The poignant 2021 Lions interview with the late Tom Smith
The British and Irish Lions have republished the now poignant interview they did last year ahead of the 2021 trip to South Africa with Tom Smith, the veteran of the 1997 and 2001 tours who tragically passed away on Wednesday at the age of 50. Smith became an overnight scrummaging sensation when he started all three Lions Tests in the 1997 series that was won 2-1 versus the Springboks 25 years ago.
Having only been playing seconds team rugby in Dundee 18 months before the tour, the loosehead was quite an unknown heading into the South African adventure as he had only been capped on three occasions by Scotland. However, his efforts in the front row were the catalyst for a reputable career that featured 67 caps – 61 for Scotland and six for the Lions – as well as selection for two World Cups.
Smith was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in November 2019 and now that he has sadly passed on, the interview he did in 2021 with the Lions is now a treasured item as it fully encapsulated his rugby journey from a relative unknown into a tourist who will be fondly remembered for his contribution.
The Lions tweeted: “Recorded last year, Tom Smith reflected on his incredible journey. An icon of our game, also described by Ian McGeechan as ‘the greatest Scot of the professional era to date’. RIP Tom Smith. Lion #668.”
The four-and-a-half-minute audio with Smith is married with some excellent action from the famed 1997 tour and it tellingly explained how the prop came from nowhere to become a Lions star across the weeks that unfolded in South Africa.
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Recorded last year, Tom Smith reflected on his incredible journey. An icon of our game, also described by Sir Ian McGeechan as "the greatest Scot of the professional era to date."
RIP Tom Smith. Lion #668 ?? pic.twitter.com/JRgI1vw3VH
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) April 6, 2022
“I think I got a call from a journalist,” began Smith about how he learned about his Lions selection. “I was unaware of all the fuss. At the beginning of that season, I’d no expectation that I would be going on the Lions tour. In many ways what makes the Lions tour so special is you can come from anywhere. I think 18 months before I was playing for Dundee High School, second XV. The Lions tour was pretty big then but it has grown in magnitude and relevance and importance hugely and perhaps 97 was the springboard for that some of that.”
Smith went on to speak about the team bonding and preparatory training that took place in Weybridge in England before the squad flew to South Africa and he also explained how he fought his way into the Test team front row alongside hooker Keith Wood and tighthead Paul Wallace after some collective trial and error at the set-piece.
“Fran Cotton, Jim Telfer and Geech [Ian McGeechan] wanted to use part of that week to make sure everybody understood what a Lions was and why it was special. The tasks were designed to get us working together and just getting to know each other. That was the first time I had actually really trained defensive organisation in a really methodical way and that is something Geech brought to the table, that defence can actually be a weapon.
“I don’t think there is a single player that arrives at the hotel on day one of a Lions tour and isn’t daunted by the challenge and by the faces around them and that is part of what makes it special. You are a bit out of your comfort zone. These are guys you have been battling with and fighting with over the last three or four seasons and it was daunting but in a good way.
“Getting on a Lions tour is partly about being in the right place at the right time and generally on tour a slightly below-par performance in the first three or four games… you might have played a good game but if you are part of a bad team performance then you have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, unfortunately.
“I, fortunately, was part of the Mpumalanga match, they hadn’t lost at home for several seasons and they really fancied their chances. We played pretty well and beat them quite well so that changed perceptions and built up a bit of momentum. That is the way touring is, momentum keeps going.
“Some of the scrum sessions were pretty demanding. We had a few tough days at the beginning of the tour in the set-piece. South Africans are generally physically bigger men, that is how they are made and we had to rise to that challenge. The first couple of scrums we went back about ten metres but we found our feet slowly but surely.
“I remember at the end of the first Test feeling we had become stronger, more dominant, that was partly fitness and partly togetherness and unity… when the chips were down eight players were buying in and we felt we finished the stronger team.
“If you get to a deciding Test it is very hard to win with the collateral damage, the tiredness, everything like that. You need to get the job done inside two Tests. There was massive relief and celebration (when the Lions win round two in Durban).
“These are the finest of margins. I guess that was where the defensive organisation we had talked about at the beginning of the tour came in. Defence is not just about organisation, it embodies the attitude and commitment of the team.”
Those memories lived on vividly for years after that 1997 trip had ended, added Smith. “Geech, in one of his pre-match speeches in ’97, talked about when you see each other in 20 years’ time you’ll know. You don’t truly understand what that means until 20 years later you always bump into someone that is absolutely right. You were Lions together and it retains that specialness.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, 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.
56 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 comments