'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
blackadder isnt a key player at all you cant say hes been the best player or a key all black when hes injured every week
2 Go to commentsThat loss to the Blues still stings! The Reds have fallen short in 4 of the 6 games decided by 7 points or fewer. Are they not fit enough to close out the close games or are there tactical issues when games go down to the wire? The pleasing thing is no Australian side can better the Reds record of 3 wins from 5 against Kiwi sides but the Brumbies can match it. Les Kiss has instilled a belief in the Reds that they can match it with all the New Zealand sides.
33 Go to commentsA potential 5th star for Leinster and redemption adter losing 2 tight finals against La Rochelle against Toulouse and the chance for Jacques Nienaber to have some success without Rassie Erasmus running the show.
4 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and welcome back 😁 Vulavalu does look better this year, and about time. I suspect Schmidt will knock the hubris out of him. That one handed put down was so embarrassing. Mind you, I had thought Kiss would deal with that. Leaving aside the different games and skills, in NRL he had a very good (but no bullshit) type of coach in Bellamy, something he hasn't had in Union until this year. Bellamy would have roasted him unmercifully for an unprofessional put down.
33 Go to commentsYou’d think the first step would be taking responsibility for the stupid sh*t you did and to stop blaming other people. Does he seriously think that people believe him when he says it just magically got into his system without him knowing anything about it? You’re gonna notice if you’re on the juice, bruh.
2 Go to commentsI watch the Reds now, and many of their players, and think back to watching London Irish in their last two years under Michael Kiss. I recall Nick Phipps looking a very competent scrumhalf, Rob Simmons a lynch pin in the lineouts. Both men writen off by many on the rugby sites. There is no question in my mind that Kiss has a very different touch to any coach the Reds have had in years. It will take time, but this team could develop into a very good team, hard to beat by any one down here in the SH. You highlight two players especially, Nick. Vunivalu and Paisami are thriving this year, especially the latter. And so many others. The now heavier Fraser McReight, his great mate Harry Wilson, and the “Fardy” man, Liam Wright. That is only three, ut in reality every player is acroos the whole squad is the better for the new regime.
33 Go to commentsRecord Score Downloading…………..
1 Go to commentsWonderful insightful interview with Crusader Johnny McNicoll. He was exceptional in the wins over the Chiefs and Rebels and I am sure he will get a contract again for 2025. He was an excitement machine for Canterbury and the Crusaders in 2011-16 and he still is. He has added to the attack particularly. Had a fine career with Wales in the intervening years.
1 Go to commentsAmazing what decent coaching can do! I always felt Folau never improved much as a player and never had a great coach using his talents. Suli seems different at qld this year.
33 Go to commentsI’m sick to death of waiting 3 years for league players to become half decent. It cripples Australian rugby in the meantime. The Reds actually looked half competent without Vunivalu not starting last week. He’s just a liability of errors. Paisami is looking better than he has in previous years but I’d have Kerevi back in a flash. A kiwi wont tho …...
33 Go to commentsExcellent analysis Nick as we have come to expect. I was not really aware that NFL strategies have been adopted by rugby teams, especially in defence. One point I would make is that the Northhampton attacking player on the end of the chain in the video examples has not maintained the correct depth to be effective. In the footage shown the outside player is too flat to make the best of the opportunity his inside players have provided. In each case they have to reduce speed and turn their body backwards to secure the ball, losing all momentum and giving the impressive scrambling defence the chance to shut down the threat.
4 Go to commentsMorning, John. Do you think that it may be a good idea to rest both teams from the Madrid comp leading in to the Olympics
2 Go to comments« I am preparing myself for much more, something much bigger. I’m focussing on the next cycle, » You don’t say…
2 Go to commentsGeez plenty of time to come right before test season starts. Dont panic mr Mannering!!!!!
2 Go to commentsGreat read Nick. The Reds really have been great to watch this year, and the improvement of not only the players you mention, but the squad in general has been obvious. The Reds 10/12 play making axis is a nice counterpoint to the 10/15 partnership at the Brumbies and Rebels. If Schmidt was to pick say, Lolesio, Paisami and Wright / Kellaway, would this be too many play makers? I notice in a lot of those clips Tim Ryan playing across the field in support of Vunivalu. Is this a feature of Kiss’s structure?
33 Go to commentsSo sad, god rest him. Too young to be gone. RIP
2 Go to commentsRIP big man 🙏
2 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
5 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
33 Go to comments