Back: 'Lions remains the ultimate'
Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:53
Former British and Irish Lions flank Neil Back has expressed his great pride at seeing the current crop of British and Irish Lions storm to a great victory over the Springboks in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The current Leeds Carnegie head coach toured with the Lions on their last three tours and says that the victory was the perfect way to end a tour that had seen the Lions regain their stature.
"The victory and performance on Saturday was a fantastic way to end the tour for the British and Irish Lions. Looking back over the tour as a whole, despite losing the series, I think those involved can justifiably call it a successful tour.
"In the First test the South Africans would probably point to the fact that they took off their key players when they felt the game was won but the Lions could have snatched that game at the death. They could and should have won the Second Test and they produced a quality performance in the Third Test. All the players represented themselves, their countries and their clubs with a great deal of pride."
While there have been some calls for the Lions to be binned Back believes the tradition tour remains the peak of any players carrier.
"It is always a privilege to capped for your country but the ultimate honour is to play for the Lions. Having been involved in the last three Tours I was intrigued to see how this group would come together and although the Series was lost the current group have put the Lions back on the map," added Back.
Back also took time out to praise Lions coach Ian McGeechan, who had led Back in the successful 1997 tour to South Africa.
"Ian McGeechan has announced that this will be his last tour as coach and his contribution to the Lions history is second to none. When it was announced that he was to coach the 2009 Lions, anyone who has worked with him on previous Tours was in no doubt that it was the right decision. He articulates himself so well and although he is quiet he speaks with such pride and passion about the Lions, you can not help but want to do the shirt proud.
"He, and the team, will be bitterly disappointed to be returning home having lost the series. But I was delighted for the likes that of Ugo Monye and Phil Vickery, who came back from First Test to put that behind them on Saturday. The Lions is about a life experience and I am sure everyone involved will be stronger for their summer in South Africa."
With thanks to Leeds Carnegie.