Emotional Geech defiant in defeat

AN emotional Ian McGeechan yesterday described Saturday’s second Test loss to South Africa as the lowest point of his long link with the brand, but defiantly predicted a victory in the third Test in Johannesburg.

As he did so, he also had what appeared to be a measured side-swipe at the organisation and performances of the disastrous 2005 tour to New Zealand when the Lions were overrun by New Zealand.

McGeechan insisted: “A lot of credibility has been restored, and I think the supporters have played a huge role in that as well. I have been on many Lions tours and I’ve never seen anything like it where there seemed to be a 50-50 split of support in the stadium.”

But he warned the Lions will only enjoy a successful future if they can receive more active support from the power-brokers of northern hemisphere rugby.

“The two biggest things in the international calendar are World Cups and Lions tours. If we could respect that then I think that preparation can help the next coach,” McGeechan said.

“For the professional player, this is what he wants to do. This is where he wants to be. This is the shirt he wants to wear.

“We have got to make that easier to happen. By doing that you make the preparation easier to win a Test series. That is to everybody’s advantage. Whether it is Australia, New Zealand or South Africa give the Lions a fair crack. The important thing is to get everyone to agree that in a Lions season, just as in a World Cup season, you make adjustments to the season for the players.

“I just wish more of those people who don’t want to make time for the Lions would come out and experience a Lions tour because I don’t think they understand the impact. For the players they represent they should make it work.”

The Lions tackled the world champion Springboks after just five weeks together having had no break between the end of the club season and the first tour match, at altitude, on May 30.

In the end they fell just short. “We have had two cracking Test matches. People say ‘are the Lions valuable?’ The rugby we have played has been outstanding. We have seen some of the best rugby ever.

“I think there has been a lot of credibility brought back to the Lions on this tour. To me the Lions in other people’s eyes have just got bigger.

“The look in that dressing room at the end, there was a lot of sadness there. I am just disappointed we are not sat here at 1-1 in a Test series or even 2-0 because I think the players genuinely deserve to be in that position.

“I am hugely proud of what has been achieved and we will take that into the third Test.

“I have always respected South African rugby and I think Lions Tests in South Africa remain the ultimate challenge for players.”

McGeechan admitted that mistakes had been made, both in selection and on the field, but argued that both Tests were there to be won. “We can look back at a lot of things, there are many different circumstances, but we were within a sniff of victory on both occasions. I think that’s remarkable given this is the shortest lead-in time to any Test series for a squad that had to start from scratch.”

Reflecting on the match, McGeechan said: “There is no doubt that we suffered from the four serious injuries our players sustained; they affected the tempo and the flow of the game. Fine, our decision making and accuracy wasn’t perfect in the third quarter but there is no doubt that the uncontested scrums helped us; we had been working the big Springbok forwards in more than one way and that development gave them a soft platform. Losing the two props, particularly at the same time, was a massive blow; the game would have been different had they stayed on.”