Mtawarira lived up to his nickname in brutal style when he turned the Lions into pussycats in 2009

Tendai Mtawarira lived up to his nickname in brutal style when he turned the Lions into pussycats in 2009 at just 23… and The Beast admits Gatland’s men will now be out to ‘avenge’ that ‘amazing’ series

  • Twelve years ago Tendai Mtawarira turned the Lions British & Irish into pussycats
  • The first Test in 2009 offered up a one-man annihilation of the Lions’ dreams
  • Poor Phil Vickery was eaten for dinner before being substituted 44 minutes in
  • Stuart Barnes described it as a ‘full scale sporting disaster zone’ for the Lions 

Twelve years ago The Beast turned Lions into pussycats.

The first Test of the 2009 series offered up a one-man destruction of British & Irish dreams – loose-head prop Tendai Mtawarira the nightmare figure.

Poor old Phil Vickery, on the Lions’ tight-head, was eaten for dinner in Durban, once even being practically catapulted out of the scrum before he was substituted 44 minutes in.

Twelve years ago The Beast (middle) turned the British & Irish Lions into pussycats

Described by commentator Stuart Barnes at the time as a ‘full scale sporting disaster zone’ for the Lions, it was Mtawarira living up to his nickname in brutal style.

‘We just went into beast mode!’ reflects Beast now with a huge laugh.

‘Crazy man. It was amazing. I can’t even explain it – everything just worked out on the day.

‘Facing someone like Phil Vickery, he’s a legend and always will be. To have been English captain, played at so many World Cups, he was such a big challenge for me and I was just happy I got my way against him. I still respect him.’

The first Test of the 2009 series offered up a one-man destruction of British & Irish dreams – loose-head prop Tendai Mtawarira (right) the nightmare figure

The first Test of the 2009 series offered up a one-man destruction of British & Irish dreams – loose-head prop Tendai Mtawarira (right) the nightmare figure

Poor old Phil Vickery (above), on the Lions’ tight-head, was eaten for dinner in Durban, once even being practically catapulted out of the scrum before he was substituted 44 minutes in

Poor old Phil Vickery (above), on the Lions’ tight-head, was eaten for dinner in Durban, once even being practically catapulted out of the scrum before he was substituted 44 minutes in

Mtawarira was just 23 then – immediately becoming an icon of the game as he won man of the match and the Boks the opening Test of that series.

‘It was amazing,’ he says now.

‘I had just made my debut the year before. To be a part of something special that only happens for us every 12 years was surreal – I had to pinch myself.

‘For the older the guys in the team they had waited for that series for a very long time. To be a part of that, rubbing shoulders with World Cup winners – Bryan Habana, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, was truly amazing for me. I was a sponge, wanting to soak in all the advice to see how those guys prepared.

Described by commentator Stuart Barnes (above) at the time as a ‘full scale sporting disaster zone’ for the Lions, it was Mtawarira living up to his nickname in brutal style

Described by commentator Stuart Barnes (above) at the time as a ‘full scale sporting disaster zone’ for the Lions, it was Mtawarira living up to his nickname in brutal style

Mtawarira (right) was just 23 then – immediately becoming an icon of the game as he won man of the match and the Boks the opening Test of that series

Mtawarira (right) was just 23 then – immediately becoming an icon of the game as he won man of the match and the Boks the opening Test of that series

‘It was definitely an emotional series to play. I realise the history behind it, and knew before that in 1997 the Springboks lost.

‘We had a gathering with the Springboks of that era, and they said how horrible it was to lose it, and it left a sour taste in their mouth, but they were passing on the baton and we had to make amends for what happened.

‘It was emotional. It took a while to sink in that we won the series, as it was such a big occasion, and the margins were so small.

‘I knew about the history and the fierce competition with the Lions. It’s not just another game.’

Mtawarira believes Warren Gatland's side will now be out to 'avenge' that 'amazing' series

Mtawarira believes Warren Gatland’s side will now be out to ‘avenge’ that ‘amazing’ series

That still rings true now – albeit this series will be the eeriest yet in Covid times.

‘It’s going to be unique,’ adds Mtawarira.

‘It’s going to be tough for the players not to have fans creating an atmosphere, but there is enough motivation on both sides.

‘The Lions want to avenge what happened in 2009. On the Boks side, we haven’t played in so long, so to pull on that Springbok jersey is going to mean so much to so many of those players.

‘The hunger and the passion is going to come out. It’s going to be a fierce contest.’

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