PHENOMENAL SUPPORT OF THE RED ARMY:
Fans at home and abroad will be cheering on the Lions today as they compete in a series decider against the All Blacks in Auckland. Philip Dewey spoke to some of the faithful...
BRITISH Lions fans at home and overseas have spent the week gearing up for one of the biggest games in the team’s history.
Thousands of fans made the trip over to New Zealand to support the four nations and have played a big part in raising the team’s spirits when they have been under the cosh.
As the Lions and the All Blacks headed into today’s third Test at Eden Park in Auckland, other fans at home went above and beyond the call of duty.
Farmer Huw Beaven, from Abergavenny, has been showing his support for the men in red by marking their name in fields above the valley.
The chairman of Abergavenny Rugby Club, with the help of his son, Darren, used a tractor to spell the word “Lions” on the family farm.
He said: “Obviously we are avid rugby fans and it’s the climax of the test series so we thought we’d do all we can to support them.
“If they win we’re going to put the score up as well but if we lose it’ll fall a bit flat.
“I am pretty confident we can do it, to be honest.
“It’s who gets the best start, and if we can keep up with them then doubts will start setting in and we’ll have a good chance.”
Huw’s handiwork on the farm can be seen for miles around, but it has also come to the attention of fans Down Under, as well as the Lions themselves.
He said: “My one son is quite good friends with George North so he has showed all the boys out there. We only did it for a bit of fun but everybody has been looking at it and talking about it. Even our friends in New Zealand have got to see it and have been messaging us online.”
Richard Lawrence, 24, from Pontyclun, went out to New Zealand to watch the Lions face the Highlanders and watched the second test in the fan zone in Auckland.
Speaking about his experience on a Lions tour, Richard said: “The atmosphere was amazing, it was just superb.
“I was in Dunedin and as you walked round you bumped into anybody and everybody, Irish fans, English fans and Scottish fans.
“You’d be chatting in the bar with them and get invited to random parties and it was great to be there.
“There was great banter with the Kiwis, they were great, to be fair, and they were complimentary about our fans. It was quite brilliant.
“It was a tour I always wanted to do, especially in New Zealand, and it’s nothing like I ever imagined it.
“I have been to Wales games in Scotland, England and France but it’s even bigger and you feel like you’re a part of it and that something massive is going on in the country.
“It really is unique and is not something you’ll get anywhere else.
“There’s a chance that we can win the series but I think we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves, they were down to 14 men in the last test so I think the All Blacks will win, but we have obviously got a chance.”
One Lions fan, lorry driver Lee Butcher, from Magor, was enjoying the 50th birthday surprise of a lifetime when he witnessed the Lions’ triumphant second test in Wellington last Saturday.
Unbeknownst to Lee, his son, Callum, and wife, Sue, had bought him tickets for the Test match, which they presented to him at their home shortly after the final whistle of the first test had blown.
“My dad’s reaction was above expectations,” said Callum. “He was in shock, struggling for words. He was absolutely over the moon and emotional. He couldn’t believe what we had all planned for a year and a half.”
He added: “It is a special country to us because we used to live there when I was younger. We visited the Westpac Stadium when we lived there to watch the Hurricanes play, which would make it even more special if they went back. We returned to Wales 10 years ago. Mum and I thought it just had to be done!”
Many Lions fans who didn’t get the chance to head out to New Zealand will be enjoying the match at home.
Lions fan Daniel Brown, 26, from Ystrad Mynach, has risen early in the morning and made his way to his local watering-hole, the Woodbine, in Blackwood, to watch the test matches with his mates.
He is now hoping that the Lions can pull off one of their biggest triumphs in their entire history.
He said: “We’re all really looking forward to the game, we’ll be up bright and early over the Woodbine and the atmosphere should be great following the victory in the second test.
“The pressure is all on the All Blacks following their unexpected loss last week.
“If we keep it neat and tidy early on and convert a few penalties it could give us the platform to win the tour. The All Blacks are rightly favourites but I won’t be surprised if we nick it by a few points.”