McGeechan Speech Prior to Second Lions Test, 1997

[@pearljam619]

He has been there and done that several times over. He has truly done and seen it all. He lives, breathes and bleeds rugby. At times the word “legend” is overused but there stands a legend.

[@davidcampbell3895]

R.I.P Tom Smith Lions legend

[@jep1912]

Pride. Firtree Middle School 1983-87. Thanks Geech! You taught me everything.

[@lewissmith3896]

You were mentored by a Scottish Rugby god.

[@Broonzied]

'Twist that bastard Du Randt round.' Good old Jim.

[@MrTjmurph]

Incredible group of leaders in that team. Johnson, Dallaglio, Wood, Jenkins, Leonard even though he didn't start, put his ego aside and helped Wallace prepare to face Durant. Some group, with McGeechan and Telfer in charge as well.

[@johancoetzee6287]

Any Lions v Springbok game is special, for everyone involved. Goosebumps.

[@parko113]

His delivery is incredible, just goes to show you don't have to scream and shout. Say the right words in the right way, and you can have such an effect on people.

[@FrankChichester71285]

Matthew Parkinson can't give more than a like. Screaming never said anything other than "i don't know what I really want to say - so I'll substitute with noise". In the early days of professional Rugby Union.. this was one of the greatest, and most professional displays put together by a British team. Clinical.

[@PierceBrosnanXXX]

Sir Ian McGeechan is a real Master...

[@robbdavies1581]

Jim telfer! Legend!! You would walk through a wall for him!!!

[@LearnToFly182]

The opening 40 seconds of silence genuinely put hairs on the back of my neck. The tension in that room, for what they knew they were going to compete against and the hostile stadium, said it all. An amazing tour, two amazing rugby teams and a brave, brave Lions victory. Mcgeechan and Telfer were incredible on this tour.

[@unclegoon347]

This and the telfer Everest speech are the two greatest motivational speeches I’ve heard, by some distance. ‘Spine tingling’ doesn’t do them justice. They give me the urge to scream a war cry and run head first through a brick wall… and I don’t even play rugby

[@dionlindsay2]

"...and be special for the rest of your lives". There's no better benison than that.

[@Gamble7319]

Shivers down the spine

[@Pete8450]

Keith Wood - legend.

[@peterthomson1495]

Outstanding

[@noffrin68]

Love Keith Wood

[@andyetfc]

You need motivating, then just listen to this.

[@leosillence8469]

LEGENDS

[@cgt0dd]

"1st scrum, get in close to them, twist that bastard the right 'round, get in there, whatever it takes" ... brilliant stuff

[@TooDarnSoulful]

A Legend indeed :))

[@lardinhoredbeard5089]

THIS IS IT.... "Geeks"... Ian McGeechgan, this is one of the best insiring speaches EVER... let alone rugby. How the yanks haven't jizzed over this and made a shite trilogy I don't know, BUT HERE IT IS.. Respect this.... as you should be PRILIEDGED to witness this.

[@comj88]

Lardinho Redbeard

[@jonasluxem]

Awesome!

[@robertscott416]

Brings a shiver to my spine. Hope the 2013 Lions are getting physched like this tomorrow....

[@Niallersz]

Couldnt agree with you.. I play to a decent standard for many years now and I get the sick feeling every time I play a game. Its not feeling sick because Im going into a battle but its because I dont want to let my teamates down. I dont want to drop a ball, miss a tackle, give away a penalty etc. Rugby is the ultimate team game!

[@11Lucidian]

gotta love Keith Wood

[@craigmacdonald7764]

Damn that makes you proud to be British

[@Raichu234]

We've wounded a springbok! Brilliant! :D

[@forsoup]

It's odd, but rugby really does bring out the best in people, because it demands certain values in order to be successful. You look after each-other, fight for each-other, and take a hit for each-other. There is absolutely no bigger adrenaline rush than 5 minutes before kick off in a rugby match. Because you know what is coming, and you know that you are not letting each-other down. Winning and losing is the small part. It's giving it every ounce you have that matters in rugby.

[@OneBigRetard]

Tim Rodber is a fucking beast.

[@youngChink2]

Silience !!!!

[@rebanx1]

very good answer...although I cant think of one nation that lives up your criteria...however I know plenty of individuals of many different races (including NZ) that do....I note your earlier comment that you live for the day that the Lions 'hockey' the Abs...I totally understand that....out of curiosity...why do think the Lions have struggled so badly against NZ over the years... ,winning only one series out of 11? ..... interested in your views?

[@macker283gr]

big man again today

[@Nieghorn]

@forsoup Exactly! I've played many team sports, but none require the amount of support from the guy beside you as rugby does. I seem to recall the camp commandant at West Point saying that he thought it a better game for soldiers than football because of the close-knit, interrelated team aspect of it, whereas the American game is more about specialists doing their individual jobs - for the common good, yes, but not as closely and as dynamically as rugby.

[@Nieghorn]

I've wondered if, in the professional era, it's a matter of a team that's played with each other for quite a while (with the odd addition) versus a team that's just been thrown together and has no where near the same level of chemistry.

[@eslumbreras]

the score was 18-15 to the Lions in this game.

