
McGeechan's blubbing is captured in a shocking new behind-the-scenes video which lifts the lid on the British and Irish Lions' savage and bloody summer tour to South Africa.
The 2¼ hour official DVD - on sale later this month - contains a staggering 194 swear words and shows:
* Doctors struggling to put prop Adam Jones' dislocated shoulder back as he lies on a dressing room couch with an oxygen mask around his head;
* Fellow Welsh forward Gethin Jenkins being treated for a smashed cheekbone which needed surgery and ruled him out of the game for six weeks;
* Doctors' concerns over Welsh fly- half James Hook's welfare as he loses memory and "deteriorates" alarmingly following a crunching blow to the head;
* Scot Fraser Hines needing an injection in a huge gash under an eye;
* The aftermath of the ferocious Second Test defeat which also left Irish centre Brian O'Driscoll severely concussed, Welsh centre Jamie Roberts with his arm in a sling and Irish stand-off Ronan O'Gara with a horrendous black eye.
The tour will always be remembered for Springboks thug Schalk Burger's cowardly gouging of Irish winger Luke Fitzgerald's eye - which resulted in an eight-week ban - and Bakkies Botha's wreckless charge on Jones which led to a two-week suspension.
As McGeechan admits in the documentary: "This place does not respect anything we stand for and it never has.
"They just want to make it physical. F*** all about the rugby. That's what we have got to be prepared for."
And, ironically, there is also a chilling prediction from assistant coach Warren Gatland before the 26-21 First Test defeat: "We're gonna go through some pain. We're gonna hurt today."
The casualties suffered during the tour were large. Euan Murray (broken leg), Stephen Ferris (knee), Jenkins, Jones and O'Driscoll all flew home before the end. Jamie Roberts' wrist injury ruled him out of the final Test.
Leigh Halfpenny, Tom Shanklin and Jerry Flannery were all injured before the players even flew out. While Rikki Flutey, Andrew Sheridan and Joe Worsley played through injuries which would normally have sidelined them.

Team doctor James Robson insists: "The Second Test was one of the most brutal and injury-laden games that any of us have been involved in.
"And, sadly, some of the injuries have resulted in people going home.
"Gethin has a fractured cheekbone that has required surgery. That is him out of rugby for six weeks.
"Adam Jones dislocated his shoulder and that has necessitated him returning home for specialist opinion. Brian O'Driscoll was concussed and has gone home with Adam. Other debris includes Ronan O'Gara who has the worst swollen eye I have seen in many a year outside the boxing ring."
The tour was so vicious, even cuddly toy mascot Lenny the Lion is pictured needing treatment.
But it is the sight of Scottish legend McGeechan in his final Lions tour, sobbing uncontrollably after giving his last pre-match team talk that is even more distressing.
In one of the most emotive scenes ever witnessed in a rugby video, McGeechan tries to hold back the tears before breaking down in forwards coach Graham Rowntree's arms as the enormity of the moment hits home.
It comes just seconds after giving this heart-rending speech ahead of the Lions' thumping 28-9 Third Test triumph over the Springboks in Johannesburg on July 4 which completed a 2-1 series defeat.
"Today will determine what we are," he says. "It will say everything about us.
"The biggest thing about what you earn in this jersey is a respect and a reputation. We can leave a legacy in this last game in this jersey for the players to pick up in four years.
"We can leave something that makes sure when people think about the Lions they think good. Some of you might be here to pick up the next jersey in four years, some of us won't be.
"Please, please give them something to play for and something to understand.
"Good luck, but play for everything that we want that jersey to be and everything you have made it so far."
It is just one of a number of inspirational speeches and foul-mouthed pep talks highlighted on the DVD. One, a rousing minute-long rant from skipper Paul O'Connell ahead of the first game, contains 16 F-words.
Another from Irish team-mate Donncha O'Callaghan ends: "Whatever you have to f***ing do to go f***ing bananas, get there."
McGeechan reveals the ferocity of the battle when he says: "I want a f***ing icicle about that long with a big point on it going right through to their f***ing hearts. I'm not interested in how many friends we win on the field."
Another scene shows Gatland's emotional team talk which inspired the Lions to their terrific Third Test triumph at Ellis Park.
"For some of you this will be the last time you ever wear this jersey," he snarls. Here is your opportunity to remember it - by beating South Africa out there on the Ellis Park pitch.
"The only f***ing way you earn respect against these c***s is by f***ing beating them. Nothing but a win is acceptable. For those guys, the last time you wear this shirt, f***ing remember it!"
The documentary contains a staggering 173 F-words. And another dressing-room scene shows England team-mates Phil Vickery and Andrew Sheridan squaring up just moments before the Third Test kick-off.
The explosive, £25 fly-on-the-wall documentary - which is exempt from a classification certificate - is set to become one of the biggest-selling sports videos in history. It is already No 1 on internet publishing site Amazon for pre-orders even though it is not released until October 19. The film crew were given access to all areas.
The documentary also reveals:
* How kit man Paddy O'Reilly was bound and gagged in a duvet and dumped in a hotel lift;
* Lions stars chatting up sexy Sharks cheerleaders in Durban;
* Welsh forward Andy Powell having his bare bum spanked by table tennis bats during a team-bonding session;
* Forward Tom Croft having his tackle bitten by a real lion during a safari.
In another hilarious scene during a dinner at the British High Commission, a pretty woman accuses players of looking at her bum.
