Blood & Mud

"What Would McGeechan Do?" Genius t-shirt

There are many rugby shirt companies out there, but very few that capture the true banter of the game we all love.  New entrants to the market dumpTackle.com are doing their level best to get there, and succeeding in the main so far.

My personal favourite is the design you see above, which most British & Irish rugby fans can empathise with I think.  Have a squint at it in more detail here.

Top stuff.

Lions to play Barbarians in Hong Kong as build up to Australia 2013

It may be only a year or so since that humdinging British Lions series in South Africa, but the rarely idle Lions machine is already churning out news related to the Australia tour in 2013.

The big news today is that the Lions will once again be sponsored by HSBC, although it seems that in today's Orwellian world, sponsors are now called "Principal Partners".  Perhaps because of the tie-in with the Hong Kong based bank, the Lions will also play a match in the former colony for the first time in their history, playing the Barbarians in the tour curtain raiser.

Also, Andy Irvine will be the tour manager for the trip Down Under, taking over from Gerald Davies who has assumed the role of Chairman of British Lions Limited (no, I didn't know such a company existed either).

There were lots of quotes from lots of HSBC bosses and past & present Lions players about how brilliant this all is.  I'm sure you can guess the tone of them so I won't make your soul cry by regurgitating them here.

Review: Lions 2009 - Living With The Pride

The good people at Lace have given your favourite rugby blog a sneak look at the new two-disc Lions documentary before its release on 19th October and here's our view of it.  

"Lions tours are special, and to be a Lion in South Africa is even more special." these were the words spoken by Ian McGeechan in the opening to 1997's "Living With Lions", perhaps the most seminal sports documentary ever made. And, while it's impossible for anything to have the impact of the original, when the Lions defied the rugby odds, this is the same coach in the same country 12 years later, so expectations are high.

The documentary has everything we have come to expect: rousing speeches, players' off-the-field shenanegans, confessional player-cams, and a peek inside the changing room on matchdays, all of which remain as moving and entertaining as ever.  One big addition in 2009 is a peek into selection meetings where we see the management team wrestling with the same selection issues as all of us; this footage really brings home how heavy the responsiblity lies on them and the agonies it causes McGeechan in particular

Stars of the show are Donncha O'Callaghan, a fabulous tourists and genuinely warm and funny bloke; the kitman "Rala" O'Reilly and his eccentricities; Andy Powell, perpetually having the piss taken out of him; conditioning coach "Bobby" Stridgeon and his comedy videos; and in his own way Shaun Edwards.  The Wasps and Wales coach smiles approximately zero times in three hours of footage, uses the "C" word liberally, and the very personal rage he feels at every conceded try crackles from the screen. 

One criticism is that there is very little reaction to Ronan O'Gara's infamous boot-and-chase in the dying moments of the second Test, other than Shaun Edwards' very apt shout from the touchline in the immediate aftermath. Given that this was arguably the defining moment of the whole tour it is a glaring omission. 

As expected, the heart of it all is McGeechan.  His passion for rugby and the Lions in particularly cannot fail to raise the emotions as you watch, and while at no point does he shout, the authority and respect he commands is palpable.  For those who maybe felt that the third Test was an irrelevance, something not worth sports betting on, or perhaps question the whole Lions project, I invite you to watch Geech's speech on the eve of that final Test and what happens to him afterwards

The worry with this documentary, now in its fourth iteration, is that it may stray into being repetitive of the others, and while there is certainly some of that here, there is more than enough compensation from the new features and the openness that was lacking in 2001 and 2005.  Moreover, these documentaries have always been less about any gimmicks and more about great characters, games and scenarios - there is plenty of all three here.  The doc - like the tour - is painful, funny, heart-breaking yet ultimatey inspirational and I loved it.  Any and every rugby fan will

Disc 2 Extras:  Training Sessions, Speeches, More Player-Cams, Fan-Cams. The training sessions are great as you can see each specialist coach working with the players.

Have a look at the trailer here or pre-order it here with 40% off!

Phil Vickery talks to bloodandmud.com about clothing, apologetic Lions refs and Shaun Edwards' unconventional welcomes

We caught up with England legend Phil Vickery - one of the most friendly, personable and softly-spoken giants I have ever met -  at the launch of the new range for his clothing brand Raging Bull and their new website ragingbull.co.uk.  

