Memories worth more than cash
These epic events in New Zealand proved that, in rugby, the Lions really are the pinnacle
Pre-tour wisdom confounded and post-tour questions aplenty – the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand 2017 will not be forgotten in a hurry.
Let us remember where we were six weeks ago. The Lions had accepted what many thought an insane schedule against the best team in the world and losing all three Tests was seen as a real possibility. That the third
Test was drawn was symbolic of the fact that there was very little to choose between the teams.
For Warren Gatland and his players to match the worldranking No1 team with six weeks preparation was a laudable feat. Though people were left feeling hollow because of the nonconclusive outcome that was not the fault of the players who have every right to feel proud of what they have achieved. The tour definitively answered questions about the popularity of the Lions, a relic from the amateur era, with the hosts, sponsors, fans and most importantly the players.
It is unfortunate but inevitable that the tour ended with questions over decision-making and officiating. Should the Lions have gone for the win in the last two minutes and kicked for the corner when they were 15-12 down? No, because there was the possibility of one last drive from the kick-off from which they could have forced a penalty or dropped a goal.
Was referee Romain Poite correct to change his mind and not give New Zealand a penalty for Ken Owens handing the ball in front of Liam Williams in the closing 90 seconds? Was Kieran Read in front of the kicker at the kick-off? Did he make a genuine attempt to play the ball or did he hit Williams in the air? Did the ball travel forward off Williams? Did Owens deliberately or accidentally handle the ball? And, the one nearly everyone missed – did Owens deny an opponent an advantage by handling the ball? This does not require the handling to be deliberate by the way. Thereafter, could Poite have used the Television Match Official to review the decision as, initially, it did not seem it was foul play?
For me, he got it wrong. Owens did deny an advantage by handling the ball, even though it was harsh and he could have done nothing about it – handling by instinct is, by definition, not deliberate.
And yet, this was not the cause of New Zealand failing to win the Test. You could not be sure that Beauden Barrett would have kicked the penalty. No, to answer that question you can look at their failure to convert three golden try-scoring chances in the first half. You also must ask, what is it with New Zealand and their inability or unwillingness not to try for a game-winning drop goal? Many sports cater for draws but I’ll bet if you ask the players they would have voted for a winner takes all period of extra-time. I’d wager that such a provision is written into the next tour contract.
Which leads on to the question – will there be another such contract? If Lions tours are to go on, they must sign a 12-year deal with the three hosting countries that gives the same rights, rewards and obligations. Will this be possible, given the views of some of the Premiership clubs?
The demand is to cut the tours from six weeks to five and from 10 games to eight. This looks like a simple reduction but it is not. Lions tours are predicated on the premise that any player can play themselves into the Test team and Anthony Watson is the most recent example of this. If you shorten the tours and number of games, the only way to prepare is to play the Test team from the off.
This will alter the balance of the tour and make it more difficult to maintain the integrity of the midweek team. It might, in time, lead to the abandonment of the midweek team; if that goes, the Lions as we know it also goes.
Don’t be fooled and think this is about player welfare; it’s about cash. The English clubs want more money but if they think this will be an easy fight they are wrong. If they cause the demise of the Lions they will not be readily forgiven by fans, English ones included. They will not be well received by players who, rightly, see the Lions as the pinnacle of their careers. Memories are worth more than cash once you have a reasonable income and, trust me, Lions’ memories are the most precious of all.