Time is up on the clock. British and Irish Lions fullback Gwyn Evans is lining up a conversion from out near the sideline.
Fortunately the kick flies wide, the final whistle goes, and Canterbury has beaten the Lions 22-20.
The picture I have just painted might have happened 30 years ago; but it remains an indelible memory from my own playing career.
We had a great team at the time and went on that year to win the NPC while also retaining the Ranfurly Shield; but that moment against the Lions was a once-in-a-lifetime – and they visited New Zealand a lot more frequently back then than they do now, with the schedule bringing them across once every six years in those days.
Everyone wants to play a Test match against the Lions.
It is an honour that eluded me, with my own All Black debut not coming until later that year; but the fact that I only experienced the Lions in a tour match capacity doesn’t change the significance of the occasion.
Nor will it for the players chosen to represent Australia’s five states, and the combined country side, when they line-up against the British and Irish Lions on this tour.
International rugby is a step up.
The intensity is higher, the pace faster and the physicality a level above what is experienced in Super Rugby.
As this touring party has been drawn exclusively from four Test sides with no uncapped players on the trip, which hasn’t always been the case on previous tours; every side the Lions put out in Australia this month will be of Test strength in its entirety.
That will be a great challenge for the Super rugby sides, as will the intensity of the atmosphere, with stadiums packed by a significant number of vocal and red-clad visitors.
For many of the players who feature against the Lions in these matches; the games will be the pinnacle of their careers, as it was for a number of my team-mates back in 1983.
It will also be the biggest opportunity they have ever had.
Performing well will nudge them closer to Wallaby level in the future; perhaps even as soon as later in the year, remembering last year was so taxing that 41 players were required across the 15 Tests played by the Wallabies.
As selectors we will be watching these games closely, not just with regards to our own plans for tackling the Lions, but also in terms of seeing which players respond, showing that they have the capacity to take their games to the next level.
Don’t for a second think that any of our state sides will roll over either.
As has been the case with the professional provincial sides in New Zealand and South Africa on recent Lions tours; while those teams have played without their Test representatives, they have still proved incredibly competitive.
The reality of last year’s circumstance, with so many players gaining Test access, is that our depth has grown significantly across the board.
We have seen it already this year in Super Rugby.
Even without their current Wallabies, all five Super Rugby sides will still field combinations that boast significant international experience.
The Lions story is full of epic state or provincial upsets, where the tourists have been brought undone by an unrelenting opponent, despite pre-match expectations of a one-sided nature.
Don’t discount more of the same as the next chapter unfolds.
Umuhoza
Guest
This aritcle went ahead and made my day.
Adam
Guest
Good to see something Constructive coming from Robbie and not what the media have had him "quoted" as saying... It's going to be a great month of Rugby Union! Both sides are going to take a great deal from this no matter the out come, and that goes for all the games played. I'm backing the Lions but i don't doubt that the Aussies are going to put up a monumental fight. (Hopefully without all the punch ups that people hope they will have). I hope for a hard earned win by eitherside and no intentional brawling or fouls. Lets keep it professional. Good luck
Harold
Guest
To the ARU PR department: Read the comments of Force supporters about the pathetic lineup they've named for tomorrow's match against the Lions. I suspect you are all genuinely slapping themselves on the back with the sold out tests and think you can get away with this sort of drivel in trying to "drum up interest' - realise anyone with half a brain knows when you are being BS'ed to, as we clearly are in this case.
Dexter William
Roar Guru
Robbie If this post is what you are about, you really have not much to say. Maybe it is time to pick up your ball and go home. Boys!!! Play what is in front of you.
atlas
Guest
Just twelve men's teams for Rio Olympics note- likely one spot for host nation Brazil, also (if they qualify) combined GB team (Lions Sevens?)
ANON69
Guest
Thanks for coming Robbie. Lets win some trophies this year. Cupboard is bear since you were appointed as Coach six years ago. No Bledisloe No WC One Rugby Championship ( I must add abbriviated seaso who know what would habve happened if it was full). Everyone wants to play a Test match against the Lions. Yep, You want to coach against Lions, So JON gave it to you without any questions asked. Looks good on your resume. Chances against Lions, well I see a train wreck coming. They way Lions played in HK. Are you sure you are going to pick Genia? No that you have added Phipps and LB is playing this weekend., 6 more players to be added. Looks Like JOC, Phipps and Beal in the 15 to me.
