Lions 2017: Memorable moments from tours gone by
The Britsh and Irish Lions have been responsible for some memorable sporting moments over the years.
Led by Warren Gatland, the tourists head to New Zealand this year looking to produce more magic to delight their travelling fans.
Here we take a look at some of the standout memories from tours gone by,
THE INVINCIBLES (1974)
We go back 43 years for our first pick. That may seem a long time ago, but it was three years after the Lions’ only previous win over the All Blacks.
With the legendary Willie John McBride as captain, the Lions headed to South Africa for a tour that would see the class of 1974 lauded as the greatest in the team’s history for many years to come.
Victory in their opening 21 matches of the tour – including three of the four Tests – sent them into their final clash with the Springboks with the chance to complete a stunning whitewash.
The 22nd win did not materialise, however, after the referee blew for full-time four minutes early with the Lions just short of the South African try line at 13-13.
Despite that late disappointment, the achievements of the 1974 squad – or the ‘Invincibles’ as they became known – remain one of the high points in Lions history.
In 1974, Willie John McBride's men inflicted the Springbok's heaviest-ever defeat by the Lions in Pretoria ?? https://t.co/YGF2FTB94k pic.twitter.com/DWkvwX8dGK
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) March 26, 2017
THE ’99’ CALL (1974)
Rugby union is often held up as a bastion of respect and gentlemanly conduct in sport but, for all the plaudits earned by the Lions on that 1974 tour, it was also a series marred by violence.
To combat the overbearing physicality of the South African side, McBride devised a ‘one in, all in’ approach to retaliation.
And so was born the ’99 call’. When McBride called “99”, every player was duty-bound to engage in a punch-up with the nearest man in a Springboks jersey.
The supposed thinking behind the plot was that the referee would be unlikely send them all off, but it led to some unsavoury scenes.
According to legend, the plan was initially called the ‘999 call’, but was deemed too long.
SPRINGBOKS ROCKED (1997)
Another series against South Africa – this time in 1997 – opened with a stunning 25-16 victory for the Lions, in which Neil Jenkins starred at full-back.
The legendary Welsh fly-half converted five penalties in that victory, justifying his selection in the unfamiliar 15 role.
South Africa crossed for three tries in the second Test but their wayward kicking allowed Jenkins to keep the Lions on terms, heading into the closing stages of the match at 15-15.
The defining moment of the tour came courtesy of Jeremy Guscott, however. The England centre split the posts with a drop goal three minutes from time to wrap up a series win for the underdogs against the reigning world champions.
There was to be no whitewash, as the Springboks claimed a 35-16 win in the third and final Test.
?Hero of the 1997 Tour, @jeremyguscott with *that series-clinching drop-goal
in Durban following @matt9dawson's pass pic.twitter.com/cuEmSDH9tP— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) April 9, 2017
O’DRISCOLL CRUNCHED (2005)
Brian O’Driscoll is an icon of Lions rugby – one of only three players to have toured on four occasions.
But perhaps one of his most memorable moments in the red jersey of the Lions came in 2005, when – in the opening minute of the first Test against the All Blacks – he was taken out of the game by a spear tackle carried out by Keven Mealamu and Tana Umaga.
The two New Zealanders picked up the Irishman and drove him into the ground next to a ruck.
Captain O’Driscoll suffered a dislocated shoulder in the incident and was forced to hand skipper duties to Gareth Thomas, missing the remainder of a series that ended in a 3-0 defeat for the Lions.
“I saw it happening,” O’Driscoll told RTE. “It was one of those weird situations where it happened in slow motion and I knew I needed to get my head out of the way, so my shoulder took the brunt of the fall.”
Mealamu and Umaga escaped punishment over the incident.
Only one of three players to have toured on FOUR occasions. Happy birthday the great @BrianODriscoll! pic.twitter.com/M4TNawo1p3
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) January 21, 2017
GATLAND GETS IT RIGHT (2013)
O’Driscoll was at the centre of controversy in the build-up to the decisive third Test of the 2013 tour to Australia.
The Lions veteran had been expected to take the captaincy in the absence of the injured Sam Warburton and Paul O’Connell, but was sensationally dropped from the starting XV for the series decider.
Gatland opted instead for the all-Welsh partnership of Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies at centre, in a starting line-up that drew heavily on the Kiwi’s Wales contingent.
But he was justified in his selection as the Lions – captained by Alun Wyn Jones – put on a stunning display to storm to a 41-16 win over the Wallabies, sealing a 2-1 series triumph.
That result was almost certainly key to Gatland’s re-appointment for this year’s tour.
3?? days until #LionsNZ2017 year! ???
The last time we were on the field in 2013 this happened… #TBT
[? via @SkySports} pic.twitter.com/BJdUPHjY1n
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) December 29, 2016
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments