Hear the Lions Roar

Paul O'Connell British Lions Captain (image from http://lionsrugby.com)

Saturday marks the first game in the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa. Their first game will be against the Royal XV in Phokeng. The starting team were announced a little earlier this morning and I’m delighted that Mike Blair has been given the chance to show what he’s capable of.

For some reason the fact that the tour starts in two days completely took me be surprise. I’ve obviously known when the first game was going to take place, but the announcement of the team this morning completely caught me of guard. The surprise is really that it’s almost June already. Where has 2009 gone?

While I love these provincial games in the tour, I’m obviously looking forward to the tests against South Africa much more. I have some fantastic memories of watching the last Lions tour to South Africa back in 1997 and on occasion will still watch my Living with Lions DVD with one of my flatmates. With Jim Telfer’s motivational speeches still being some of the most inspiring speeches I’ve ever heard.

The fact that Ian McGeechan is the Head Coach again, and there are a few Scot’s in this squad, helps to keep my interest. It also helps that the games will be on TV at a reasonable time of the day, and not extremely early in the morning as the last two tours have been.

Annoyingly because of other commitments I’m going to miss the game on Saturday, I’m intending on watching every other game on the tour. I have a good feeling about this tour. We have a really good squad, and I honestly think they’re good enough to beat South Africa once again.

For all your Lions tour news check out the official Lions website – LionsRugby.com