Winner last saw visitors play in ’ 71
One lucky winner is about to see the All Blacks and Lions go head to head, after he won six tickets thanks to the Herald and ASB — and he hopes it won’t be a repeat of the Lions’ famous 1971 win.
It is 46 years since rugby fanatic Don Hall saw the British and Irish Lions play in New Zealand, the only side to have secured the ultimate prize of beating the All Blacks in a test series.
But this year, Hall thinks the All Blacks have the win in the bag.
“I think there will be a better outcome this time. I don’t think they’ve got so many class players this time,” said Hall referring to Lions greats such as Welsh halfback Gareth Edwards and fullback JPR Williams.
The Devonport resident, who played rugby until he was 54, and his two sons entered the ballot for tickets but missed out.
“It doesn’t matter though, now I’ve got these tickets. It’s incredible,” Hall said.
He said he was “thunderstruck” when he got the phone call to say he had won.
Hall planned to take his sons, one of their partners and two friends from the rugby club in Devonport, to tonight’s match at Eden Park.
ASB’s general manager of corporate communications Christian May said ASB was “delighted to give a lifelong rugby fan like Don an opportunity to experience the excitement of a Lions versus All Blacks test match for the first time since 1971.”