAC_XV.jpg
Click pic to embiggen
 
Melbourne Terrace

Melbourne Terrace

Darby Loudon (17)
Not interested and hope it doesn’t happen for many reasons. Lions has the identity of being british holding the team together. I have no feeling of being Australasian (or southern-hemispherean), ANZAC spirit is dead and i think NZ rugby fans can go jump for their feral behaviour at the last RWC. This is also looks like it would just be started as another meaningless cash cow after JON and the ARU have flogged the wallabies cash cow to death through endless cycles of 4 nations.
I would rather a pacific cup played every 2 years be seriously looked at to give rugby fans something different to look forward too outside of RWC’s and Tri nations with Aus, NZ, the PI’s, Japan and the America’s involved.
 
Bardon

Bardon

Peter Fenwicke (45)
I have no sense of being British but I still cheer as loudly as the next Lions supporter during their tours. However there is a long tradition of the 4 nations coming together for the Lions that simply doesn't exist between NZ and Aus so I can see your point on that score.

Even here in Ireland the Lions can be very divisive with many Ireland supporters hating it with as much measure as I love it. One thing I don't want to see is it being cheapened in a money making exercise. The Lions tours are special because they are so rare.

If they could do it properly to commemorate the 100 year anniversary then I would be fully behind it. But I don't see how it can be done properly in a RWC year when the last thing players need is more games.
 
Scarfman

Scarfman

Knitter of the Scarf
I think we should send an Allied team made up of British, ANZAC and Greek players against a Germany and Turkey XV. Time for a little payback!

Or maybe a Coalition of the Willing team vs the Axis of Evil. Did you know Korea is now ranked head of Portugal? I say we bomb them into the stone age (and their own 22).

If JON is talking this up, then the ARU budget figures must be out and he's trying to create a distraction.
 
ACR

ACR

Desmond Connor (43)
Melbourne Terrace said:
Not interested and hope it doesn’t happen for many reasons. Lions has the identity of being british holding the team together. I have no feeling of being Australasian (or southern-hemispherean), ANZAC spirit is dead and i think NZ rugby fans can go jump for their feral behaviour at the last RWC.
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Gah. If that horse you're on is as long as it is high you could give Black Caviar a run for her money. You could call it "Black Kettle".
 
A

AlexH

Guest
SaderCheif said:
Time to get over it. It was a minority who were acting feral, and you cant say ozzie does'nt have its share of dick heads as well, I've experienced it in Oz but i dont generalise.
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I have never heard of an Australian fan spitting on a Kiwi fan.
 
Penguin

Penguin

John Solomon (38)
SaderCheif said:
Time to get over it. It was a minority who were acting feral, and you cant say ozzie does'nt have its share of dick heads as well, I've experienced it in Oz but i dont generalise.
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Too right, 98% of the people I came in contact with while on a 3 week jaunt there during the RWC were fantastic. Everywhere we went folk wanted to talk Rugby & the banter was mostly good natured and humourous.
The ANZAC spirit is far from dead, it's just been hijacked by dickheads on both sides of the Tasman.
 
matty_k

matty_k

Peter Johnson (47)
We had enough of this back and forth during the World Cup. Get back to discussing the merits of the two teams playing each other.
 
Bon

Bon

Ward Prentice (10)
I don't like the concept at all, and fortunately neither do the the All Black coaches. I'm thinking Australia will beat the Lions without our help just as we beat them without yours.:)
 
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