You can always count on a legend

The Lions have strength in Celts

The Classic Lions put on a dominant display against the brave Canadians on Sunday, which is sure to build confidence in the camp.

This is a team that is built on Irish and Welsh physicality and pace.

Irish talisman Malcolm O’Kelly was at his marauding best in the loose while Welsh flyer Dafydd James showed he still has enough wheels to trouble any backline in this competition.

With Irish full-back Girvan Dempsey joining the side the Celtish contingent is likely to have an even greater impact today.

Legends will always be legends

Rob Henderson had perhaps his finest moment in rugby shirt when he played with the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia in 2001.

His partnership with Brian O’Driscoll in the centres was the main reason why the Lions defeated the Wallabies in the first test.

So it was great to see Hendo strutting his stuff again — bursting on to pop passes and knocking attackers flat.

And after the game he was happy to sample a spot of white wine handed to him by a generous spectators in the Deloitte tent.

Rolling subs can work in rugby

It was probably just shy of 10 minutes into the games when the first exhausted or hobbling players headed for the comfort of the bench to be replaced by eager teammates.

The rolling sub scheme allows players to have a break when they feel a bit puffed.

And the constant stream of movement to from the subs bench means the referee and his assistants have to be on their game to ensure just 15 players on the pitch from each side at all times.

It’s never to late to be a hero

It may not have been the World Cup Final and his team may ultimately have been soundly beaten, but U.S. winger Mike Harvey won the crowd with his performance on Sunday.

A fist-pumping adrenaline fuelled display from the burly Eagles veteran, had the crowd on their feet in awe. If they knew his name they would have been singing it.

Instead he was treated to shouts of ‘go no 11’ as he kept his side hanging in there against the Springboks first with a superb try-saving tackle and then with an early contender for try of the tournament.

Upsets are as rare empty glasses

There was a moment just before half time in the South Africa v U.S. game when an upset looked like it was on the cards.

The American’s led the Boks thanks to Harvey’s heroics and the crowd began to believe that maybe, just maybe, an underdog could conquer one of the heavyweights.

But it was not to be — the Boks steam rollered their opponents in the second half and to join the other hot favourites, the Classic Lions, New Zealand and Australia in the semi-finals.

Rugby is more fun in the sun

After last year’s torrential downpour on finals day fair-weather supporters would have been forgiven for either packing raincoats or simply staying at home.

But the sun that greeted the spectators to the National Stadium on Sunday was as welcome as the free food and booze on offer in hospitality tents.

Rugby in the sun is great to watch and the tent village painted a superb picture as the sun set.

It was a shame, if somewhat predictable, to see the rainclouds return for the second round of matches — and in turn see the bleachers empty and the tents bulge with warm masses of cowering fans.

People in fancy dress running after a rugby ball is funny

It was not quite the half time entertainment that is on show at some high level sports events.

There were no scantily clad dancing girls with pom-poms cartwheeling across the centre line.

There was, however, a scrum of nurses, superheroes and cross-dressers pursuing a solitary rugby ball which put a smile even on the face of the watching players.

Rugby players make girls go weak at the knees

The concrete steps outside the changing rooms made an interesting side as the bare-chested South African team supped beers.

Nervous women clutching cameras could be seen milling around the area trying to pluck up the courage to ask for a picture.

The generous Bok players and their giant frames were only too happy to oblige.

Anyone would think they were used to this kind of treatment.

Firm under feet

For anyone who was a bit wobbly by the end of the afternoon the movement of the repositioning of the main tent on to terra firma would have come as a pleasant surprise.

The old grass site combined with torrential rain made last year’s Classic more like Glastonbury festival where wellington boots were a pre-requisite.

This year the main tent has shifted to the right of the entrance – and the firmer under feet conditions meant slightly fewer punters left the stadium with muddied knees.

This is no longer an ‘old man’s’ tournament

It started as a friendly skirmish among ageing veterans, but the Classic has evolved into a genuinely competitive rugby tournament.

The number of very recently retired internationals and players who are still active on the Sevens circuit has raised the level of rugby.

The intensity of the competition has also gone up, with a fitter, tougher breed of classic stars, settling old rivalries on the National Sports Centre turf. n