Congratulations on Selection!

Congrats on your selection

Under wraps with some deceptions!

Welcome to the honoured club;

British and Irish here's the rub!

All Blacks with their silver fern,
It's time for you those spurs to earn;

Your chance of making great.

Five Franchises lay in wait;

Before three mighty tests

Against World Cup Rugby's best

Welcome to this pressure cooker

A chance to land your punch that's sucker!

The Hard work starting now

All Blacks are no sacred cow

The Kiwi, Haka, Maori,

Their heritage, their dowry!

At the pinnacle of your powers,

On training ground for all those hours!

In Everest at base camp,

The intensity will ramp.

Scale and reach your peak,

The Four Home unions elite.

No chance of being pilloried,

Eclipse Sir Edmund Hillary!

Embrace the Haka challenge

Round black gauntlet you will rallye;

The summit is your contest,

Your Everest, your conquest!

My Squad selection. Based on Poetic Form

Props: Vunipola, Cole, Furlong
Sinckler, McGrath, They'll get along!
Hookers Ken Owen, George and Best
Hartley and Ford can take a rest.
Second row George Kruis and Wyn Jones,
Johnny Gray , Lawes left at home.
Charteris and I'm not sorry
That I can bring along Launchbury.
Back row Warburton and  CJ Stander,
O'Brien with Billy he's been outstanding.
Maro Itoje with Pete O'Mahony,
Outside chance but worth the money!
Scrum halves Murray, Rhys Webb and Youngs,
That will get the talking tongues.
Shame for poor Danny Care ,
Don't think he will make it there.
Fly halves Sexton, Ford and Biggar,
Control the game can pull the trigger.
Centres Joseph, Henshaw  bring those
Talented, Farrell, Davies, Ringrose.
Wingers: Watson, Seymour, North,
Daly, Williams can come forth.
Full backs: Hogg, Halfpenny and Brown,
Is the squad that can take them down.
Selection made on form this time
Form the fact that it must rhyme!

Selection

Have you had the call,
The letter, the text,
The nod ?

Have you been informed,
Elected, selected?
Oh God!

Have you been chosen,
Tapped on your shoulder,
By plod?

Telegram from the Queen
A message, Morse code
From Black Rod?

Bush telegraph,
An inkling, a whisper
from Bod?

Via Snap chat, or twitter
A look on facebook,
Part the squad?

Heard nothing yet
Tell me later.
It's odd!

Talk

There's bullshit. There's fluff,

There's dressing up stuff!

There's marketing speak,

There's words for the meek.

Bandied around where, talking is cheap,

What you have sown, is what you will reap.

Hot air rises, and it can mean nothing,

If from your mouth, these words all come frothing.

Words that sound right

For the people polite;

For those playing the game,

Spout out, what a shame!

Motivation, commitment, Integrity, respect;

All good language, as you would expect.

Back up with action, speaks louder than words,

Sometimes it's better, stay silent, unheard!

Your passion, your pride,

Things words cannot hide.

As you pull on your shirt,

All the pain and the hurt.

Allow some discussion, as well as a chat,
Tell your team mates, where you are at.

Exchange ideas, express your opinions,

But remember the Jersey, is it something within them?

The people you care for,

For you, they are there for.

Their belief in your skill,

On your want and your will.

When all has been said, its still to be done,

In this together now in #AllForOne.

Inside your heart, and deep in your soul,

It is the secret, to making you whole!

Pride of the Lions!

You'll be hunting and stalking;

The pitch is the best place,

Where you'll do your talking!

Shirt of Legends

Won eighteen victories on the bounce,
Matches close, matches trounced.
World Cups back to back,
Welcome of mighty All Black's!

Dominant in this Their game:
Kiwi Fern this silver slither,
Others bow and wither.
Haka's sight is no forgiver,

Ruthless streak not for the meek;
Relish the tourist's visit.

But might, for Lions too.
The very best of Northern lights!

See chink of light against the Black
They've earned the right
To wear the shirt of legends.

Summon up every ounce of spirit,

Honour housed inside the badge:
Cameraderie held within it!
The chosen few, to join the pride,
Who wear the shirt of legends!

So as Young Lions, you take the field;
For everyone on British Isles,
You wear the shirt for us.
Hand picked few, go join the pride
You've earned the right,
Bright leading lights
To wear the shirt of legends!