Scrum-half Harry Ellis then lifts up her jumper to get a better look: "This is a Portuguese a***," she says. "Prove it," says Ellis.
Then England winger Ugo Monye tries his luck with the same girl.
"What's your name?" she asks. "Justin," he replies. "Just Incredible."
The banter continues on the team coach. Vickery, nicknamed Victor Meldrew because of his constant moaning, is drawn as winger Tommy Bowe's room-mate.
"I don't make f***ing cups of tea and I snore," says Vickery. "He's in for a miserable time."
And Lee Mears chips in: "I've got Philsy, the good-looking one. Hopefully, he'll bring some fit chicks back to the room and I'll hide in the cupboard like a good dwarf!"
But the last word, rightly, goes to McGeechan.
"You make sure a South African cannot live with you because that is what that badge on your jersey means," he tells his players.
"You carry it further, faster, for longer and the man opposite you, who can never wear it, suddenly realises how important it is. What I want to be able to do is pull a winning jersey off your back.
"From the west of Ireland to the north of Scotland, from the midlands of England to the west of Wales they will look at you, they'll smile and you'll have a welcome in their eyes that you cannot get any other way.
"Because they know how much it takes to win a Test in a Lions jersey. Don't swap your jersey. It's so personal because you affect people in four countries.
And they will look at you with that admiration with that respect of what you have done for them.
"And they'll be desperate, just to share the wearing of that jersey because of what you have put in.
"It's hanging on a peg. Have a look at it, put it on, just take it somewhere special this afternoon because everybody will see it, everybody will feel it.
"Good luck, boys."
Then followed the most brutal Test match in rugby history . . .
This article has 9 comments
Come on. Let us be realistic! Did the Lions and their supporters really believe that they will come to South Africa and win the series!!
Wishful thinking. Also bare in mind the the Lions won their only test against a weakened second springbok team an expiremantal team!
My blood is GREEN my Blood is GOLD, The BOKS made us PROUD. By far the best team in the world!
So stop nagging and except defeat!
By zain. Posted October 7 2009 at 10:35 AM.
Springboks rugby at its best. TOTAL Rugby. Blah Blah Blah Blah. Sore losers!!
By zain. Posted October 7 2009 at 9:58 AM.
Come on Pommies!! Cut the whining, face the fact you got outplayed in every facet of the game against the best team in the world - BOKKE!!! As geech says in his rousing speeches, do whatever you can to take apart the Boks, sorry mate but you never got round to doing that as the Boks smashed you before you could smash them!! Rugby is physical & maybe you should listen to PDV when he said rather put a tutu on & do ballet!! Soft Pommies!
By Elton & Jan. Posted October 6 2009 at 7:32 AM.
watching the video was one of the emotive things I have seen. I watched the Lions tour games and was pretty disgusted with SA tactics. I am sorry chaps but if you have to cheat to win, the winning is just not worth it. Well done LIons, I , at least, was proud of our performances and proud that you did not stoop to their levels. Oh yes, I am a woman.
By rowan. Posted October 4 2009 at 8:59 PM.
ok boks lets put you on a rugby pitch and let people stick their fingers in your eyes so you cant see. Nothing but cheats mate cant play rugby properly so get cheap shots in like a bunch of cowards.
By no name. Posted October 4 2009 at 1:34 PM.
Fair enough, the Lions did lose the series and the Boks are the best team in the world at the moment. However, as SA rugby fans / SA people, you should spend more time sorting out your country getting ready for the world cup rather than writing spiteful emails. England have qualified for the World Cup, South Africa have only qualified as you are the hosts and based on the awful experience with security and general safety during the Lions Tours, there will be problems next summer. Lose the attitude and sort out the crime.
By Robin. Posted October 4 2009 at 8:09 AM.
I am a Bok supporter and was devastated when we lost the series in 1997, but I was honest enough to admit that we were beaten by a better team and we would have to wait 12 years to exact our revenge. It is now several months since the Lions left SA after LOSING the series 2-1 and the British press and PR machine still won't give the Boks credit for winning the series fair and square. For the record - BOD concussed himself in the 2nd test and it was a disgrace that he was not cited for the "tackle" on Danie Rossouw. If players were suspended for what Bakkies Botha did at the ruck where Jones was injured then we would have countless players suspended after every match. I also notice that all the Lions indiscretions have been ignored in all reports during and following the tour - for example, how Andrew Sheridan could escape censure for punching Andries Bekker in the balls merely proves how flawed the citing procedure is - and this incident was caught in full on camera. The Boks and their supporters do not care what the British press have to say, but in order to maintain some semblance of impartiality it might be worthwhile for British journalists to admit the Lions were defeated by the better team and acknowledge that the official rankings have the Boks at number 1.
PS - we always knew the Poms were whingers, but we thought the Welsh, Scottish and Irish would have more respect after being defeated by their opponents.
By Vern. Posted October 4 2009 at 4:14 AM.
What a load of crap,poor losers,if you dont like the heat stay out of the kitchen or go play a nice Sunday game of cricket on the village green,Boks just too good for you,always will be,we should stick to playing the All Blacks and Wallabies,they never whinge.
By Ken Groom. Posted October 4 2009 at 3:24 AM.
Ian McGeechan is a man of the highest integrity and a legend within the British game. This was mearly the manifestation of his frastration of the poor tour.
By Sean . Posted October 4 2009 at 2:14 AM.