The Gain Line

Man for man, there's not much in it:
Two arms, two legs, head, brain within it.
With will and pride, the difference? Character!
Reaction to how the papers barrack yer.
Survival instinct now kicks in,
Nothing less than Lions win!

Integrity and honour, but steal those inches.
You know the line, over step to clinch it;
Clinical, canny; outside comfort zone,
Be extraordinary; no penalties though!
The pinnacle, the height, the honoured crest,
Push the boundary and cheat the best!

Eden be courageous and bold

This garden of Eden,
From the Haka to forbidden fruit,
The press, like snakes entwine their prose,
To tempt fate and write off those;
Not worthy they don't suppose!

We'll go on to beat them:
Stripped of skill just full of brutes,
Forward pack what Warren ball shows;
Copy says they're in death throws;
One dimensional, no offloads!

Kiwi fruit start feedin',
Seventy one fill famous boots
Lions to beat New Zealand bros
Confidence comes, oh how it grows.
Be yourself: courageous, bold!

Temptation's dream? See how it goes!

Chiefs

From the furore of Rotorua;
To the roar of the avid viewer.
Storm that brewed, was it teacup?
Stirring emotions, no ease up,
But the gauntlet that is thrown,
Respect the emblem! They have shown,
How it fills them full of pride,
They maybe midweek side;
But the boys, oh how they rise,
Not devalued: but the prize!
Not everyone's a chief,
Indians too they have belief.
Would Gatland be a goner?
Such notion, bestowed honour?
The jersey what it means;
Understanding all its dreams.
They are bonding, they are strong,
To the family they belong,
They have all set out their stall,
Know the shirt aint one for all,
But the midweek game's been won,
Now they know they're all for one,
And it puts them in good stead,
Putting shirt gate into bed.
Momentum on right track,
Now all eyes towards All Blacks!

Rotorua

Questions answered, by forward power,
In the Rotorua showers.
Magnificent 7 from H'penny boot,
Kept the Maori backers mute.
Glimpses, now hot spring in step;
T'eo and Davies over gainline crept;
Murray and Sexton exert control,
They kept the forwards on a roll.
Discipline key now All Black's know they
Must keep keen eye on our Itoje
Kruis, O'Mahoney and O'Brien
Show what it means to be a Lion
Mountains steeper next up the Chiefs
No let off and no relief.
Ahead not quite GCSE
Ignore this test of geography!

Crusaders result

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
Kiwi press will say we told you;
No flare, no chaos, no try line brace;
Goal kicking is your only ace.

But hands raised up for Test Match place,
Performers gelling getting a taste,
Of what can be: belief!
And yes relief! Ignore the papers grief!

Farrel together twenty four seven,
The team becoming best of brethren,
Hatches battened, back on the road,
Long and winding with heavy load.

Positives still with things to work on,
Focus, finish the execution.
Take result, the pride restored.
Jersey, badge unspoken word.

Band of brothers rebuild momentum.
Ride crest of wave where it will take them
To training ground to make things slick
But never un button your red tunic!

Lions: Button your Tunics

They'll write you off, you shamed the name.
They'll say the honours gone;
Professionalism of the modern game,
No time for you, move on!

They'll say you're not creative,
You've no attacking flare.
Your game is so sedative
To score a try is rare!

The best of the Four Nations?
Is that really all you've got ?
Northern poor relations,
Oh we'll put you on the spot.

No reasons, to be positive
As you train together, rehearse,
Don't want to be too negative,
Your start couldn't have been much worse!

Onward with your crusade,
We'll put you to the sword,
Delusional and a bit afraid,
In camp is what we've heard.

Enough's enough!
Button up red tunics ,
Backs are to the wall,
The press will give you so much stick,
It's time for you, stand tall.

Tours aren't like they used to be,
With time up front to bond,
Take on this responsibility
Its how you will respond.

Remember you have the heart and soul,
The honour of the crest,
The best we have up North all told,
For rugby's greatest test.

You wear the Lions jersey,
Badge emblazoned on your chest;
Go out and show you're worth it;
Lions! - You are best of the best!

The Blues

Nervous, rusty, not outscored
By New Zealand be not over awed.
Remember back to 71,
Be #Lions together #AllForOne!

Savaged in the local press,
Be fair it was an Eton mess,
No excuses mistakes acknowledged,
Moving on to franchise frolics!

Remember scoreline but game delete,
A win's a win but no repeat;
Dispose of any negative views
Tis Time for Tana Umaga's Blues!

Dickensian squad of;
Halfpenny, Nowell, Payne and Daly,
Owens, Haskell, Cole, Itoje
Biggar, Webb, McGrath and Henshaw;
Tipuric, Stander, Courtney Lawes.
Not Bleak, but Hard Times I suspect,
Hard graft, hard grind,  Mutual respect,
Curiosity with a Twist for home 4 nations,
Come on Lions we've Great Expectations!

The Changing Room

As you sit down in the changing room,, gathering your thoughts;
Staring at the concrete floor, focusing on nought.
This is just another game, but on this biggest stage,
Take your chance to write your name on this historic page.
Prepared for peak performance,
Mentally you bet!
Ready for All Black challenge, crouch mind set!

Your feet are gently tapping, no nerves would be untrue,
But the sound of studs on concrete floor, what does it mean to you?
There's no more nervous chatter, no banter to be found,
Nerves transformed and channelled, to that haunting tapping sound,
Of studded boots on hallowed ground, that echoes all around.
Calm yourself, control your thoughts, you mustn't peak too early.

There's experience in this changing room, deep breaths will now help surely!

You are only as good as this next game,
To the grind stone once again;
But remember your magnificence, of all past games and then:
Your skill and dedication, will certainly bring more.
Bottle all those positives, your greatest still in store:
This is your time get ready, you'll play your best game yet.
British and Irish Lions, crouch bind set!

The drip of perspiration, that collects on furrowed brow,
We know this salt like teardrop, but keep controlled for now.
Your passion, what it means to you, soon we'll see it flow
When the Haka starts, your toughened shell, emotion now on show.

Tight bonding in the changing room, just one last final squeeze,
As you step out of the changing room to Auckland's Winter breeze!

That sound of studs now echoes, as you walk out one by one,
But you know you are together, Lions in union,
The jersey and this honour. The roaring has begun,
Remember we are with you, you live our dreams and hopes:
The whole pride and you lucky ones, you 15 Glorious blokes.
You know you're not alone, Four Nations very best

British and Irish Lions let's take on Everest!