Sport | Rugby
Neil Back says team has tough task ahead
Having toured with the British and Irish Lions three times, Neil Back knows exactly what lies ahead for the 2009 team, which is due to play a three-Test series in South Africa.
- By Duane Fonseca, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:21 June 7, 2009
- Image Credit: Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News
- Neil Back believes the Lions must not get carried away by past successes.
Dubai: Having toured with the British and Irish Lions three times, Neil Back knows exactly what lies ahead for the 2009 team, which is due to play a three-Test series in South Africa.
A former England star, Back has experience and a great wealth of information at his disposal. But it cannot be availed of by the touring party, since the 40-year-old is not a member of the Lions' backroom staff.
Still, ask him for advice he'd like to share with members of the squad, and he sits up in his chair, eager to part with all that he knows.
"Self-belief, camaraderie and the importance of having fun" is what he stresses upon and believes are the ingredients that will ensure success for the Lions.
Back should know best after all. During his South Africa sojourn with the Lions, he had the good fortune of playing a South Africa team that had just been crowned world champions.
"South Africa is on a high right now where sport is concerned, so we have a very tough test ahead of us. They are the country that will host next year's Fifa World Cup, they are the current Rugby World Cup champions and people I've spoken with say the place is really buoyant. It seems the entire nation has been waiting for this Lions tour for a very long time; almost 12 years," said Back.
"We toured South Africa in 1997 after they won the World Cup in 1995, and it's more or less the same thing this time as well."
The Lions have won all three of their warm-up matches ahead of the three-Test series starting on June 20. And Back, who earned 66 England and five Lions caps during his decade-long career, feels the side must not get carried away, but instead focus on carrying that momentum forward.
"I think the games we've played so far have shown what can happen. I don't think we played great games, but it is important as always to get off to a winning start and the performance of the guys has showed their quality. If they get things right on the day, they can be a match for anyone.
"As far as the series goes, it's going to be tough and the Lions will have to continue winning to create self-confidence and belief. South Africa are strong at the moment and I expect it to be a close series, but we are a very good team.
"It's not just about playing hard, it's about having fun as well. You've got to enjoy your time there. It's a very unique and privileged thing to be touring with the Lions. I've done it on three occasions and I enjoyed all the trips whether we won or lost."
Back and his Lions class of '97 won the last time they toured South Africa, and he sure will be disappointed if the 2009 batch fails to do the same.
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