This month the British and Irish Lions go to South Africa for one of the toughest series in rugby union. But 35 years ago, the team went to the country under very different conditions, Kevin Mitchell writes in The Observer.
"In early May, 1974, Willie John McBride, a big-boned farming man from Ballymena in Northern Ireland, stood up in a hotel in London in front of 31 fellow amateur rugby players who had gathered to leave for South Africa under his leadership. The 34-year-old second row had been considered over the hill even on the previous tour, his fourth British Lions campaign, when they beat New Zealand in 1971. Now he was readying himself for an entirely different challenge, against a team for whom physical intimidation was considered a patriotic duty, a country the Lions had not beaten in a series for 78 years. He looked around the room, and feet shuffled as he began to speak. The players knew what was on his mind; it wasn't just rugby.
"I know there are pressures on you," McBride said, "but if you have any doubts, I would ask you to turn around and look behind you."
At the back of the room, there were two large open doors.
The captain continued: "Gentlemen, if you have any doubts about going on this tour, I want you to be big enough to stand up now and leave this room. Because you are no use to me, and you're no use to this team. There will be no stain on your character, no accusations if you do so, but you must be honest and committed. I've been in South Africa before and there's going to be a lot of physical intimidation, a lot of cheating. So if you're not up for a fight, there's the door."
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