Wishing our Lions well

THE British and Irish Lions have their chests puffed out, and they will look proud and resplendent when they board their flight for New Zealand tomorrow. There are 11 Irishmen amongst the party and they too will dare to hope of overcoming the greatest of odds and making history in the month to come.

However, they face an All-Blacks coach who is relishing their visit – and his team will test the fabric, and the very notion, of the Lions.

We wish the travellers well. Lions’ tours, as we remember from the ill-fated party led by Brian O’Driscoll in 2005, rarely disappoint when it comes to raw and uncompromising entertainment.

With our own halfbacks of Johnny Sexton (left) and Conor Murray likely to pilot and co-pilot the team through the three Tests, the 2017 tour is one that we may not forget for a long time either. But we must sincerely wish that it is for all the right reasons and after a challenging, honest and manly 10-game exhibition of all that is best in professional rugby.