Shane Williams, Sean Holley and Gareth Chilcott talk about touring with the Lions
The night was hosted by BBC scrumV analyst and former Ospreys coach Sean Holley who was joined on the panel by Venatour founder and former British and Irish Lion Gareth Chilcott, Glamorgan and England cricketers Simon Jones and Robert Croft, former Wales and British and Irish Lion Bob Norster, and Welsh rugby legend Shane Williams.
Holley, along with the audience, questioned the rugby contingent on their experiences of touring as a “Lion” both on and off the field. Chilcott and Norster both having similar memories as they were both a part of the 1989 winning tour to Australia with the latter expressing ”It was just a fight every week!”.
Williams’ recollections are slightly different being involved in two series defeats in both 2005 and 2009. “We got thumped in 2005! And I wasn’t picked for the first test (in 2009) but you have to train hard and do everything you can so the coach can’t not pick you.” He went on to score two famous tries in the third test.
When asked by an audience member about the No.10 position for the Lions, Chilcott and Norster were both swaying towards Ireland‘s Jonathan Sexton yet Williams made a claim for the in-form Dan Biggar and Owen Farrell.
“He’s [Biggar] come of age throughout the six nations and is in the form of his life,” said the former Wales international. “He has become mentally stronger and, after a slow start against Ireland, turned out to be one of the players of the tournament.
”I am a massive fan of Farrell who is a fantastic defensive 10 and a very good player”.
It’s another huge year in British sport with the Lions and England cricket team both visiting Australia. Chilcott expressed “Australia is probably the best place to visit as a player and a spectator. Everywhere is so different and the fans are so passionate.” Williams added “The crowds are like a 16th man as everybody gets involved.”
The cricketers had similar stories, “There are no other crowds like it” said Simon Jones, who will be on tour a an ashes cricket ambassador for Venatour
“When I injured my knee in Brisbane back in 2002, I was being carried off by Jason Gillespie and Steve Harmison and people were hurling abuse at me. That’s what they’re like! I cant wait to tour there as a fan and be a part of that English support”
Robert Croft added “I got so much stick, not only from the fans, but from the [Australian] players too for not being able to play the short ball. I love the fact that we are beating them now and that they’re not very strong because when they were beating us, they really rubbed our noses in it”.
The rivalry between the two nations is one of the greatest in world sport. “We were up for it in 05″ added Jones.
“I remember on the first morning of the first test Steve Harmison was bowling with some gas and he hit Ricky Ponting on the head and cut him quite badly. If you notice not one English player went to see if he was ok. That’s when he [Ponting] knew they were in a fight. That series was arguably the greatest ever”.
Sean brought the Q&A part of the evening to a close but expressed to the audience to “Please rub shoulders and come and talk, have photos with these guys. It’s what Venatour is all about, creating an unforgettable touring experience”.
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