Ads A, I think we have found some common ground here.
I­ wouldn't worry too much about some of the­ overly-partisan Bok postings; like most of my­ countrymen, I also can't resist a bit of baiting of­ the opposition, but its mostly all tongue-in-cheek.
I­ think that sometimes the depth of feeling gets a bit­ misdirceted. I find the nasty politically laced and­ nationalistic postings equally offensive from either­ side. I suspect that face to face, not one of these­ blowhards wouldn't have the guts to spout the­ vitriol they are laying down on this blog. ­
Remember, the Lions beat us last time around, so the­ victory is all that sweeter, and one can't be­ surprised that there is a fair bit of banter.

And­ have I been on the reciving end. Geeze, in 1997 I­ watched in horror as the Lions pipped the Boks (also­ then the reigning world champion)...and that was in a­ pub in Swansea if you could ever imagine a more­ partisan venue. Those Welsh-lads can dish it out in­ spades, let me tell you! It was a truly memorable­ evening, one of the best nights out ever.
I think that­ I speak for the vast (perhaps not so silent) majority­ of SA rugby fans when I say that we have huge respect­ for the Lions supporters, and admire their passion and­ pride in their team. It's something we recognise in­ ourselves.
When do you see rival international­ football supporters seated together and enjoying a­ drink in the pub afterwards, whatever the result!
Rugby­ is a special game, and rugby supporters and players are­ a special breed.

Well said bosvark. This was a great tour, even if the­ results havn't gone our way the lions have aquitted­ themselves well. I reckon the boks have a hell of a lot­ more respect for them than they did two weeks ago­ (though it would be nice if a few more of their­ supporters could show a little bit of class in­ victory). The notion of abandoning the lions tour­ should be dropped altogether, and it will, Its just a­ convenient angle for starving journalists to get a­ story out of.
Its hard to see how more time can be­ found for preparation next time around (maybe a couple­ of games against the Baa Baas before they head off? The­ first of those games could overlap with the heineken­ cup as the lions squad is large enough to select­ players who are not involved in HC final.), but­ definitely the negotiations regarding fixtures and­ opposition need to be handled differently.
Lets hope­ the lions can win the last one.

I would hate to see the end of Lions tours. A Lions­ tour is something really special, right up there with­ the world cup (imo anyway). I appreciate how­ disappointed the Lions camp must be having come so­ close. The current players are great competitors, and­ the Boks and SA have huge respect for the team and­ management. This series has been amazing, closer than­ any Lions tour since their win in SA in '97, and­ closer than any SA supported would have imagined. Geech­ has truly restored the credibility of Lions since being­ massacred in NZ.

The All Blacks are a great side,­ but have earned the unenviable reputation of world cup­ chokers. Without Carter and McCaw, the current team is­ but a shadow of their former selves. I look forward to­ the Tri-N.
Gregg B; I am not sure I would call the­ 2007 RWC final close... the English were outgunned in­ every department and the Boks were always in control of­ the game. That said, I get your point- sorry, I just­ felt the urge to rub a bit more salt in the wounds :)

Not sure if your entirely correct there Gregg B.­ Didn't Australia win the 1999 world cup then only­ lose the 2003 to a last minute injury time drop goal by­ a certain Mr Johnny? And as for your 4 months rest­ idea, the kiwis wrapped there superstars up in cotton­ wool before the last world cup and look what happenned­ to them!!

i have a solution for the lions. they should go and­ tour argentina on the next tour - another southern­ hemisphere team. this gives argentina a chance to play­ them and the lions will at least be able to win some­ tests

In principle Geech is correct and a brillaint­ stratagist BUT in total agreement with kevin.
I pay to­ watch a Guiness Premier side on a regular basis and its­ part of that money that pays for these players week in­ week out, not the natonal side nor the lions side. Its­ bad enough that clubs lose players for the 6 nations­ for some 5 matches each year, something which if u look­ at the results from the league during that period meant­ a near complete change around in league positions. The­ rugby season dosent finish when the league finishes,­ only after the cup competitions are complete is it­ complete. That said the lions tours are only every 4­ years so some common ground needs to be found overall.­ The lions done us proud this tour and had 3 or 4 major­ injuries not occurred the result would have been­ different. Well done lads!!

As with most major Sports in the UK I don't think­ we tap in enough to the massive experience of our­ former stars on just how they got to the top and­ reached the heights of achievement. I had the good­ fortune to be on a party led by David Duckham and­ others at this years Hong Kong 7's. At our evening­ get-together David gave a marvellous inspirational­ speech mentioning his experiences with the Lions and­ what it meant to him. We really need to wave the flag­ of the British and Irish Lions to today's up and­ coming players at Club and International level. Go­ Lions Go at Jo'burg in the 3rd Test. You have­ already produced wonderful sporting entertainment.

It is a HUGE pity that the Lions players can't be­ released/rested at least 4 months before a tour. If­ this WERE to happen though, I very much doubt ANYbody­ would even come close to beating them. SA are the world­ cup champs but NO team has successfully defended the­ world cup. The closest this has been was when England­ played against SA in the 2007 World Cup Final. Also­ only Australia & SA have won the world cup twice.­ One should also remember that shortly after SA won the­ 2007 WC they came LAST in the tri-nations behind­ Australia & New Zealand

I unerstand where Geech is coming from, but it will be­ really difficult to enforce. C lubs expect there star­ players to play week in week out, and the home unions­ wont release or rest players for a Lions tour.