Best of luck, Warren – you will need it
In the first of his exclusive Telegraph columns, Sir Graham Henry explains why this tour will stretch the Lions to the limit
Lions tours put New Zealand on the map and were the basis of our success
‘Better never stops’ is one of the maxims of the
All Blacks, a desire to seek constant improvement, an attitude that the British and Irish Lions will face from the moment that they touch down in New Zealand.
They already have to cope with the most demanding itinerary that has ever been put together and they will also have to contend with highly motivated players right across the land for whom playing against the Lions will be the pinnacle of their careers.
It is a hell of a task, but that is the nature of touring New Zealand. We have never lost our love of rugby. It has always meant so much to us and it continues to do so. It matters in a way that it did first of all to the Originals (the New Zealand tourists to Europe and America) of 1905 and again to the 1924-25 Invincibles and has continued to do so. New Zealand was a pretty insecure country back then and had something of an inferiority complex.
Those tours put us on the map, gave us confidence and laid the foundations for what was to come. The All Blacks are central to our national pride and identity.
And there is no assumption that it will carry on that way. It has to be worked at. The All Blacks take their legacy very seriously. It is discussed all the time and will be as the Lions arrive.
When the boys get selected for the All Blacks, it is their responsibility to enhance the jersey. Having respect for the past, for what rugby means to us all, is a central part of the deal.
The Lions know that. Warren Gatland knows that. But they will still have to come to terms with it