British and Irish Lions tour: Game on

Why is it a big deal to be a Lion? Well, it is basically the pinnacle for any rugby player and, like the Olympics, it only comes around once every four years. In its history, there have only ever been 835 Lions and playing internationally doesn't guarantee that you will get there; only the creme-de-la-creme of the four nations will make the team.

With being a Lion, sometimes personality is more important than anything else, because you come together for six weeks and you have to be able to adjust. You have to not only be a good player, but also be able to bend and not be stuck in your own ways. An open mind is essential because the coach might want to play in a different way to how you normally play, so you have got to be adaptable and be able to get out there. A big thing about being a Lion is about inspiring a generation wherever you are.

The game is now so professional, which makes getting to know each other that bit harder. So, you have to be sociable and be able to tour well and get to know your teammates. It used to be done over a beer, maybe a few nights out and having a chat about it out of earshot – it's much better that way. The coaches know how important it is too and have addressed it. At the end of a long season the guys are still in peak physical condition, but you need to bring those dynamics together to make sure that everyone is focused in the right way.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

It's a unique package that is put together; I don’t know another tour that is like it. For six weeks 41 guys come together from a range of different backgrounds and different nations. They have six weeks to pull together and take on the top three teams in the world, and try to do something special. I think that's what the major pull is. And when you are facing teams like the All Blacks, who have won 47 consecutive games at home, it takes a special person. Being pretty good at rugby also helps.

Now the Lions need to come out of the box and show them. 'Born to dare' is the slogan for Tudor watches, sponsors of the All Blacks, and the Lions will certainly have to be daring. If they play conservative rugby today they won't win. They need to have the balls to go out there and actually just take it to those New Zealanders and enjoy themselves. The biggest thing is actually mentally convincing yourself that you can win. There is a reason why they [the All Blacks] haven't lost in 24 years at Eden Park and it's because of the aura that comes with it. The Lions have just got to believe.

MIKE TINDALL played for England from 2000-11 and was part of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning team. Despite receiving the call-up letter to join the Lions' tour in 2005, injury prevented him making the tour. The next Lions v All Blacks game will be on 8 July. Tudor watches are sponsors of the All Blacks. lionsrugby.com/2017-tour. Top image: Allstar Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo.