LWTL Sports Travel are delighted to have arranged the Ulster U11 boys tour to NZ in 2017 to play rugby and to watch the second Test match in Wellington between New Zealand and the British & Irish Lions.
 

We are very excited to announce that ex Scotland hooker and captain, Colin Deans, is to be an LWTL ambassador on the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.
 
Capped 52 times by Scotland and a tourist with the Lions to New Zealand in 1983 Colin is well qualified to discuss the upcoming tour. He led Scotland into the 1987 World Cup quarter finals and even has the honour of being the first Scot to score against New Zealand in the Land of the Long White Cloud back in 1981.
 
Some opponents (well, they would!) pointed out that he spent a lot of his career offside – especially at the lineout – but many, Bill McLaren included, described him as being tactically astute and a hooker of flaring speed who formed a wonderful lineout partnership with David Leslie. He led Scotland, Hawick and South of Scotland to many victories.
 
We sat down with Colin and asked for his views on the tour and some favourite memories. I think you’ll agree his answers are insightful and will provide many talking points. We are lucky to have him along!
 
LWTL Sports Travel – What are you most looking forward to about the tour to New Zealand?
Colin Deans – The 2017 tour has the hallmark of being one of the most successful Lions tour since the 1974 tour to SA. The squad selected is one of the strongest and well balanced to leave our shores for a long time with raw fire power up front with pace, guile and experience in the backs. I’m also looking forward to catching up with the elderly ABs that I had the pleasure to play against from 1978-1987.
 

LWTL Sports Travel – Which current Lions squad member would you be most excited to play with and why?
Colin Deans – Would love to have played with all the current squad, but if I were to pick anyone it would be the Vunipola brothers, George Kruis in the second row, all the backrow combinations, Johnny Sexton and Stuart Hogg. Hogg I select, due to the fact that I played with his father in my home club rugby and he is one very exciting player who could light the tour up with his electric pace.
 

LWTL Sports Travel – Two Scottish players selected: critical oversight by the coaching team or a justifiable response to the defeat by England?
Colin Deans – My answer would be a bit of both, I thought that there may well have been another 2/3 Scottish players who could have been selected. Either Gray brothers and Hamish Watson, who nullified the Welsh backrow in the second half of the Scot V Wales game and played very well throughout the whole 6 nations.
 

LWTL Sports Travel – Do you have a standout memory and an opponent you would preferred to have played with rather than against from the tour in 1983?
Colin Deans – The AB’s I had the privilege to play against, they were of the same mould as now, pulling on the famous black jersey was the pinnacle of their rugby career. Players like Wayne Shelford, Murray Mexted, Andy Haden, Graham Mourie, Grant Fox, Wayne Smith, John Kirwin, I could go on and on.
 

LWTL Sports Travel – If you could choose 2 props (past and present) to hold onto for one final scrum who would they be?
Colin Deans – 2 Past props would be Ian Milne and Robert Paparemborde, present would be Mako Vunipola and Tadgh Furlong.
 
LWTL Sports Travel – And a prediction: Test score aggregate over the three games and who comes out on top…?
Colin Deans – Test score aggregate over the 3 test matches I would take a guess at 87 points for the Lions, with 71 points for the AB’s and a 2-1 series win for the Lions. I predict we will lose the first test and win the remaining 2.

Saturday 3rd June

Toll Stadium, Whangarei
2017 New Zealand Provincial Barbarians v British & Irish Lions
Gates Open: 5:30pm, Kick Off: 7:35pm
 

Wednesday 7th June 2017

Eden Park Auckland
Blues v British & Irish Lions
Gates Open: 5:30pm, Kick Off: 7:35pm
 

Saturday 10th June 2017

AMI Stadium Christchurch
Crusaders v British & Irish Lions
Gates Open: 5:30pm, Kick Off: 7:35pm
 

Tuesday 13th June 2017

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Highlanders v British & Irish Lions
Gates Open: 5:30pm, Kick Off: 7:35pm
 

Saturday 17th June 2017

Rotorua International Stadium
Maori All Blacks v British & Irish Lions
Gates Open: 4:00pm, Kick Off: 7:35pm
 

