I'm in the same boat as you, Artaneboy. I just don't buy the Lions as a concept any more. I used to enjoy it - the alternative at this time of year being cycling or tennis - but a combination of massive hype (I give it 6 months before the first mention of "if he continues like this he could be on the plane to South Africa in 2021) and the toll paid by club/provincial sides has turned me right off.artaneboy wrote:Oh, what's not true; that he wasn't selected for the Lions because of a national "disciplinary" issue? Is that not what both of us effectively said?Dave Cahill wrote:Sorry, but that simply isn't true. His teammates were less than impressed with him either and they actually suspended him from the irish squad themselves. You don't throw the irish shirt on the floor and not face reprecussions.
Look, it doesn't matter anyway. Getting back to the essence of the matter, we are supposed to value the Lions as the pinnacle of the sport in these islands. Well maybe the players regard it so, but many of us fans just don't buy it. I don't hate the Lions concept; but I don't regard it as worth any sacrifice in terms of Leinster and Ireland. End of.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I love the Ryder Cup, an oft-used comparator for the Lions, but that's because I am European, Europe being a tangible entity. I have never described myself as "British and Irish" nor, prior to 2001, "British". I could get behind it if it became a 6 Nations selection but the whole concept strikes me as a strange contrivance.
I felt like this 4 years ago and was made to feel like a freak by some people. This time around I have come across far more people with the same view as me. It is probably only a matter of time before a player turns down a call-up, if it hasn't quietly happened already (I'm thinking of the sort of freakishly talented mercenaries like the Armitage brothers or David Strettle). Before you think that's nonsense, be reminded that both McCaw and Carter took non-injury-enforced sabbaticals in the middle of their careers in order to prolong their useful playing time.
Finally, back on topic, Ringrose's injury is unfortunate but he should be humming by the sharp end of the season and, as noted by others above, it provides a great opportunity for the likes of Reid and O'Loughlin to step up...who knows, if they really show their stuff they could be on the plane in 2021...
