Only said “tried”. Didn’t say “succeeded”. Connery set the standard with smooth and effortless sophistication and a twinkle in the as he brutally murdered the bad guys.
Want to see the actor that should’ve got the role instead of Craig ? Watch Clive Owen (currently doing the series, “The Knick.”). I was lobbying for his casting. I liked 2 other JB portrayers, George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton. Roger Moore was OK, but he played it like he was still doing “The Saint.” Brosnan was too insufferable. Connery, of course, was the gold standard.