Why Maro Itoje has this week been a 'nause' about 2001 Lions tour
Maro Itoje, last Saturday’s first Test man of the match, has been busy this week sounding out the thoughts of various 2001 Lions veterans who are currently on tour with Warren Gatland’s class of 2021 with a view to gaining an insight into how to successfully close the deal in the Test series with a repeat win in this Saturday’s second Test.
While the Lions went on to clinch the 2013 series in Australia with a third Test win after an opening day success, the last time the famed tourists won the first Test but failed to close out the series was 20 years ago when current assistant coaches Neil Jenkins and Robin McBryde, along with Lions chairman Jason Leonard, were part of Graham Henry’s squad.
The Lions defeated the Wallabies in the 2001 series opener in Brisbane, but they came unstuck in the subsequent Test matches in Melbourne and Sydney and the story of what unfolded was something investigated this week in Cape Town by England talisman Itoje.
Current forwards coach McBryde wasn’t chosen by Henry to play in that Test series in Australia, but Jenkins, a first-choice in the 1997 series win in South Africa, came off the bench in the second Test while Leonard, a veteran of the 1993 and 1997 tours, was twice a replacement in a series that went down to the wire in Sydney where Wallabies lock Justin Harrison became famed for a late lineout win versus Martin Johnson.
Not squandering the opportunity to see out the series after an opening Test win is something Gatland has pressed home to his squad in recent days, but Itoje, who played in the drawn 2017 series versus the All Blacks, has taken his homework a step further ahead of this weekend’s rematch with the Springboks.
Jaco Johan is BACK ?#CastleLionsSeries #LionsRugby https://t.co/o28trkvyft
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 30, 2021
“Maro Itoje brought it up in the week with regard to him being a little bit of a ‘nause’ – his own words – looking at the history of the Lions and he made reference to it,” admitted McBryde when asked if there was anything to be learned 20 years later from what played out in 2001 when he was one of the squad’s hookers.
“It has been raised because you have got Neil Jenkins, Jason Leonard and myself, they were there for the duration of that tour so (Maro was asking if there was) anything that we can draw on that experience so that we make sure it doesn’t happen again. I know Maro in particular has had conversations with those individuals. There was definitely lessons to be learn from that tour 20 years ago that are still relevant today so yes, it has been brought to our attention.”
"Somebody that has really, really impressed me in the last few weeks"
– Rare praise for Lions sub Owen Farrell from a Calcutta Cup rival #CastleLionsSeries #LionsRugby #RSAvBIL
https://t.co/UHizoKaqwJ— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 30, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Steve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
24 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
3 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
3 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$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
3 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!
3 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?
24 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!).
3 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.
3 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.
24 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.
24 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.
24 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 comments