Who are the bigger draw for south african rugby crowds, the all blacks or the british lions?
Speaking as a kiwi who has seen AB test matches in RSA, and Lions tours in NZ, I think we are talking about apples and oranges. The appeal of the Lions tours has always been the midweek matches against the provincial teams and the chance for brothers, cousins, uncles and workmates to play against the mighty Lions. The test matches aren’t really tests in the sense that they are so few and far between no one really keeps count. The Brits and Irish are hardly going to pay out a African because the Lions won a test when their own home country was more than likely spanked the same year by the Bokke. The true glory of Lions tour is having a mid week team knock the Lions on their *** before the first test. Tests between NZ and RSA are special because both countries know you’re only as good as your last game. Both countries know that until the next test, the winner of a test between NZ and RSA is unequivocally the number one team walking the planet. Edit: Mark L, I’m a little confused why NZ i
There’s 200 years of history between SA and Great Britain – not to mention the sociology of commerce, long ties of education and literature – that can never exist with New Zealand. Throw in the rarity of B&I Lions tours and the perennial NH-SH rivalries of rugby union. Gotta believe the Lions will be a bigger draw. Mark L. Edit: Gee, Hone, the question has to do with SA, which has a 200-year history with England. SA does not have a 200-year history with NZ. I am, obviously aware that NZ has such a history with England. And there is nothing like the exchange of business and education between SA and NZ that exists between SA and Great Britian. Maybe NZ would be a bigger draw; I have been known to be wrong. But not for the reasons you impute.
