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But if you're arguing for excitement over all else are you also calling all cricket test series bar the ashes to be cut to three games and much, much more 20/20? Cricket may be going that way anyway but I don't expect you to be thinking it's the best thing for the game.
Autumn internationals seem to be when we can give new players their chance, despite Wales failing to do that under gatland, so if replaced by a series where only the top 5 Welsh players - one now having played in 9 lions' test in a row and should not be in the next tour at all - get a game and no Scot this key component of equal part development and competition is lost. Even if they are often dull and expensive affairs in Wales which don't fulfill their purpose.
Would the lions be as good if done at home and as regularly as the autumn internationals? I don't think so*. Would the summer tour be treated more seriously if lions usurped the autumn series? Possibly.
*However, having read your post again, see you're calling for it every four years. Half this point no longer makes sense, but I think I'd rather no autumn internationals once every four years rather than a home lions series.
My edit and your reply seems to have crossed in the post. Think we both despair at recent Welsh autumn internationals and differ on whether we agree a home lions series (even just once every four years) is the tweak needed.
Not a rugby fan by any stretch but thoroughly enjoyed today's game.
New Zealand not as clinical as All Black teams of the past and should be kicking themselves they didn't win that easily today. Credit to the Lions for getting more of a grip onthe game 2nd half but really could have been 15-20 points down at HT.
Bizarre ending mind, seeing as there was a trophy to win I think it should have gone to extra time.
On a side note I think Sam Warburton is a terrific professional sportsman and a real credit to our country.
That school in Whitchurch should be proud that they have not only produced 2 world class sportsman but both modest and humble young men.
Again, I'm not a huge fan of the game but the Lions tour has a tradition and an aura about it which is rather unique. This IMO should not be tampered with.
As for the Autumn internationals, they are a curtain raiser for the 6 nations series and a chance to bring the teams together and prepare, possibly blood some younger players.
They provide a chance to see southern hemisphere top players perform.
Not forgetting that they are big money generators so are here to stay.
I think the point about the stadia not being full for these games can in part be put down to the prices of tickets.
Thoroughly enjoyed the Lions series and although they all seemed a bit flat, the players and coaches must take a lot of credit, although NZ were the better team overrall.
The knives were being sharpened from certain quarters of the media and I reckon Gatland will be breathing a huge sigh of relief.
Sam's unbeaten Lions captaincy over 2 tours will take some beating
Nice response by Gatland to some of the criticism he received during the series.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40544066
Fair play to him, I moan every year about the "Warrenball" Wales play, but he must be the Lion's most successful coach ever now and the 2013 and 2017 sides have succeeded through doing more than just playing that way.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40544066
Well done Gatland! Hope they can take it as well as they dish it out.
Not sure if read the game wrong, but I thought the Lions cheated themselves and the thousands of fans who travelled over.
Yesterday must have been the poorest AB team I've seen in a long time and although the Lions squad wasnt full of stars, I though they failed to kick on and take advantage of a very rare opportunity.
They seemed to invite wave after wave of attack, without having the confidence to really get into them and run them ragged.
Double world champions, unbeaten at Eden park for how long?, i didn't think it was a particularly good lions performance, they certainly seemed to lack the want to take it to the AB's, and it was a missed opportunity, but to get it to the level they did after a grueling 5 week schedule I thought a very good achievement, however, they will not go down in folklaw as the 1971 Lions. I only know one fan who travelled, i'll be interested to get his take on the tour when I see him next.
They was very fortunate to get away with a draw New Zealand should've had 2 penalties at the end. How can you say they cheated the fans/moment if they played an open and expansive game they Would've been smashed