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Gary Teichmann (Gallo Images)
- Former Springbok captain Gary Teichmann said television rights will be the ultimate guarantee of the success of the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
- Shrouded by Covid-19-induced uncertainty, the tour has been given the green light.
- Teichmann was the captain of South Africa in the 1997 series which they lost 2-1.
Former Springbok captain Gary Teichmann, who headlined the Springboks in the 1997 British and Irish Lions series, said the real money from the tour will be in the television rights to the series.
Teichmann, whose international career paired the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cups without playing in them and at the same time won the 1995 and 1996 Currie Cup Finals with the Sharks, lost Martin Johnson’s series to tourists 2-1 .
Teichmann, a former CEO of Sharks, also said that the Australian touring model, while crowd-friendly, was not going to work for television rights.
“From a tourism point of view, I don’t think that’s going to happen, but a lot of money is expected to be generated from TV rights. Hopefully the numbers have been done there and the tour is still commercially. viable. hosted here, “Teichmann said.
“Where Australia had guaranteed crowds, which might have been the reason they were considered, I imagine their TV rights would go down because the time zone is so different than having it in the UK or here.”
With South African rugby currently sticking to a diet of preparation series matches after the Super Rugby Unlocked and the Currie Cup, Teichmann was quick to admit that SA may not be as well prepared for the Lions compared to the 2009 group.
Understandably, the successful 2009 unit that was trained by Peter de Villiers didn’t have to worry about Covid-19.
What they did have was 2008 to shake off their World Cup hangover before joining together beautifully that year.
Teichmann, who represented SA in 42 Trials, said that the way SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and coach Jacques Nienaber combine local and battle-hardened players based in Europe will be fundamental.
“We certainly won’t be as well prepared as they are, but the typical South African attitude and passion, coupled with the fact that the tour is here, will cheer us on. A lot will also depend on how Rassie selects the team.”
“As the World Cup showed, the European-based players added a lot of value and perhaps more now due to the exposure to those teams and conditions. Much will depend on how Jacques Nienaber combines that with the local and foreign players and how it turns out. The guys on that side will really appreciate what the Lions team is going to be. ”
Teichmann also had the honor of being the first Springbok captain in the professional era to lead against the British and Irish Lions, despite the series being lost.
Jeremy Guscott’s drop goal in Test 2 at Kings Park nullified SA’s return after Test’s first complete defeat at Newlands.
The Kings Park test was also famous for the whimsical SA goal kicks that that game cost them.
However, Teichmann said it was good that the players, who were in a fortunate position that their careers would intersect with the tour, had something to look forward to.
“It is a great honor to be a part of that tour. It is not often that their career coincides with that tour and for the players, it should be good to know that the decision has been made for that tour. They have that to look forward to. And get ready for,” Teichmann said.