ANON69
Guest
Thanks for coming in Robbie. lets win some trophies this year. There is nothing in the cupboard since you became coach six years ago.
Dcnz
Guest
There are seven injured all blacks right now... Whitelock Carter Kahui Jane Weepu Woodcock and 1 other cant remember .. No excuses Wallabies ...
Gatesy
Guest
Unfortunately, boys, come Olympics time, you will all be screaming for the best team that we can put on the paddock - the problem for Australia, is that we may not be there, because we could STILL FAIL TO QUALIFY - we are not there yet, so listen up, you dumb asses, who only ever get half the story right - if we don't put up a good team in Moscow and the tournaments that follow, no OLYMPICS!! and by then, the Lions Tour will be a distant memory - let's get some consistency into the debate - I hope that Michael O'Connor could be persuaded to make his case on the Roar, to put things into perspective.
The Bush
Roar Guru
No one responded because this is a fluff piece about nothing...
Justin2
Guest
Crash they can play in Moscow or travel there at their leisure. It's hardly the goal of a rugby player. The lions are one of the truly unique teams in world sport and its a once in a lifetime opportunity, literally. Even playing a tour match, in a packed stadium would be a career highlight. I'm truly staggered you don't get any of that...
Chivas
Guest
Actually that was a weak shot at humour. It may have worked better if I put it to a short movie clip. I have a question though. How would Quade perform outside Phipps or another less flamboyant half back? I want to see him against the Lions for this reason. Can he still make a difference. He has game so I would like to see how the back line runs without Genia. I thought he was going ok and improving on his basic skills and accuracy before Genia came back. Also why is Taps playing centre, not 2nd five. Is this where they want to develop him.AAC / Taps, CL / BB, JOC/QC... I don't think JOC is a long term 1st five unless he matures a lot in a short space of time. Even with a full season he would struggle I think. So QC/Toomua. QC is for me like Stephen Donald, full of promise but not so high on return. Still he is young and the ship certainly is a long way from sailing.
Chivas
Guest
What are you saying Quade or Deans. Quade must be in the team but not under Deans. Didn't you read my article. Quade needs Link and Genia. I hate Deans! I do not have to make sense as long as I can loosely piece the logic together in my head, it's fact and everyone else is a liar and twisting my words. So take your logic and rack off ruck me.
SkinnyKid
Roar Rookie
Said countless times. The HK conditions were over stated. I was there. No hotter than a preseason game a ballymore. Yes, they wont get this on tour. But the bleating by the Lions is a joke.
kombiutedriver
Guest
Bring on the Brumbies I say.
kombiutedriver
Guest
Bring on the Brumbies I say.
Well Ruck me.
Guest
You know its true. When it suits you you will make a big deal of 1 or 2 selections and act as if the sky will fall. Then when it suits you you will pretent 10 players missing including those players you think must be selected and the first 3 captains and pretend it means little. Which is it Kev, do the players in the team matter or not?
ScotandProud
Guest
I don't get this. Guys you don't have to get all respectful and courteous because the REaL Robbie Deans went home, got a beer out of the fridge and thought I know I shouldn't but I'm gonna go back to my old keyboard warrior ways and start posting on The Roar. This is just Public Relations hacks ghost writing a piece - so where's all the vitriol suddenly gone? Where's all the 'you are the worst coach ever' stuff? "...The picture I have just painted" "..as the next chapter unfolds" Newsflash Mr PR hack NO rugby player, current or former writes like that. But don't worry pretty soon the Syrian and Bahraini governments will be paying you alot more to convince the news agencies not to run unpleasant stories. Or is this like the ET the extra terrestrial's fan club where someone pretends to be ET and talks about life on his home planet and everyone writes back and says "Thanks for the news ET, you're the best!" ... 'As I walked out that day to play for Canterbury..' Puh-lease... I look forward to Robbie's massive internet spats with Red Kev, KPM and Ben S in the future, hopefully during actual game time. In the mean time I'll say it if noone else will --- Robbie you're a disgrace, stop d% cking around, PICK Quade Cooper plus a decent half back and give your adopted country a fighting chance in these tests.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Oh look, more drivel from poster Well Ruck me - what a surprise.
Well Ruck me.
Guest
"Injuries are an issue all teams face, I only take issue when people describe the situation with hyperbole and use it as an excuse – like kpm all last year." Or when it interferes with your argument that Robbie is to blame for everything?