Britihs & Irish Lions fared well for the amount of time they were given to prepare for the tour, says their manager. David Rogers / Getty Images
Britihs & Irish Lions fared well for the amount of time they were given to prepare for the tour, says their manager. David Rogers / Getty Images
Britihs & Irish Lions fared well for the amount of time they were given to prepare for the tour, says their manager. David Rogers / Getty Images
Britihs & Irish Lions fared well for the amount of time they were given to prepare for the tour, says their manager. David Rogers / Getty Images

Lions would have won with more preparation, says tour manager John Spencer


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Results:

First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15

Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24

Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15

All the British and Irish Lions needed was extra preparation time and they would have won their Test series against New Zealand, tour manager John Spencer said.

Spencer, who insisted Warren Gatland was "the best coach in the world", believed the Lions have to be given the strongest chance they can to be successful against the world's top teams.

"To come here and not to take a step backwards makes me very proud," he said on Sunday when reviewing the tour, which ended in a 1-1 stalemate after Saturday's deciding Test was drawn 15-l5.

The Lions arrived in New Zealand just three days before the opening match of their six-week, 10-match tour, and are now pushing for a longer preparation time for future tours.

"My honest opinion is yes. The preparation is extremely important, but I think we are making extremely positive steps to talk about and rectify that situation," Spencer said, when asked if a change in pre-tour scheduling could have seen a different outcome.

"I've received incredible co-operation from the Lions board on this. Gold medals are won on the training pitch a long time before they're won on the match pitch.

"I don't want to take anything away from the guys who achieved what they did, but I think we really have to sit down as a group of stakeholders and with ex-Lions who get the concept.

"Surely it's not beyond the wit of man to come to a sensible agreement over a few weeks every four years? That's what I would encourage people to do.

"The Lions are in a very special place and we don't want to lose that, we want to nourish and improve it."

Lions head coach Gatland has also emphasised the importance of preparation time.

England's Premiership clubs are loathe to shorten their season to help out, but Spencer believes something must be done to change that.

"Everybody has agreed we need to sit down and talk about the preparation time and there are good signs that we will make progress," he said.

After the All Blacks won the first Test 30-15 and the tourists were 24-21 victors in the second, and the third ended in a deadlock, Spencer believed the future of the Lions was in rude health.

"It was a very strange atmosphere that we hadn't quite set out to do what we wanted to do, but in the cold light of day the boys have realised what an incredible achievement it is to draw in New Zealand," he said.

"We know the record of other countries at Eden Park so to come here and not to take a step backwards makes me very proud. In the long run the boys can be proud of their achievements."

Race card

6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,200m

7.05pm: Meydan Cup – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,810m

7.40pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m

8.15pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,600m

9.50pm: Meydan Classic – Conditions (TB) $$50,000 (T) 1,400m

9.25pm: Dubai Sprint – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,200m

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

Results

Stage 7:

1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29

2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time

3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious

4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep

5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM

General Classification:

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35

3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02

4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42

5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Expo details

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia

The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

It is expected to attract 25 million visits

Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020

The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area

It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South

Match info

Deccan Gladiators 87-8

Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16

Maratha Arabians 89-2

Chadwick Walton 51 not out

Arabians won the final by eight wickets

While you're here
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8

Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Price: from Dh850,000

On sale: now

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

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Results:

First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15

Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24

Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15