I've been watching the documentaries on the previous British & Irish Lions tours including the 2009 tour to South Africa, in the build-up to the first match against the Xerox Lions on 3 July.
Seeing behind the scenes footage of their training and especially the change room team talk before and after the matches, was quite an eye-opener in terms of the extreme passion shared by these usually very different and opposing countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland (at least when playing each other in test matches).
I've always known that we take these tours to South Africa very seriously and mostly because it only takes place every twelve years.
I was very fortunate to by chance receive a ticket to the 1997 British & Irish Lions vs Springboks test match at Newlands from my uncle and will never forget the doom and gloom experienced by the Springbok supporters when we lost that match and eventually the series.
Fast forward twelve years to 2009 and I was again very fortunate to this time receive an invitation to a suite at Loftus for the British & Irish Lions 2nd test match against the Springboks. What stood out to me was the sheer number of Lions supporters which filled more than half of the stadium with their red jerseys.
I distinctly remember walking into the suite from my seat outside to get a drink and hearing a huge cheer from the crowd. Thinking it was the Springbok team scoring I rushed outside only to realise it was the Lions supporters!
However, I will never forget the last try by Jaques Fourie and the very long penalty kick by local Loftus darling Morne Steyn, which won us the match and the series in extra time when all that the Lions should have done was to kick the ball into touch to win the match. I will also never forget how quiet that huge crowd of Lions supporters was after the match and especially the Lions' change room after the match.
So what causes these players from different countries to share such a strong bond and such passion during these tours?
It's clear from the documentary footage that they play every match like it's their last even against the dirt tracker or midweek teams. Losing is certainly not an option and to see how distraught these players are after a loss is difficult to fathom.
From the comments by the players, it's clear that it is every player's boyhood rugby dream to play for the Lions and I would go as far as to say that it's more important than playing in a Rugby World Cup for their own country.
Legendary Irish and Lions player Brian Odriscol probably gave the best explanation when he said "it's a really really special but incredibly weird thing ...it shouldn't work but it does because of the buy-in... four teams becoming one". Another explanation that could apply in this case is "a friend of my enemy is a friend of mine" according to one of my good friends.
Add to these explanations the fact that this tradition dates back as far as 1888, it is clear what causes this remarkable and unique passion.
Sadly there will be no crowds at the matches during this year's tour. Even more so is the fact that we will have to wait another 12 years to experience live matches as spectators during the next tour to South Africa.
However, I am sure that the absence of crowds will not by any means dampen the passion of the British & Irish Lions during their tour of South Africa.
Article by Francois du Toit