Page 15 - Barbarians v The Lions

PROFILE
HISTORY
IN IN THE
Sam Warburton led the British & Irish Lions to to to victory in Australia and he’s out to to repeat the feat in New Zealand – but he won’t be taking tonight’s opposition lightly WORDS: ALEX MEAD
WHATEVER THE
OUTCOME OF TONIGHT’S
game history is is going to to be be made made It will be be made made by a a a a a a a a a man so humble that when he he he was asked to carry out the prestigious duty of of being a a a a a a a two-time British & Irish Lions Captain he he he he actually hung up up on on the the the bearer of of good news “I was was in in in the the the the the supermarket car park at the the the the the time My wife was was getting bread and and milk ” says Warburton of the the the the day when the the the the call came from Lions Head Coach Warren Warren Gatland “I hung up on on Warren Warren rst time around around – I I thought it was the boys messing around ” Luckily Gatland called back and and in in April this year Warburton was unveiled as as only the the second man ever
to to to to lead the the the British & Irish Lions on on on on on on on two tours “This is is is is the the the biggest honour I I I have had as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a player ” ” Warburton says “It de de nitely ranks as as the the the the pinnacle pinnacle of my career so far ” ” That pinnacle pinnacle is is made all the the the the the more special by the the the the the name
name
of the the the the the man Warburton now has his his name
name
alongside in in in in in the the the the the history books: Martin Johnson the the the the Lions Captain in in in in 1997
and 2001 Even as Warburton talks of the the esteemed company in in which he he he now nds himself his pride is is clear “I “I remember watching as a a a a a a a a a rugby fan the 2003 England World Cup-winning team ” Warburton says “I “I grew up up watching Martin Johnson I I I can’t believe only two people have have done it it twice – I I I thought it it would have have been a a a a a a a a a a a lot more than that It’s It’s an an an absolute honour to to to be be compared to to to one one of the world’s all-time greatest players It’s It’s very strange to to to think you’ve achieved the same thing as as him ” Records aside Rob Howley – who who played with Johnson for for the the the Lions Lions and and who who has coached Warburton for for both
the the the Lions Lions and and Wales – reckons they share more than just history-making feats “The qualities are are quite comparable ” Howley says “Sam doesn’t say say too much and and Johnno was exactly the the the same ‘Just go and and and do do it’ – they were the the the famous Johnno words and and Sam is like that ” MAKING
DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 15