Page 33 - Barbarians v The Lions

DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 33
Rob Howley in in in action against Australia in in in in the 2001 Lions series he he played in in two Tests excitement as they picked up all all their kit – it it it it brought back all all my memories of playing with the the Lions I’ve never seen so many rugby players smiling as I I I did that day It’s
brilliant ” When the the the sides take to the the the eld tonight neither side side will have had the the luxury of much training paddock time which can only be good news for for the fans reckons Howley “The challenge for for player and coach is that it’s like going back to the old style of Barbarians rugby ” he he he he says “It’s
where you turn up the week before and all of a a a a a a a a a a sudden you’re playing Australia South Africa or or New Zealand and and you’ve had three or or four training sessions at best “But when you’ve got talent you you have to make the the best use of it If the the the the timeframe is only three or or four days before the the the game then that’s what it is and and we have to let players go out and and play play When we we sat down in selection the amount of of talent we’ve got makes it it one of of the the strongest British & Irish Lions sides that has left these shores The challenge is to get the the the best out out of these players It doesn’t matter about the the time period We have to embrace it There are no excuses That’ll bring the best out of of us us And don’t forget for for some of of these players it’s the the the rst time they’ve pulled on on a a a a Lions jersey so that matters too ” As excited as as the the Lions players were to to pick up their pre-tour stash and and as as much as as the the red jersey means to every British and and Irish rugby player the the opponents aren’t exactly lacking in in in in incentives either “The one thing you tend to forget is is is that this is is a a a a a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those players as well ” Howley says “The Lions only go to New Zealand once every 12 years so you can imagine the passion and pride those players have Whether they’re playing for the the the New Zealand Provincial
Barbarians the the the Blues or the the the Crusaders this is is the the the the the one time they’re going to play against the the the the British & Irish Lions For them that is is is achieving something not many New Zealand players can say they’ve done You have to realise how big this is is is for them too Rugby has has always been about emotion emotion and that hasn’t changed so the the the the emotional attachment they’ll have have to their jersey is the the the the same as we have have ” Does Howley expect the youthful Barbarians to be hopeful of an an upset? “Of course they will ” he he he says “In 2009 we [the Lions] played a a a a a select XV in in in Rustenburg in in in South Africa and we won in in in the “We played a a select XV in South Africa and we won in in the last minute ” last minute It’s
all coming back to the the the emotional attachment – this is is their their cup nal nal nal their their Rugby World Cup nal nal And what we we have over the next six or seven weeks is 10 cup nals and I think that’s how we we look at at it Every side we we play wants to take our spurs “This rst game is is is a a a a a footprint towards what the 2017 British & Irish Lions is is is is going to to be about about ” Howley says “Rugby is is is about about momentum and when you’re winning it gives gives you you you con dence It gives gives you you you self-belief in in in in the systems you’ve put in in place When you you you you lose a a a a a game it it hits your con con dence and you you you start to play a a a a a a a a bit more conservatively and we don’t want want to to do do that We want want to to play an an an an an attractive style of rugby score tries and win games Every game matters ” HOWLEY
BY THE NUMBERS
caps for Wales 10 INTERNATIONAL TRIES
5 Lions tours as player and Coach Six Nations title wins as a a a Coach 1 EUROPEAN CUP-WINNING TRY FOR WASPS COACHED BY WARREN GATLAND
Six Nations title as interim Head Coach PROFILE
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