THREE LIONS TOURS TO REMEMBER
1971 (NEW ZEALAND)
Still the only Lions to win a Test series in New Zealand, coach Carwyn James forged arguably the tourists’ greatest-ever outfit, his innovation proving the backbone of a dogged 2-1 Test series victory. John Dawes became the gritty captain to spearhead the Test assault, surrounded on all sides by a host of Welsh wizards including Barry John (who posted a record 188 points in a single tour), Gareth Edwards, Gerald Davies and JPR Williams.
1974 (SOUTH AFRICA)
The Invincibles won 21 of 22 matches, only drawing the fourth Test with the series already in the bag. The ‘99’ call will forever remain bludgeoned into rugby folklore as the Lions’ collective response to rough housing home tactics. Refusing to be intimidated, captain Willie John McBride devised the call of ‘99’, upon which all Lions players would flood into retaliation en masse. The ruse worked, with the Lions progressing to win every provincial clash while taking the Test series 3-0.
1997 (SOUTH AFRICA)
Not only did the Lions win a brutal Test series 2-1, the tourists’ fly-onthe-wall ‘Living with the Lions’ documentary lifted the lid on a glorious last hurrah for and long goodbye to rugby union’s amateur era. Taskmaster coach Jim Telfer’s ‘Everest’ speech has been the blueprint for modern-era Lions success.
2005 (NEW ZEALAND)
World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward was given the task of leading the Lions to New Zealand but it proved a miserable mission. Not only did they lose all three Tests against a Dan Carter-inspired All Blacks but captain Brian O’Driscoll suffered a tour-ending shoulder injury after being speartackled during the opening minutes of the first Test in Christchurch. Woodward’s Lions were also beaten by the New Zealand Maori.
1966 (AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND)
Captained by Scotland forward Mike Campbell-Lamerton, the Lions started a marathon 35-game trip by winning both Test matches against Australia. But the substantial New Zealand leg proved an altogether tougher proposition, with only a 60 per cent success rate from 25 matches, including defeats in all four Tests in Dunedin, Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland. There were also provincial losses to Southland, Otago, Wellington and WanganuiKing Country, and when they stopped off on the way home for two games in Canada the Lions came unstuck against British Columbia.
1924 (SOUTH AFRICA)
Skippered by Englishman Ronald Cove-Smith and under the management of former Wales international Harry Packer, the Lions lost three Tests and drew the other one. They also suffered six defeats away from the Test arena, prompting considerable questioning afterwards about selection.