You are in the twilight of your career now, but given your history with injuries, did you ever think you would last this long?

It was tough for a while, but I think the move to Wasps has really helped me as it was the right thing at the right time.  Even I thought it was a risk for the club, but they didn't and I certainly hope to stay here until the end, which I think is further away now with the two props rule meaning you'll need more cover on the bench.

Shaun Edwards is seen as a very special coach, working with him what is it that makes him that way?

He's unique.  For example, on my first day at Wasps I got out of the car in the car park and he was getting out of his, he came over and there were no pleasantries he just said, "Hello.  We'll get you back to being the best in the world."  Then he walked off! He's probably not everyone's cup of tea at times, but I respect him and get on with him.  

And how is it working for your old mate Trevor Woodman (new forwards coach at Wasps)?

It's probably more difficult for me than him.  He's been in Oz for four years learning his trade so for him it's another job.

I have to ask, what happened in the first Lions Test?

The ref [Bryce Lawrence] didn't help me, but I didn't help me either if I'm honest.  I actually saw the ref the week after and had a chat with him as I make a point of making the first move in situations like that to take the higher ground and make sure that everything is OK.  He took a bit of a nervous step back when I approached him, but then we talked and he told me that he had watched the tape and said he might have got some things wrong. I thought, ‘well it’s a bit fucking late now!’”  But it was one of the lowest points of my career, and afterwards having to be 24th man for the second test, it's really hard to stay positive and interested when you have very little chance of playing.

Is it true there was a massive piss-up after the second test?

Just because you are a pro doesn't mean you have to starve people, it's about balance and sometimes something like that is just what you need.  Geech understands this and that what makes him such a top bloke and coach, also so did Gerald (Davies, tour manager).  Geech has a different approach to Graham Henry (2001 Lions coach), but I get on well with Graham as well, he's a very good bloke.

At least you got to make amends in the third test..

Yeah, but that was sad in a way as I was only there because of what happened to Adam (Jones) and Gethin (Jenkins).  I was in the physio room when they came off and Adam was on one bench screaming as two blokes tried to get his arm back in the socket and Gethin had a facial fracture that was so bad he looked like John Merrick.  As a fellow front-row - and with my injuries - you understand what that's like.

I've seen a preview of the Lions video for this year and you look like you are crying on the bench at one point.

Hmm.  Yeah.  I can't honestly remember, but I may have been; you go through so much with these guys on tour it's like you've been together years so emotions can run high.

You went on the infamous "Tour From Hell" in 1998, what was it like?

Wasn't great!  But, I think it was also the turning point of English rugby.  Clive (Woodward) never did that again, he made sure that all tours were properly run after that, with most of the top players available.  Also, when I became England captain I talked to Matt Dawson, who captained that tour, I he had learned a lot which he passed on to me.

What was your greatest achievement as England captain?

Surviving the 2007 World Cup press conferences!  Seriously though, it was beating France and knocking them out in their own back yard in the semi-final that year.

How are England doing at the minute do you think?

England are moving in the right direction now, the coaches are settled now which helps.  I remember after the last World Cup I was asked what England needed and I said "stability" then four weeks later they sacked Brian Ashton.  But we have that stability now.

Looking at your company Raging Bull, this is for the long-term.  I take it you didn't fancy going back to the farm after retirement?

Not with milk prices the way they are at the minute!  Farming is a tough business, especially right now, but my mum, dad and brother are still at it. Raging Bull is something I'm very proud of, it's not easy to build up a new brand from scratch and take it out there and make it work, but myself and my business partner and his family have worked hard and it's a success.

Do you make those tight shirts?

Yes, but I must say that as a front-row I am yet to be shown evidence or convinced that the pro-fit shirts give you any benefit whatsoever.  A back who can step and jink I understand as it prevents big blokes like me tackling them by getting one finger on their shirt, but the last game I played I literally could not grip the other prop. In the end I was saying to the ref, "Look, you try and grip my shirt and see if you can do it."

You didn't fancy coaching then?

I want to stay involved with the game and that may mean coaching or not, it very much depends what opportunities come up.  There are other things in the game, it's not just coaching.

