Barring accidents, Conor Murray will become the third Munster player to lead the Lions into a Test series in 12 years and the sixth in half a century. Such historical facts mean that of all the Lions’ captains since 1968, about one third have come from Ireland’s ancient provincial Kingdom.
Never can so many leaders have been found in one region of Lions’ territory for the ultimate challenge south of the Equator. Wood, a commanding figure on the last Lions tour of the old century and the first of the new one, is not surprised.
“I do think Munster rugby is a bit different,’’ he says. “Munster is a mixture of cities and a whole lot of countryside. I don’t want to get into the trite docker-to-doctor thing but you are talking about players who have always come from all walks of life.’’
The truncated tour launched yesterday is only the fifth by the Lions to South Africa since the late Sixties. Thanks to Murray’s appointment in preference to Owen Farrell and Stuart Hogg, Munstermen will have been in charge for three of them, from Tom Kiernan in 1968 to Paul O’Connell in 2009.
During the period after Kiernan and before O’Connell, two more of Munster’s finest gave the Lions yeoman service. Donal Lenihan captained the unbeaten midweek team, the renowned ‘Donal’s Doughnuts’, through Australia in 1989.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 04, 2021-Ausgabe von The Rugby Paper.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 04, 2021-Ausgabe von The Rugby Paper.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
