Wasps
Live the dream! The Lions Tour Beckons
Wade will meet WaspieKev
By Waspie Kev
June 17 2013
Back in 2005, Mrs WK and I decided to plan ahead for a trip to the Lions tour of South Africa in 2009. We’d never been on a rugby tour before but had been captivated by the concept from the moment BOD was up-ended against New Zealand by Mealamu and Umaga, basically finishing the test series off there and then. What was it all about?
Why were so many Brits and Irish willing to save up for years to arrive in their droves? How on earth did fans find the cash in these recession-hit times to travel to the other side of the world to follow a “scratch” team, and which had such a lousy win ratio that if it had been a greyhound it would have been retired many years before. It was so intriguing we just had to look into it.
We did all the planning ourselves, avoiding the rip-off tour companies and trying to beg, steal or in any way shape or form get tickets for the first two test matches. As luck would have it we had business connections over there and managed to get some freebies for the 1st test and the match against Western Province in Cape Town. However, we had to suffer the indignity of queuing up at a little ticket booth in a Durban supermarket in order to buy the ridiculously over-priced tickets that managed to get us into Loftus Versveld just in time to see Schalk Burger sin-binned (should have been red-carded of course) in the infamous Ronan O’Gara match. Little did we know then though, despite the enormous disappointment of losing the series, how the experience would change our lives and create a magical love affair with the Lions. Ever since we returned back to Heathrow the following day with the sound of “Li-yons, Li-yons” still ringing in our ears we decided to try and add to our Lions set starting with Australia this year. We were well and truly hooked.
Good fortune and health has been kind to us and we find ourselves behaving like little kids waiting for Santa to turn up on Christmas Eve. The excitement is almost unbearable as we wait to fly out this coming Saturday night to catch the Melbourne Rebels match along with the 2nd and 3rd test matches against the Wallabies. Again we’ve made all our own arrangements, but making the trip even more special now is the knowledge that Christian Wade will be flying the flag for Wasps and we’re sure he’ll do himself and our great club justice. We might even be happy to buy some of our travelling Sarries friends a beer out there should Owen Farrell kick the team to victory!
The Lions may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for us it’s the ultimate touring experience for this great game of ours. Whilst nothing will ever surpass Wasps becoming a major force once again and winning more trophies, a Lions tour will run it a very close second. Win or lose we’re going to have fun and will carry all your best wishes to Wadey and the rest of Gat’s and Howler’s boys and hopefully return with a series win. We may even see one or two of you out there as well.
When we get home we’ll start plotting a revenge visit to New Zealand in 2017, because if it hadn’t been for “that” tackle we may never have been bitten by the Lions bug in the first place! Now, where’s my suitcase?
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Stumbleupon17/06/2013 13:03
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It was a similar trip for me and the wife for my 40th in '05 that saw us in Christchurch to witness THAT tackle on O'Driscoll. I can't remember a more deflating scene than seeing him taken off the pitch after less than 2 minutes. We also lost Hill later in that same game, having also lost LBND in a mid-week match.
We too managed to do things on a shoestring, including driving the Palmerston North (not the most picturesque of towns) to grab some tickets for the Manawatu game that saw Shane Williams score 5 tries. I even managed to collar Jason Leonard for a chat before the game as well.
Having said that though, NZ really is a beautiful country and my abiding memory, besides the 1st test, was getting to snorkel with wild dusky dolphins in Kaikoura. Oh, and also seeing all the Welsh crying at Sir Clive's team selection for the 1st test (they did have a point though!)
