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The incredible 1974 Lions treasure that Springboks boss Nienaber was given by his father
New Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber has explained how his passion for the upcoming Test series against the Lions was ignited many years ago when he received a special present from his father – an autograph book containing the signatures of the famed squad Willie John McBride skippered in South Africa on their 1974 tour.
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The three-match Test series – which begins on July 24 – is only the fourth time that the Lions have toured South Africa since the mid-70s and Nienaber can’t wait for it to unfold having had his interest in the tourists piqued all those years ago by his autograph-hunting father whose collection would likely realise a high price if the book was ever auctioned.
Nienaber was in Bloemfontein this week working with whatever Springboks were available to train following last Saturday’s announcement of a 46-strong squad that hasn’t been without its drama.
No8 Duane Vermeulen, the 2019 World Cup final man of the match, requiring midweek surgery on a damaged ankle after he limped out of last weekend’s Bulls match in the Rainbow Cup while Irish-based duo Damian de Allende and RG Snyman were treated for burns following a fire pit accident involving petrol.
“It is massive,” enthused Springboks boss Nienaber about the impending arrival of the Lions in South Africa for their eight-match tour. “It would be a pity if the British and Irish Lions were lost. There is such a rich history in it.
"They explained it to me and it makes perfect sense"
– Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber absolves his burned players of blame#Springboks #LionsRugby
https://t.co/BHnKF4lEki— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 9, 2021
“When we flew up to Bloemfontein I was on the flight with Naas Botha and he spoke about the 1980 Lions. We went back into international rugby in 1992 (after the ban for apartheid) and he would have loved a tour then but they only came in 97. People are talking about the Lions to us. It’s almost like World Cups, 95, 99, 2003, 2007, you remember where you were. Funny enough, my first autograph book that I got from my dad had all the British and Irish Lions of 1974. They toured that year. I was born in 1972 and he told me about every single guy who was on that British and Irish Lions tour and how it was a good tour for them.
“That is how massive it is for South Africa and that is just my little take on it. For the players it is colossal, it’s once every 12 years. The World Cup will always be the World Cup and I won’t say one is inferior to the other and one is superior, it’s just different… the specialness of the Lions, it probably will only come once in your career and that is what makes it so special.”
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Wednesday is D-Day for Vermeulen and his Lions tour chances #Springboks #LionsRugbyhttps://t.co/f6GTTei9Dp
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 9, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
The side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
4 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
4 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
4 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
4 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to comments