Geech: 'It exceeded my expectations'
Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:43
Celebrating his success: Phil Vickery and coach Ian McGeechan
British and Irish Lions head coach Ian McGeechan has paid tribute to the Lions of 2009 and admitted that the quality of the three tests matches in South Africa was far greater than anything he had ever expected.
The iconic coach was speaking on Sunday following his sides 28-9 victory over the Springboks and, despite the fact that the tourists went down 2-1 in the series, said he was immensely proud of the effort the team had put in.
"I was very proud of yesterday [Saturday] - this group of players are as tight a unit as I have ever worked with under pressure. I think last Saturday was the lowest I have ever felt, but we took those two or three days but they came back well and trained Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and they were superb - absolutely excellent.
"The players have been outstanding and were very ready for a Test match and I'm really proud of the way we've finished it and we can carry a winning Lions jersey for the next four years.”
The first two tests of the series saw the Lions lose out to the Springboks by five and three points respectively before, with the serious already decided, the Lions overwhelmed a much-changed Springbok outfit on the final day in Johannesburg.
Talking about the series as a whole, McGeechan said he had been very impressed with the quality of rugby played by both teams.
"It [the standard of rugby] exceeded my expectations - we knew that South Africa were in good shape they are a powerful team and at the top of the tree at the moment but we also knew that there were certain ways we would have to play to try and put them under pressure.
"They do have strengths in most areas so really to pull the game we've put together and to keep that going for three Test matches with a change of personnel leaves me really very proud of that achievement from everybody."
The former Wasps Director of Rugby has already publically praised the organizers of the tour, calling the 2009 adventure the best run tour he has work on, but admits he would still like to see the International Rugby Board show more consideration for the Lions brand when planning the rugby season.
"[I’d like] to have an extra weeks preparation - it was a little bit tight and there was a bit of persuasion involved to have the full set of players for that week but we got round that.
"The only two major things on the IRB calendar are the Lions tours and the World Cup so you would hope that there is enough planning that goes into that.
"People need to understand just how big a Lions tour is to a player that hasn't changed and if anything it's got better and bigger and I hope that the people who are associated with the players on a long term basis understand that there should be a very careful look at how you prepare for a Lions tour."
Do you agree with McGeechan? What did you think of the Lions of 2009?