Tuesday 20th June 2017

FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Chiefs v British & Irish Lions
Gates Open: 5:30pm, Kick Off: 7:35pm
 

Saturday 24th June 2017

Eden Park Auckland
All Blacks v British & Irish Lions
Gates Open: 4:30pm, Kick Off: 7:35pm
 

Tuesday 27th June 2017

Westpac Stadium Wellington
Hurricanes v British & Irish Lions
Gates Open: 5:30pm, Kick Off: 7:35pm
 

Saturday 1st July 2017

Westpac Stadium Wellington
All Blacks v British & Irish Lions
Gates Open: 4:30pm, Kick Off: 7:35pm
 

Saturday 8th July 2017

Eden Park Auckland
All Blacks v British & Irish Lions
Gates Open: 4:30pm, Kick Off: 7:35pm

Paris? Check. New York for the shopping? Done that. Edinburgh for the rugby? Come on! Cape Town Sevens? It’s been done. Then Auckland? Surely not. You’re mad. It’s a 24,000-mile round trip. You’d need months to recover.
 
Following the announcement of the British & Irish Lions squad we received a surge of requests for our 1st test package which leaves London on Tuesday, arrives in Auckland on Thursday and then has you back home the following Monday. It gives you 3 full days and a couple of half days either side. And what price on being there for the most eagerly awaited Test Match for years. A little exhaustion – pah!
 
With that in mind we at Living With The Lions Sports Travel have decided to put together the fantasy three and half days. It comes with a health warning. They’ll be partying, pampering, adrenaline, a winery visit, links golf, a boat trip (possibly some sea sickness), culture, a rugby match and even a few hours’ sleep. Well maybe not the last bit. You can do that on the plane.
 
The following are a given: The weather will be sunny. The participants will be up for anything and not allowed to say no. You have a driver for day 2. Everything will run smoothly and your sense of humour will just about remain intact. It’ll go like this…
 
You’ll arrive around midday at Auckland International airport and transfer directly to your hotel for a very speedy check-in and freshen up before reporting for duty. It’ll be straight down to the Viaduct Harbour to blow away those cobwebs. You’ll board a sailing boat for a 2.5-hour cruise of the Hauraki Gulf. As the home of the America’s Cup team you’ll have a good chance to perfect your sailing skills or try it out for the first time. You’ll sit down if you want or stand and keep an eye out for dolphins. Drinks and enlightening Kiwi sailing conversation will be on hand.
 
Once your sea legs have returned, or you’ve been sick, you’ll be deposited back at the harbour. From there it is a short walk up Hobson Street to the Sky Tower for the extra adrenaline part of your stay. Remember, say no to saying no! Simply bypass the casino and the bar and take the lift 192m up. Walk out onto the roof, get clipped in to your wire. And jump. Or get pushed by the not very sympathetic New Zealander. Fall at around 85km/h to earth and come to a very soft landing in the Sky City Plaza. Time for a break? Not yet…
 
Your hair will be a mess. You’ve been at sea and now jumped off the tallest building in New Zealand. Jump in a cab and head to the suburb of Posonby. I lived there for a while and found the hairdressers to be most excellent. Find a salon, enjoy a scalp massage, a hair wash and light trim. We need you looking your best. You’re representing the whole of the British Isles firstly and, at a distant second, yourself.
 
Exit feeling renewed. Find the nearest eatery. And sit. Neither you or your travel companion will know where, or who, you are. After a bottle of Otago Pinot Noir and juicy rack of lamb you’ll feel a bit better. Don’t worry, after a couple of extra drinks to wash down the large pudding you swore you wouldn’t have and following coffee you’ll be back to feeling like you’re having an out of body experience.
 
Stumble outside. It’s 8pm. Return to your hotel bar. The temptation to stop for another drink with the gathering fans will overwhelm you. So, you do. It is suddenly 1am and time to sleep. You pass out.
 
Good morning. At 7am. It feels like it should be yesterday. Quick breakfast and then into your car for a trip West. And a quick 18 holes. 45 minutes west of the city is the wild Tasman Sea and the West Coast beaches. Travel through the township of Kumeu and out to the 50km beach at Muriwai.
 
