'What you do today is how you're going to be remembered': Spirit of Rugby - Ep 5
RugbyPass is sharing unique stories from iconic British & Irish Lions tours to South Africa in proud partnership with The Famous Grouse, the Spirit of Rugby.
In episode five of Spirit of Rugby, Jim Hamilton talks with Matt Dawson, Jeremy Guscott, Rob Kearney, Simon Shaw, Tom Croft, John Bentley, Rob Wainwright and Ian McGeechan, who explain what the players can expect from South Africa this year as well as what the spirit of rugby means to them.
Matt Dawson
“The intensity that South Africa bring… the atmosphere is incredible and then you saw the likes of Os du Randt, Mark Andrews, (Gary) Teichmann, all these guys running down this ramp into the field, it was like we were the gladiators and they had opened the gates and lions and tigers and everything were being thrown into the pit and saying, ‘Go on then, deal with that’. Incredibly intimidating and it won’t be any different.
“This is World Cup final level, these three Test matches are World Cup final level, make no bones about it. Physicality, pragmatism, decision making under pressure, flashes of brilliance, but it’s going to come down to the physicality and ’97 was exactly the same.
“Famously Geech (McGeechan) said that in 32 years’ time you’re going to look at one another and bump into some of the people on this trip in the street and you wouldn’t have spoken to them in 30 years, but you will know. You’ll have this special bond with one another that no one will ever take away and it will be incredibly special.
And as the cynical players that we all were when we were playing, we were like, ‘Yeah, that’s nice, it makes me feel good, but okay’. But he’s absolutely right. When you do see them, when you talk about it at the dinners or Zoom calls or business, it’s an amazing feeling to have gone through those types of experiences and adversity with such brilliant people from backgrounds that you wouldn’t ordinarily have met.”
Jeremy Guscott
“Everything in South Africa is big. The people are big, the food is big.
“Drink it slowly, sip it, and just think of your favourite drink and every part of that Lions experience is going to be taking sips of your favourite drink and mouthfuls of your favourite meal. The Lions is bloody awesome.”
Rob Kearney
“They make no bones about it, they just want to beat you up. So you have to be really prepared for that physical battle.
“These Tests are literally going to be shown on TV for the next ten, 15 years. What you do today, that is how you are going to be remembered as a rugby player.
“It is a bond, and again it’s cliche, but you look someone in the eyes who you toured with and you both just know and you both just appreciate it.”
Simon Shaw
“It’s always a physical challenge and you have to meet that head-on, there is no swerving it. These guys are monstrous men, not just up front but all over the pitch.
“I always felt that I didn’t have a place. I always felt awkward being the height I was and in rugby, I felt I had found a home. I’d found something where the rest of the people on the team saw you and saw a worth in you. You have something to offer.”
Tom Croft
“Make sure when you come off that pitch there is nothing left in the tank. Don’t ever have any regrets, ‘I was a bit tired’ or ‘I could have made that tackle’, especially as this only comes around every four years.”
John Bentley
“I have a tattoo down my side, it’s a poem. It’s called The Man in the Glass and I relate it to sport in terms of it is about the mirror on the changing room wall. Everybody looks in the mirror, some of them actually peep out the corner of their eye, some of them stand there, unashamedly, doing their hair. The key ingredient is having walked out onto the field across the white line, something has got to change. It’s to have an ability having completed the game to come back into the changing rooms, to look back in the mirror and think, ‘I’m pretty comfortable with what I’m looking at there’.”
Rob Wainwright
When asked what the spirit of rugby means to him, Wainwright said: “Interestingly, it’s tied in with the Lions but the experiences I’ve had with Doddie (Weir) over the last four years since his MND diagnosis, the way that the rugby family has come together to support one of their own, you understand what a privilege it is to have this ‘in’, an instant ‘in’ as a member of a close-knit family. You’re invited into people’s lives without any question.”
Ian McGeechan
“The great thing about rugby is the word support. On the field you don’t get anywhere without it, off the field you see it in hugely different ways, but so often of people doing things to allow you to achieve something. The lad from the secondary modern school in Leeds, living in the council house eventually plays and coaches the British and Irish Lions. That’s people and that’s rugby.”
Comments on RugbyPass
$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to comments