After a Leicester-Northampton final in the Aviva Premiership and an all-French final in the Heineken Cup, the climax to the season now sees a winner-takes-all tussle Down Under with the Lions chasing a series victory over Australia.
There has been so little to separate the teams in the two Tests so far it seems inconceivable that there will be much daylight this time. Which means we’re in for an amazingly tense encounter.
At 11am this Saturday the rugby world will come together in pledging allegiance to northern or southern hemisphere and for many, pacing the floor will begin.
There have been heart-stopping moments at the death of each Test so far, but surely it is too much to expect the same again and see the whole series, the whole four-year preparation, come down to a last-minute opportunity?
Everyone in the UK and Ireland has an opinion on selection for the tour, for each game and certainly for each Test. Not that our suggestions matter. For the record, The Tig would have Boris Stankovich down as the first name on the teamsheet but out-and-out favouritism from fans doesn’t really count at this stage apparently. Besides, Boz is back in pre-season training at Oval Park and far more important back in Leicester.
Rarely can there have been as much talk about one man’s selection, or non-selection, than we’ve seen this week. And we’re talking BOD rather than BOZ here. But now it is all down to Warren Gatland and men he has chosen for the final Test.
While The Tig was as disappointed as any Tigers fan to see Ben Youngs and Tom Croft on the outside of this 23, and three other Tigers among the replacements rather than in the starting line-up, the biggest wish this weekend is for every one of the 40-odd players used on the tour to be able to celebrate being part of a successful series.
Then we can start looking forward to 2013/14.
