Inside the Lions’ Den

  • We’ll give it socks for the pride on Saturday

    July 2, 2009 @ 8:14 pm | by Tommy

    I’m so happy to be given the chance to play in the centre this week.

    Getting to play 13 will be a great challenge, though I feel comfortable there already having played almost half the season and most of the Heineken cup matches there for the Ospreys. Hopefully I will get the chance to get my hands on the ball a bit more than the last few weeks.

    We have had to make a lot of changes to the team, between injuries and straight swaps, and it’s going to be a hell of a match because we’re playing for our pride this week.

    When we arrived out here, the thought of us winning the series was laughed at. Since then, we have earned a lot of respect from the rugby world and could easily be 2-0 up rather than the other way around.

    The match this week is about being able to hold our heads high when we arrive back home. Some said we were unlucky to lose a great on Saturday, but everyone - especially the players - feels we let our chance go.

    This week, if we can come away with a victory it will be some consolation and will allow me to remember the good times and the fun had on tour at little better.

    I’ve had a bit of a sore elbow after a knock at the weekend but am happy to be fit to play.

    While feeling sorry for myself, I’ve had the piss taken out of me all week for the ridiculous bandage.

    Having gone for an x-ray after the game, I came back with what looked like a sock on my elbow, much to the amusement of the boys.

    Next time I’m definitely going to ask for a cast, whether the injury is bad or not!

    • 41 Comments »

    1.
    July 2, 2009
    8:36 pm

    Hey tommy best of luck for saturday, on hols in spain but we found an english bar to watch it in! We will be shouting for ye!
    Carrie Limerick

    Comment by carrie
    2.
    July 2, 2009
    9:25 pm

    Good to see you got your human back! lol!!

    And dont worry, all of you can definately hold your heads high when you land! Everyone is already very proud of the way you have played and your attitude in certain situations

    good luck on Saturday……..this one is ours :)

    Ciára

    Comment by Ciára
    3.
    July 2, 2009
    9:32 pm

    We will be right behind you on Saturday and yes they are very big boots you are filling but we know you can do them justice. Give it them hell Tommy !!

    Comment by aj
    4.
    July 2, 2009
    10:23 pm

    little chips tommy to unlock the boks

    Comment by john
    5.
    July 2, 2009
    10:23 pm

    little chips tommy to unblock the boks.mix it up

    Comment by john
    6.
    July 2, 2009
    10:57 pm

    Tommy

    You and your fellow Lions should have no doubt that Lions’ fans are very proud of your brave and fearless performances - ye can come back with your held high. Unfortunately, they don’t win matches. So we will be willing ye on on Saturday to clinch the final match - repeat the aggression and determination of the first half of the 2nd Test, and the tenacity of the second half of the 1st Test and I have no doubt you’ll win.

    Comment by John Gaffney
    7.
    July 2, 2009
    11:26 pm

    Shake that golden mane with pride,
    Make the Boks quiver when you roar
    Never give up even when you fell you’ve died
    Always want and aim for more.

    To all the boys in red; you’ve done us proud. What ever the outcome on Saturday, we love you. All the best.

    xoxo

    p.s. Tommy, hope to see you in red soon or blue - I am not fussed as long as you are back on green soil.

    Comment by confusedblonde.com
    8.
    July 2, 2009
    11:39 pm

    Hi Tommy well done on the tour you and the guys have given it your all.best of luck on Saturday. Kathy

    Comment by kathy
    9.
    July 3, 2009
    12:00 am

    Ardfhear Tommy, hopefully it will be a one two Lions & Monaghan win on Saturday!!!

    Comment by Micheal
    10.
    July 3, 2009
    12:00 am

    Fair dues to you Tommy. You’re doing us proud out there and the blog has been brilliant to see what the Lions tour is all about. The team deserved more last weekend but sport doesn’t always give you what you deserve. But you guys can hold your heads up high. No-one could have given anymore last weekend and even though the result went against you, everyone back home was behind you all the way.
    Thanks for restoring pride to the Lions jersey after the shambolic tour of four years ago.
    All in Waterford are clinging onto the distant connection via the Gracedieu Bowes and claiming you as one of our own!

    Best of luck this weekend

    Comment by Dee
    11.
    July 3, 2009
    12:59 am

    Best Of Luck for Saturday Tommy!!
    Your a Lions Legend eatherway….I hope you checked out the Paul O’Connell cartoon interview on Youtube that I told you about a while back!..

    Comment by Conor
    12.
    July 3, 2009
    1:05 am

    Best Of Luck for Saturday..Tommy..

    I hope you watched the.. “Paul O’Connell’s Grand Slam Winning Interview. By Ian Benjamin Kenny”.. on Youtube…If not definately do!

    Cheers for the tour blog it’s been really good…you should keep it up for future Irish tours.

    Comment by Conor
    13.
    July 3, 2009
    8:47 am

    Give ‘em hell Tommy!