Were you surpised about Jason Robinson taking the head coach job at Sale?

I was actually.  I saw him recently and was ribbing him a bit as I know Robbo well as even though he was the smallest man on the team he liked to hang around with us big fellas most of the time.  The opportunity came up and he took it, I can certainly see why.

Rugby Video: Lions 2009, Living With The Pride trailer

After the slightly disappointing 2001 edition and the total absence of one in 2005 (thank Christ, who would have wanted to suffer that in blow-by-blow detail?) it is nearly time for the 2009 version of the now legendary epic Lions documentary. 

You'll have to wait until 19th October before you can actually buy it, which is a shame because watching this trailer I got so excited a little bit of wee came out.  

We've now seen it! For a full advanced review of the doc please click here

Click here to pre-order it with a whopping 40% off!

10 Things We Learned... from the British Lions Tour to South Africa

1.  Brian O'Driscoll will probably never die.  And if he does he'll rise three days later, have a word with his team, then be lifted to eternal glory propelled by flames from his arse.

2. Despite what some idiots think, the Lions are about as near to disappearing as Madonna's desire to adopt most of black Africa.  Moreover, the players seem to have fallen back in love with the concept, mostly due to No. 6 below.

3. Adam Jones is a lot better than he looks. Given that he looks like slightly scruffier version of Sadsack from the The Raggy Dolls, you may think that isn't saying much, but he has been world class and no mistake.

4.  Matthew Rees is half-decent.  Who knew?

5.  Commentators are over-reacting massively to shoulder charges.  They are legal in both Rugby League and Ice Hockey and nobody seems to be killed or maimed on a regular basis, so calm the feck down Barnes et al.

6.  Ian McGeechan seems to be some kind of rugby version of Patch Adams, bringing untold joy to simple childish creatures via him allowing them to have a bit of fun.  The Anti-Henry, if you will.

7.  South African ticket price-setters want a good kicking.  From a 1986 vintage Paul Thorburn.  In a pair of steelies.  Right up the hoop.

8.  Riki Flutey really should have been on the bench for the first two tests.

9.  Given that it will be impossible to ever play that well again, Rob Kearney might as well retire with immediate effect.

10.  If we didn't know it already, this tour proved that Simon Shaw has been woefully underrated, maladroitly mishandled and criminally overlooked for most of his career.

Add more of your own in the comments...

Video: South Africa 9 - 28 British Lions, highlights

British Lions: Five reasons why losing 2-1 is better than losing 3-0

1.  Saving Face.  Unless you are competing in a "Who is Most like Rob Andrew" competition, the smaller the losing margin the better.  Always.

2.  History.  When looking back at this tour,  losing 3-0 will make it sound a lot like 2005, which would be a gross injustice to everyone involved.

3.  Nausea.  Should 2 occur, I will be forced to remember Alastair Campbell and The Power of Four and will then belm all over my laptop

4.  Whitewash.  If you cannot win then avoiding this is always the goal (unless you are a Daz salesman).

5.  Effect on Accident & Emergency Capacity.  I, like many many others, will be in the pub watching the game and if they lose 3-0 it will put a downer on the rest of my day.  I'll then be forced to switch from beer to brandy, which will make me lairy;  I'll get into an argument with the wrong bloke over a beermat, he will be forced to stove my head in with one of his giant tattooed hands, thus leaving me to clog up an already overworked A&E on a Saturday night. So, Lions, if you won't win for your fans then at least win for the poor doctors and nurses at Wythenshawe Hospital.

bloodandmud.com podcast, episode 3

This week we wallow in some Lions misery, have an in-depth look at Bastareaux-gate, and round up all the other news.

Use the player below to listen to it on your computer, right-click here to download it, and don't forget you can subscribe to us on itunes as well.

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Vintage Lions Video: Jeremy Guscott's drop-goal 1997

It's been a terrible week, so let's cheer ourselves up and pretend it's 12 years ago instead!  We'll all put on some Adidas Samba trainers and check shirts, pick a side in the Blur vs Oasis argument and watch Jeremy winning the series vs South Africa. 

What's the alternative? Living in the now that's what, with a global recession, Cold-fucking-Play being one of the biggest bands in the world and staring at a series loss.  Where would you rather be?