Kath Muir's Lions Tour blog: April/May

After the under-whelming draw with Argentina, the Welsh media have already declared their interest saying: "Too slow, too old and too English" They will be calling the tourists "Dad's Army" next and we all know what happened to the last team who were called that - they went on to win the World Cup - just in case we all forgot.

25.5.05
What was supposed to be an easy match against the Pumas turned into a real worry for Lions fans. I'm told most people burst out laughing at the new Lions anthem. As for the game itself, well, lets be honest, that will not be the test team. But we did look like a team cobbled together in a hurry. And yet we have that man - Jonnny. The Lions would have lost if he hadn't shown why he is a true great. The pressure of that last penalty kick was huge and once again ice runs through his veins. And not one person was singing Don't Cry for Us Argentina at the end - Well done the Pumas.

24.5.05
The Lions' management went for strict privacy in the run-up to the match with the Pumas. They have been training at University Playing Fields in Ponty Wales but it would seem no fans can get access to see them at all. One fan commented: "It reminded me of those celebrity weddings where a magazine has exclusive rights and nobody is allowed nearby. I also wonder why they want such privacy as its no secret as to how the Lions will take on the All Blacks - dominate them up front. I mean if I was some kind of Henry spy, I could go up the mountainside overlooking the fields and take a set of binoculars. But then again, paranoid Clive may have thought of that and have specially trained SAS troops up there."

19.5.05
Well looks like our future, future King will be getting his hands dirty with the Lions. According to a spokeswoman, Sir Clive has planned for Prince William to have a "hands-on role" - Hands on what I ask? Not the ball I hope! What with Charlotte Church coming out sometime to meet up with boyfriend Gavin, some of us up in the North World are starting to wonder who will be joining the party next - Elvis, King Tut and the Sheik of Araby have been some suggestions.

18.5.05
Things are changing fast here. Balshaw is out due to not recovering from injury and in steps Mark Cueto just the best winger England has at the moment – be very afraid of this man. Why he was not picked in the first place, well only Sir knows the answer to that one. This weekend sees the Lions' take on Argentina at Cardiff's Millennium stadium and it is really starting to get exciting, we can't wait to see who the fifteen will be for this match – 50,000 tickets sold and the Lions are looking to win.

15.5.05
With Jonny come lately now on the tour, we have both God - as some call him - and Bod (Brian O'Driscoll). Now Bod, the Lions' captain, has gone on record saying : "If we get our game plan right, combined with the skills and passions from four countries, I have no doubt we'll win it." So that's it then, The Lions are going to win! I love fighting talk, don't you?

13.5.05
It never ceases to amaze some of us what Sir Clive Woodward sees in Iain Balshaw. Yes, prior to the last Lions Tour to Australia he was on fire, but during that tour he lost his confidence and form. Now, many of us think that was due to Graham Henry - sorry, but the lad was never the same after Henry finished with him. However, he is now starting to show his old form again after recovering from various injuries and is as some think one of Woodward's luxury selections. He has only started two games for England in a year, but in a squad of 45 Woodward concluded there is room to include players on trust. "You know what he can do. He has the potential to make the test team," said Woodward. And, you know what, I think it might just be payback time for your Henry.

10.5.05
Well the Lions' mane has been well and truly ruffled by the England RFU!  The RFU have sent letters to all England coaches reminding them of their duty to England whilst with the Lions and warning them against devoting too much time to the Lions – how pathetic is that!  Mind you Sir Clive is also saying that this attitude is one of the reasons he resigned as England Coach – Tosh I say, he is the type of guy who has to give his all and he could not do both so that is spin as far as I am concerned.

9.5.05
Still a few disgruntled fans in this hemisphere as to Sir Clive's selection of Lions players, or more to the point who he didn't pick. Mark Cueto and Jason White, the two that most fans seem to feel have been hard done by, both play for Sale Sharks. Some of their supporters have even started a petition for Cueto, mind I am not sure the player himself would thank them for this but we shall see if it will sway Sir Clive.  Somehow I don't think so, do you? 

5.5.05
Time for a Jonny update again after he was named in England's squad to face the Barbarians at Twickenham on 28th May in the Tibco Challenge. More game time for him eh? Our shining white Knight of Falconshire is well and truly mended and determined to join the Lions' Crusade! You must be feeling just a little worried in Kiwi Land surely?

4.5.05
Pampered Lions or what? British Airways will be pampering our Lions as they wing their way to you on their giant silver bird. BA has been appointed as the Lions' Official Airline and the entire Tour party will relax on fully-flat Club World beds allowing them to sleep or rest during the lengthy flight out to New Zealand. BA intends to deliver the Lions ready to play top class rugby and to be able to perform at their very best - well, all I can say is, they better had!

1.5.05
I promised I would keep you posted on Jonny Wilkinson. Think I will start with a warning 'May Day, May Day, May Day' - Just got back from Newcastle Falcons v London Irish game, we won 23 –16 and the best bit - which I am sure you will all love to hear, not! - is that Jonny played the full 80 mins and scored six penalties. He has another game next week in the ZP wildcard play-offs but already there is talk that his assured performance should book his ticket on the Lions' plane to New Zealand. Even Brian O'Driscoll is hoping that Jonny will prove his fitness to join the squad. I reckon you will be seeing wor Jonny this summer, unless something goes drastically wrong.

28.4.05
Just checking over Sir Clive Woodward's Lions Crusader Army - 44 players which could yet rise to 47 and 29 backroom staff and one of them is a Spin Doctor. But if Sir Clive does pull off the Lions Tour victory then, as someone wrote, he might very well go from Knight, to a Lion King.

27.4.05
Well Jonny is on his way to Canada for his summer tour along with Vickery and Tindall after they were both named in the Churchill Cup Squad. However, Jonny is still saying he is going to make a huge effort to get into the Lions squad. The problem is he doesn't have many games left to prove his fitness - Newcastle Falcons v London Irish on April 30, hopefully the Falcons will make the play offs, and then maybe the England v Baa Baas game in May. The shining Knight who sleighed those Wallabies is now running out of time. Will keep you posted.

25.4.05
Now then what has Sir Clive been up to with his squad? Well they got together for the first time last week and silver boots Hensen along with Moody and one or two others in the squad found the whole experience a bit bizarre. Hensen said: "It was just a bit of team building stuff - some painting and role playing. I wasn't too comfortable with it all, I don't think anyone was." Some posters on our website think they need their heads banging together! They have been given the chance of a lifetime to go on a Lions tour and all they can do is pick fault with the coach's ideas. Is this more mind games by Sir? Look out Henry, he is coming to get you.

22.4.05
Hi everyone in Kiwi land! Ouseburn Falcon here sitting in the cheap seats for the Lions Tour – that seat being my armchair and the promoter being Sky. Us up North are now starting to get excited about the Lions Tour in June, mind you we still have a few Zurich Premiership games to see who will drop away into oblivion and then there is the Heineken Cup Final and then those stupid Zurich Premiership playoffs! So the Lions are coming to a venue near you in June eh? Guess who else will descend on you also – The Barmy Army, you must remember them from the Rugby World Cup – Crusaders All!