    Comment by Bobby
    14.
    July 3, 2009
    8:50 am

    Whilst I think the Lions played really well, I’m getting quite tired of hearing how it should have been 2-0 to the Lions. Ye lost and get over it. A better team won, on both occasions and although you missed some great opportunities, you didn’t take them and they did. Be mature and congratulate the Boks on a series win.

    Comment by John
    15.
    July 3, 2009
    8:52 am

    Hi Tommy, best of luck for tomorrow. I think i’m starting to love you more than Donncha. Speaking of which whats the story on him not getting a game, i thought he would of least made the bench.
    Anyways hope you do the job tomorrow, will be having some beers to celebrate the tour, regardless of the end result i loved every minute of it.
    x

    Comment by Marsha
    16.
    July 3, 2009
    9:10 am

    Hope this weekends game is just a good as the previous 2. Just a pity the Lions are still harping on about how unlucky they have been. Just go out there and play rugga. Give credit where credit is due and just get on with it.

    Comment by Gus
    17.
    July 3, 2009
    10:13 am

    Well done Tommy.Enjoy your day,you have done yourself proud.I have you earmarked for our first try.Good Luck.

    Comment by Hugh Mc Aree.
    18.
    July 3, 2009
    11:14 am

    Good luck on Saturday Tommy, had a ball supporting in Capetown & sorry to be cheering from home now! Miss all the fun!

    Looking forward to seeing you at centre!

    Comment by Nats
    19.
    July 3, 2009
    11:33 am

    Hi Tommy,

    Just wondering what you made of that tackle Habbana made on you as you caught the ball? You did well to get straight back up but it looked very high and dangerous to me and should have been a penalty.

    Anyway good luck on Sat and well done. You have done yourself and rugby outside of Limerick and Dublin proud. From a Leitrim man.

    Mark.

    Comment by Mark
    20.
    July 3, 2009
    11:35 am

    Yeo, a sock on yer elbow! Tommy Bowe’Driscoll for the big number 13! (Oh dear that’s a bad pun; play your own game not Brian’s) There’s been no loss of support, I’m seeing Lions shirts everywhere… even at the Down/Antrim Ulster Hurling Final (Antrim won incase you wanted to know). Any developments on the revenge plot?
    Best of luck for tomorrow.

    Comment by Orla
    21.
    July 3, 2009
    12:03 pm

    Speaking of the Greace Dieu Bowe connection, they are in great numbers and we will all be cheering you on this Saturday. You look great in Red so Munster is your destiny”” Give em socks on Saturday Tommy.

    Comment by anna
    22.
    July 3, 2009
    1:16 pm

    Tommy,

    best of luck for tomorrow! Looking forward to seeing u at centre, no doubt you’ll perform brilliantly just as you have been doing all season! You’ve done us proud out there!

    Darragh Mallon

    Comment by Darragh M
    23.
    July 3, 2009
    1:21 pm

    Tommy,

    Best of luck for tomorrow! looking forward to seeing you at centre, no doubt you’ll perform brilliantly just as you have all season! You’ve done us proud!

    Darragh Mallon

    Comment by Darragh M
    24.
    July 3, 2009
    2:05 pm

    Tommy, who stole your bed? And have you taken revenge yet?? I’m dying to know!!

    Good luck for Saturday, and whatever happens, we are all so very proud of the whole squad. You have all done the Lions jersey proud!!!!

    Comment by Deb
    25.
    July 3, 2009
    3:02 pm

    Tommy, I dont know about you playing in the centre, in my humble opinion you are a winger through and through. But you are a legend. You remind me of my brother.

    Best of luck tomorrow.

    Niall

    Comment by Niall
    26.
    July 3, 2009
    3:13 pm

    It sounds like it’s been a great tour and everyone, for the most part, enjoyed themselves. But what will be remembered is that the Lions lost the series. Personally, I think the coaches cost the Lions this test series with their selection and tactics. After Woodward anything was deemed an improvement. With all due respect, D’Arcy or even Keith Earls should be playing at centre for the final test. You’ve done well on the wing, so why change to accommodate Shane Williams at the expense of Fitzgerald. The coaches made the wrong calls in the 1st test. Slightly unlucky in the 2nd test but 2 SA tries came from set pieces. And now we get a bunch of Wasp players for the final test.

    Comment by Dixon
    27.
    July 3, 2009
    4:13 pm

    Fair Play Tommy, we’re backing you all the way.
    And never forget you did the farney very proud, it’s been a long time since we have had something to shout about.

    Comment by John
    28.
    July 3, 2009
    4:50 pm

    Personally I think Ireland is proud of you guys regardless of what happens tomorrow in the final test.

    The blog has been a winner. You’re a funny guy and from a rugby point of view perhaps a bit of a legend in the making.

    Good luck tomorrow we know you guys can do it. Enjoy playing centre.