After a quick drive onto the beach it’s straight to the clubhouse of the famous links course. Naturally, it’ll be blowing a gale so the round will be tricky. You’ll go out in 48 and at the turn you’ll both feel a touch grumpy and start berating the other for this stupid idea. As you take a backswing on the 10th tee the sun emerges and the wind drops. You play like you’ve never played before and shoot the inward 9 in 36, narrowly missing an 18-inch putt on the last. Justifiably proud, it is into clubhouse for a light shandy and a pie. Humour restored. You’re starting to really enjoy this now. Walk off the lunch to Otakamiro point and observe the huge gannet colony.
 
Time for wine and a trip to the world famous Kumeu River Winery. Proudly producing world class wines for a long time now, it is an ideal place to have a peak into the New Zealand wine industry. At the cellar door, you’ll have your pick from Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. It is the latter for which they are justifiably famous and compared, often favourably, to their illustrious cousins in Burgundy. Once you’ve had your fill it’ll be back into the car and a return to the beach.
 
Karekare was recently voted no. 38 in the best beaches of the world. By CNN. So, it’s probably in the top 10. Used as a location for The Piano, Karekare is a stunning black sand beach. You’ll walk to a waterfall and then take a stroll through the forest and out onto the sand and down to the ocean. Have a pause, a sit down and enjoy that sandwich you forgot to eat on the plane. And probably a bottle of wine you just purchased from the winery. Then since you’re out that way it is back to the car for the quick drive to PIha Beach and Lion Rock. Watch the surfers make it look easy and think about having a go but then remember what you had for lunch and decide to stay warm instead. The sun is starting to set and it’s time to return to base.
 
You can have the evening to do as you please. Remember what tomorrow brings….
 
Over half-way through now. And the morning of the test match. You know, the reason you are there? After breakfast, it is time for culture. Spend a bit of time looking at the exhibits in the Auckland War Memorial Museum and you’ll start to understand what makes the country so special and the people tick. By the time, you leave you might be starting to think about transferring allegiance. But then you remember who you are. And why you are there.
 
After lunch, it is time to join the rest of the fans. As you travel to the supporters’ village you’ll listen to others talk about their journey and what they’ve done since they arrived. With a shrug of your shoulders you’ll recount your last 36 hours. Nobody believes you. And nor they should; you sound daft. The rest of the day passes in a blur of singing, shouting and laughter. At 1935hrs local time the test series starts. At 1952 Stuart Hogg crosses for a try in the corner following a very patient 57 phases. It is all easy from then on in. The British & Irish Lions emerge victorious 27-9.
 
The rest my friend is a total blur but you make it to your flight on Sunday and are back at home on Monday. You really did just go to Auckland for a weekend. You’ve got the haircut to prove it. Just don’t mention the kiwi tattoo on your calf.
 
See, it can be done. Take a look here at the First Test package. You know you want to…
 
1st TEST PACKAGE WITH LWTL SPORTS TRAVEL

A British & Irish Lions Squad Recap.

 
We take a sensible look at the players picked and the noise surrounding the squad announcement. Who has said what and where they said it. We’ll even give the Kiwi press their say.
 
Right, the big cat is out of the bag. Sam Warburton will be only the second player to captain the British & Irish Lions in successive tours. Didn’t stop head of World Rugby, Brett Gosper, from putting his head through the cat flap a touch prematurely. Luckily, it was the worst kept secret since we discovered Donald Trump uses Fake Tan and Just for Men in his morning routine. CEO Brett still looked daft and received a damn fine pillorying on Twitter. Will Carling even suggested that perhaps we were getting to the point where a press conference is superfluous. But we need to thank the sponsors, Will.
 
Captain Sam received a warm welcome at the Hilton but then he would. On social media, we are not so sure… Someone called Evelyn seemed to think that he was the wrong captain and Dylan Hartley should have been there instead. The result will now be certain defeat. A few Facebookers suggested he was injured and therefore out of form. Injured? Certainly. Out of form beforehand? Quite the opposite. He’ll probably benefit from the rest. Talking practically surely it makes sense for a coaching team to choose someone who has done it before and who they know. With such a short amount of time to prepare we don’t want them sitting in a room together trying to bond, do we?
 