[@lisalasoya2898]

If, McGeechan is the person who's head of the lions club Pittsburgh, then I am at still-mate. I didn't recall what the Lion's club during the 60's was about, but I'll give you a ponce....

[@rebanx1]

have to agree with your summary....do you think NZs unmatched success over a long period ( being a small nation with a good club base) reflects on the level of support that is given to rugby in NZ... by its 'supporters'?

[@TheClearCoach]

What'd he say at the end about looking down and being afraid?

[@anglesyman]

after talk like that ill go out and take them on on my own!!

[@Jmactaggart]

'no description available'... should be "No description necessary"

[@rebanx1]

interesting comments re Gatland (considering his recent success with Wales)....leaders like sir Clive...had all the credentials in 2005 and a team full of recent world cup winners...and we all know what happened to that Lions Side.

[@grdntrvrrw]

truth

[@Nieghorn]

@WLEF5127 Too right, and it not even need be at a high level. Get out and play a sport at whatever level suits you and give it your all with some like minded people. Friendships and memories forged in (non life threatening) battle and all that ... another coach and I pulled similar, heartfelt speeches out as we took our team to a club final this past season. (Losing at the death, sad to say ... but my co-coach pulled out a 'this is what it's about' speech that would make Geech proud!)

[@rebanx1]

good point...although surely the players must have some familiarity with each other having played in the 6 nations and some at club level...also geographically they are very close...i dont believe the team would be thrown together as you are suggesting as there is too much at stake and would expect plenty of planning and consideration would go in to creating a competitive team...after all they do represent the largest rugby playing numbers and supporters on the planet.

[@Niallersz]

Shivers,,anyone ever thinks the lions shouldnt tour should watch this..4 countries, ONE team!

[@subbanged]

@Nieghorn In one day I play for a championship I've worked 9 years for, I've gone through a team that went 1-9 for three years. To a team that went 4-2 and lost in the championship for five years straight, sunday I play for all of that in a championship with my younger brother, winning would be a once in a lifetime experience. I will win with that look, Ill drag my team kicking and screaming if necessary but im not giving the other team room to breathe.

[@jaseywasey50]

@madenew000 Ok thank you!!

[@vonteflon]

Top bloke Geech and an awesome coach. But I can't help thinking of Alan Partridge when I watch footage of him from 1997...

[@Quinefan]

Shut it.

[@rebanx1]

I wonder why Eng.Wales and Ireland failed to win a game in the recent series tour to the southern hem?..for the southern hem teams it was the first game together since 2011 and were naturally a bit rusty...the Irish frightened the ABs in one game ...then got hammered 60-0...Wales( 6 nat champs) couldn't beat an average Aust team...England were dismal against the Boks..seriously...where was the 'chemistry' ?....do you think this reiterates my early point about the huge talent gap?

[@o.b2367]

Neil Jenkins kissing his knee? 3:59

[@MegaCOYS]

@89len :P dw

[@madenew000]

@jaseywasey50 you almost got my attention!

[@MegaCOYS]

@89len I know I was joking

[@benbenester1229]

Telfer ‘wally, twist that bastard Durant’ - he would be fined for saying that these days eh....

[@donuttime2507]

It wasn't now though

[@SNIFFMYBADGER]

I was just watching this before hitting the sack, but I might just run through some walls, eat a steak and run up a hill instead

[@dogsofwar007]

Geech .. he is a god !!

[@mrjolly68]

what was the score in this game?

[@Aviation-vn7ko]

mrjolly68 18-15 to lions.

[@rebanx1]

out of curiosity.... if NZers are the worst supporters...who would you use as a measuring stick for the best supporters?...

[@TheMintedAero1993]

Munster

[@josp182]

The lions is everything that is good about rugby! Should have taken the tour of SA.... Cannot wait to see the lions tear the Australians apart in 2013!!

[@brianmaudling]

Lol at Alan Tait's ridiculous west Cumbrian accent!

[@Quinefan]

Twat

[@rahowhero]

no, rugby is the original football, till soccer clubs broke away due to a rules dispute involving hacking/tripping (see blackheath), which rugby then banned anyways

[@rahowhero]

the right way?, you mean try try tries dont you, ie not settling for penalties and drop goals, thats what we consider the right way

[@rahowhero]

to be the best, if youre not winning, means playing an exciting, try focussed game. Lions fail, post 70s

[@boyleb1]

@ackerbee you disgust me

[@doylustheboy]

ackerbee......get back to watching football mate :0)

[@MegaCOYS]

Play.. Play football...... erm sos mate might wana take a look outside :P

[@yingyang1008]

bit gay

[@Quinefan]

And all the better for it 😉

[@johnmc3862]

@@Quinefan Woah!

[@Quinefan]

@@johnmc3862 Woah indeed.

[@madenew000]

bad coach. sissy talk, childish rubbish. no wonder the team was NOT inspired and that's why they lost!

[@TheMintedAero1993]

They won bro

[@dan32113]

the other night? what are you talking about! the piont is O driscoll was taken out illegally & spear tackled in the opening of minute of a Lions series! he was the best player we had & shows how much the All blacks feared him. Yes Ireland had there ass kicked the other day, but lets be serious i was talking about the illegal tackle, duh. Not the cleverest are you boy! ps most Rugby fans are not bothered about Gareths sexuality, just shows how immature you are, boy!