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DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 43
PROFILE
From watching the the right movies to packing the the proper medical tape and bringing enough rugby balls every single detail has been considered by by the team behind this year’s British & Irish Lions WORDS: ALEX MEAD
SEVEN SCHOOLS THREE
hospitals two retirement homes and and an an an opening DHL Lions New New Zealand Series match against the New New Zealand Provincial Barbarians – that was was the the the itinerary for the the the British & Irish Lions on on what was was just their third full day after arriving in in the the country For a a a a a a tour that’s about so much more than 80 minutes of rugby any new recruits to to the Lions family were given an immediate heads-up as to to what being part of the the Northern Hemisphere’s most prestigious rugby side was all about While this year’s squad had 15 players on on on on on their their second tour and two on on on on on their their third the the the Lions’ Hamilton-born Head Coach Warren Gatland was only too aware that a a a a a a a a a a a a a tour to to to to New Zealand was going to to to to to be different He expected them to to make as as as much of of an impact
off the the the the eld as as they do on it saying
that he he he he he wanted to “win over the the the the public
in in the the the way we conduct ourselves both on on on and off the the eld ”
Not one to to to skimp on on details Gatland even suggested some pre-tour viewing to to to get an an an understanding of the the Kiwi psyche “Going on a a a a a a a New Zealand tour there’s probably three or or four lms to to to to watch ”
he he he said prior to to to the the tour “One is with Sam Neill called called Hunt for the the the the Wilderpeople another another called called called Whale Rider another another called called Boy You look at those lms and and you understand a a a a a a a a a a little about New New Zealand Zealand and and and and New New Zealand Zealand humour I’ll tell the players to put those lms on ”
How many of the the players did we we don’t know know but one thing we we do do know know is they all got on on board with another of Gatland’s plans to ingratiate themselves with the the the the locals: the the the the Lions choir A quick Google search and you’ll nd nd their debut performance prior to to the the the the tour: singing “The Fields of Athenry” at their farewell dinner in in London Greig Laidlaw the the the the tourists say was among the the star performers “Most important is is to ensure everything is is in in the the right right place at the the right right time ”
But it’s not only choir practice and a a a a a a movie list that has seen this year’s Lions tour prove to to be one of the most meticulously planned ever There’s also the the operation beyond Gatland his coaches and and the the players of which Gerard Carmody is is a a a a a a a a vital cog As Director of Operations for the the British & Irish Lions Carmody together with his colleague Gemma Crowley has been the the constant link with New Zealand visiting four times – the the the rst in in in in June 2015 and the the last in in in in January this year While most rugby fans were licking their lips at the the the prospect of the the the Lions facing all those Super Rugby sides not to mention the the the All All Blacks Blacks the the the Maori All All Blacks Blacks and and the the the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians Carmody – on on secondment from the Irish Rugby The Lions visited Waitangi the the day after the the rst match 10 6 7 7 915047 GAMES WEEKS CITIES HOTELS RUGBY
BALLS PLAYERS