As for the squad. Now that really has got everyone on social media all a quiver. Many from all nations are suggesting that Nicola Sturgeon will be calling for a re-selection immediately. Graham Love has re-drawn the Lions Badge to reduce The Scots to an apostrophe and The Welsh badge to take its place. Anthony Moriaty has named Shirley Bassey and Rhys Ifans in his squad. And even gives Alex Cuthbert another go. Egg Purchaser thinks Joe Calzaghe ought to be selected and Ian Woosnam have a try out at loose head.
 
On Facebook, a gentleman named Duncan Gellalty is especially angry. He rips in to Gatland and suggests it is a tour for the boys with AWJ the 8th best second row in the British Isles. To make his point he asks why Gavin Henson isn’t going. Now, that is silly. Even our accountant Di runs faster. Duncan finishes his rant with something about the coach undermining the very ethos this great sport is based upon. It would be fair to say he is supported on Facebook. I think he is a bit pompous.
 
A lot of folks are mystified by Launchbury’s omission. A fake BBC page suggests he change his name by deed-poll to Llaunchbury. Clever that. I can see Messrs Borthwick and Gatland butting heads over that issue. But the latter is the boss and arguably the 3 English players he has taken are that bit nastier. He does know AWJ well. The man is a leader and pretty mean with it. I suspect George Kruis might count himself lucky.
 
In the backs, there will have been a lot of bleating about Jamie Roberts possibly getting another go. There will be some relief that he didn’t. Jonathan Joseph is a good pick. There is a bit of a shortage of dancing feet. I hope they don’t go missing as they are prone to do. Jared Payne and Ben Te’o are allegedly there to provide a bit of insider knowledge. Not sure that is true. Both are better than that. We want to be there when the latter runs into Sonny Bill.
 
What of those under represented Scots? Stuart Hogg been a definite for a while now. I hope he starts. Goal kicking is covered elsewhere so Halfpenny can play during the week. He runs beautifully, has fantastic hands and great game awareness. Plus, he is the same height as our accountant, Di. As for Tommy Seymour, according to our very own Mike Pyrgos – father of Scottish scrum-half, Henry – he has been the “most consistent wing in the 6 Nations over the past 2 years and is top try scorer in the Pro 12. Plus, he’s a top bloke”. That’s settled that, then.
 
For the others not mentioned? I am pleased Eliot Daly is going. The man makes it look easy and creates time and space for others. The battle for scrum half will be interesting. I suspect it’ll be down a lot to who plays at 10. Murray & Sexton will probably be favourite currently.
 
What do the Kiwis think? Gregor Paul of the NZ Herald is sure the “Lions are bluffing about an expansive game.” He cites the differences in interpretation of creativity between North and South. And, Warren Gatland has low risk rugby as his “modus operandi”. Certainly, his selection alludes to this philosophy – as well as his past.
 
Gatlands’s counterpart, Steve Hansen, agrees, “I’ve never seen him do anything else other than that. I guess we need to be prepared for what we normally get and prepare for something different as well.” Very astute, Steve. Or a good start at gamesmanship. It is safe to say that they are expecting a territory and attrition game. Or flat out war.
 

What do we think? Like Andrew Ashenhurst on Facebook, we hope the whingeing from all nations will stop. It’s happened. People never get their own way and hate being called out as wrong. Whatever happens it will not be as bad as the 2005 tour and Sir Clive’s efforts. Gatland has earned this go at his homeland. He’s been right before. Remember?
 
Personally, I believe we can give a pretty good account and maybe return victorious. Lorri in flights thinks it’ll be a draw. David, in our Belfast office, is so excited he can’t concentrate but if pushed he will say 3-0 to the Lions. Patrick, our MD, just thinks it will be close. Di, the accountant only hopes we bring home the receipts. Owen predicts a white wash. Not a black wash. Nor a red wash. Charlotte just closes her eyes and prays Dan Carter will be nearby.
 
Whatever happens let us come together as one wall of noise to shout from the clubhouses between here, Thomond Park and the home of the Cornish Pirates and celebrate all that is great about the British & Irish Lions. #ALLFORONE.
 
JAMES HALLETT – LWTL SPORTS TRAVEL