    Elle

    Comment by Elle
    29.
    July 3, 2009
    8:23 pm

    Tommy,

    U have done the whole of ireland proud of u especially monaghan and ulster. Good luck for 2morrow playing as centre and hopefully a touch of magic will come ur way. Hope the elbow is better and the pain will wear off trust me i should no…… by the way how is “Love Rug Luke” and wud u plz come bck to Ulster rugby plz so all ur fans can say hi….

    P.S plz can u add me on facebook the suspense is killing me =]….and good luck 4 2morrow will be watching and hoping for a win.

    Luv Ya xxx

    Comment by Hannah Morris
    30.
    July 4, 2009
    11:37 am

    Right i’m just gonna say it, dont be minding all these other girls posting here, i love you more

    MARRY ME TOMMY

    I’ll be wearing my Mrs Bowe to be tshirt for the match.

    :-)

    Comment by Marsha
    31.
    July 4, 2009
    9:11 pm

    Congrats today Tommy, so proud of you and all the Irish lads, ye did the country proud. Bet you are a happy camper after Monaghan winning in the football as well ;)
    Seriously…….please come to Munster, we’d love to have ya….get another bit of silverware for yourself!

    Comment by Gráinne
    32.
    July 4, 2009
    10:32 pm

    Fantastic win today, well done, v proud of the lot of ye!!! Monaghan beat Armagh! Double whammy!

    Comment by ballybay man
    33.
    July 5, 2009
    11:09 am

    Wotta match! Well done Tommy and all the rest of you. You should’ve seen the rejoicing down my local - Irish, Welsh, English and Scottish all pulling for the same team for once.

    Now stuff those Boks in the autumn and then it’s on to another GS….

    Comment by KM
    34.
    July 5, 2009
    3:32 pm

    Fab match and a great one for you too, Tommy - two try saving tackles!

    Always knew you had the beating of them - could so easily have been 3-0 up to the Lions but as you know sport and rugby is an unpredictable mistress!

    Congrats to you and all the Lions on tour - you’ve done us all proud and N. Hemisphere rugby looks strong, skilled and impressive!

    Trust me, you don’t want a cast on your elbow - they’re cumbersome, heavy on your shoulder and neck and don’t forget ITCHY too!! Another two weeks till I get mine off - I can’t wait…

    Hope to see all the Autumn series matches… can’t wait till we’re back in Lansdowne again though.

    Enjoy the celebrations and time off and maybe you can continue the blog for the rest of the Irish matches too - it’s been most entertaining!

    Thanks for both!

    Comment by Jewels
    35.
    July 5, 2009
    3:57 pm

    By the by, delighted as I was by Williams’ return to form in time for a couple of tries, I don’t think he deserved man of the match - certainly not while Jamie Heaslip was playing the way he did. And Kearney had another blinder too - can’t wait to watch them both in Leinster and Irish matches of the future…

    Comment by Jewels
    36.
    July 5, 2009
    5:08 pm

    What a match and what a tour! - well done on wnning the final game - it was a joy to watch - and you did superb in the centre.

    Message for all the Lions team: Definitely rates as one of the best Lions teams - full credit to everyone - including Ian McGeechan and his team for creating such a good team atmosphere in which everyone could thrive, Paul O’Connell, of course! - for being a towering captain - particularly in keeping spirits up in the last week and to all of the players for giving it their all.

    Do hope you continue to blog - it has been pleasure to read.

    Enjoy your down time!

    Comment by Pam
    37.
    July 6, 2009
    12:22 am

    I for one am sad the tour is over, although what a way to end it - fantastic match and you played a blinder.
    What will I do with my Saturday’s now hey ? I will also miss this blog too you have kept us entertained Tommy and brought us an insight into the tour that made it all the easier to get behind the squad. Thank you for making the tour more real for all of us left back at home.
    Hope you get a good rest and let that elbow heal properly.

    Comment by aj
    38.
    July 6, 2009
    11:01 am

    Well done T-Bomb!
    Great game at 13! Hopefully you can enjoy a well deserved break now!
    Well done again!

    Comment by Eoin
    39.
    July 6, 2009
    11:26 am

    Great game, great lions eh. It was fantastic to watch and apart from yourself of course, Jamie Heaslip and Rob kearney were unbelieveable. The blog was fantastic, never missed a day” . You have a great future in Rugby, especially in Munster”” Come Home Tommy’

    Comment by anna
    40.
    July 6, 2009
    12:09 pm

    Is there any chance of a tommy bowe album being released?

    Suggested

    (to the tune of yellow submarine)
    We all dream of a team of tommy bowe’s etc
    (to the tune of come-by-ah m’lord)
    tommy bowe m’lord, tommy bowe
    (to the tune of daddy cool)
    tommy, tommy bowe, tommy tommy bowe

    and of course black velvet band
    chorus only, repeated
    all of the above songs heard in durban/pretoria/jo’burg

    well done on a great tour
    john

    Comment by John Riordan
    41.
    July 7, 2009
    9:16 pm

    You needed a sling, not a cast. That might have stopped you using your ‘injured’ arm for lifting drinks Saturday night and earned you some sympathy!

    Comment by Sinead

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