Lions playing South Africa at home in Britain and Ireland is one of 3 contingency plans under consideration
The Lions playing their series against South Africa in the UK and Ireland is one of three contingency plans under consideration in case this summer’s tour is called off because of the coronavirus pandemic. The PA news agency understands that the feasibility of a postponement until 2022 and pressing ahead with the current itinerary in South Africa but holding the games behind closed doors are also options being examined.
The outlook on the tour taking place as scheduled is looking increasingly bleak due to the escalating Covid-19 crisis which has seen a rising number of cases on these shores and in South Africa.
Adding to the complexity of the dilemma facing the Lions are the new Kent and South Africa strains of the virus, with health minister Matt Hancock admitting he is “very worried” about the latter.
Lions managing director Ben Calveley confirmed on Saturday that talks are ongoing over the tour’s viability with a final decision due next month. The board is gathering information and data to assess the feasibility of the current schedule and the three alternatives, each of which come with substantial drawbacks.
Holding an historic first Lions series in Britain and Ireland would enable the event to take place in its allotted window amid the prospect that fans would be able to attend Tests in venues such as Twickenham, the Principality Stadium and Aviva Stadium.
This isn't a bad shout at all from Alex Payne. #LionsRugby #Lions2021 https://t.co/evQkVJA3Cm
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 3, 2021
With vaccine programmes already underway, sizeable crowds could be a genuine option, and overall there would be a commercial upside compared to a behind-closed-doors series in South Africa. But failing to leave these shores would strip the Lions of mystique and the against-all-odds spirit that makes their overseas quests such compelling viewing, especially when the destination is the home of the world champions.
A postponement to 2022 would suit cash-strapped South Africa in the hope that by then coronavirus is in full remission and some semblance of normality has returned, but it is certain to be met with strong opposition from the home union’s head coaches.
Next year’s tours to the southern hemisphere are an important staging post 15 months out from the 2023 World Cup and losing them would be regarded as an unacceptable price to pay for those whose reputations are made or broken at the global showpiece.
England’s Eddie Jones has repeatedly stated that Lions players are exhausted upon their return, needing several months to recover, so the prospect of having to recondition his most valuable stars at such an important time will see him and his tracksuit rivals lobby hard against it happening.
Still under examination is the tour unfolding in South Africa as planned, but with no fans present from either nation able to attend. This would generate revenue from broadcast money and preserve the Lions’ touring tradition, but without the predicted contingent of 30,000 noisy travelling supporters adding passion and colour, the spectacle would be devalued beyond recognition.
And on top of stripping away a vital element of the Lions’ meaning, South African cash registers would remain silent as a lucrative opportunity that comes only once every 12 years passes by.
When the Springboks’ union chief Jurie Roux suggested ‘no fans, no tour’, his overriding consideration was the financial uplift to his nation. Hovering in the background but armed with a strong and influential voice are broadcasters Sky Sports, without whom the whole escapade collapses and whose position on the contingency options is unknown.
Calveley and the Lions board are stuck between a rock and a hard place, confronted by an unenviable decision, desperate to save tour but understanding that lives could be at stake. South Africa’s vaccine programme is far behind the UK’s and with the tour looking increasingly unlikely to happen with each passing day, it may be a case of choosing the least bad option.
It won't be bad news for everyone if this July's tour is rearranged ?#LionsRugbyhttps://t.co/aToXVOYlFM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 5, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Anna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to comments