Pride Restored: The Inside Story of Lions in South Africa 2009
UK £20.00,
UK Publication August 2005
ISBN 9781906850098
Hardback
Buy: | Waterstones| Book Depository
The inside story of the Lions in South Africa the ideal souvenir for the millions of fans who followed the tour in the press, on Sky and at the games themselves.
A Lions tour is the pinnacle in the career of any rugby player from the four Home Unions. It is also increasingly a highlight in the life of the vast number of travelling supporters and indeed of any rugby follower. This inside story is an enduring record of what was an outstanding, sometimes controversial and always absorbing six weeks of rugby history, from the struggle of the first match on 30th May, through the agonising controversy of the second, to the glorious redemption of the third, and final, Test against the Springboks on 4th July.
The book recalls every aspect of the tour from selection and preparation, through the early bruising encounters in the warm-up games, the high points and the low, the constant battle against injuries, the infamous gouging incident, the mind games and the man management, the individual successes and disappointments, gruelling training sessions and lighter moments off the field but most of all the Test series itself.
The book is edited by the BBCs voice of rugby, Ian Robertson, and features comments and interviews with all the key figures on both sides. Mick Cleary and Ian McGeechans reflections on each stage of the tour throw much light on the atmosphere within the South African and Lions camps throughout the tour, examining tactics, game plans on the field, individual players within the squads, including Ronan O'Gara, Brian O'Driscoll and Phil Vickery, and the leadership of Lions captain Paul O'Connell. Above all though is a reflection on the relentless spirit of the Lions, that although the series went to the Springboks, it was the Lions stunning victory at Ellis Park, in the heart of South African rugby, that provided the defining memories of the Tour and ensured that pride was truly restored.
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Mick Cleary is rugby correspondent of The Daily Telegraph and co-editor of the International Rugby Yearbook.
See more books by: Mick Cleary
