1971 British Lions tour to New Zealand

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In 1971 the British Lions toured New Zealand, also playing two matches in Australia. Despite losing the first match to Queensland the tour was a great success, the Lions winning the test series against the All Blacks. They are still the only Lions side to have won a test series in New Zealand. The side was captained by John Dawes, coached by Carwyn James and managed by Doug Smith.

Although the Lions had done poorly when touring New Zealand in 1966 (they lost all four tests to the All Blacks), the seeds had been sown for the successful series of 1971. Wales had won the Grand Slam in the Five Nations Championship in 1971, and appropriately supplied more players than any other Home nation to the touring squad. Both the coach and captain were also Welsh. This was the only tour to result in a Lions victory over the All Blacks, a major factor in their victory was self belief. Gerald Davies explained, "...somewhere along the line it becomes a mental thing...We grew in confidence; we came to believe it was possible to beat the All Blacks."[1]

The Lions won the first Test in Dunedin 9 - 3, with a penalty goal to the All Blacks, and two penalties and a try, (scored by Ian McLauchlan) to the Lions. Several Lion's players later admitted they were over-confident following their initial test victory. The Lions were hence convincingly beaten 22 - 12 in Christchurch, with the All Blacks outscoring them five tries to two. The third test match was played at Athletic Park, Wellington. The Lions did not make the same mistake they had in Christchurch, resulting in a 13 - 3 win, the Lions scored two converted ties and a drop goal. The All Blacks managed only a try.

Following the third test the Lions led the series 2 - 1. The final game played in Auckland would require an All Black victory for New Zealand to draw the series. A draw or Lions victory would give the Lions a series win. Scores were level 8 - 8 at half time with a try, conversion and penalty each. The first 15 minutes of the second half saw the Lions land a penalty goal and the All Blacks score a try. With the scores tied 11 - 11, Lions fullback JPR Williams received the ball 45 metres out and attempted a drop goal, it was successful and put the Lions ahead 14 - 11. Remarkably, Williams' drop goal was the only one he ever landed in his test career. The All Blacks could only manage three further points from a sole penalty to draw the game and give the Lions the series.

Contents

[edit] Squad

[edit] Backs

[edit] Forwards

[edit] Results

Lions 11-15 Queensland
Lions 14-12 New South Wales
Lions 25-3 Counties/Thames Valley
Lions 22-9 King Country/Wanganui
Lions 35-14 Waikato
Lions 23-12 NZ Māori
Lions 47-9 Wellington
Lions 25-6 S. Canterbury/N. Otago
Lions 21-9 Otago
Lions 39-6 West Coast/Buller
Lions 14-3 Canterbury
Lions 31-12 M'borough/Nelson
Lions 9-3 New Zealand (Dunedin)
Lions 25-3 Southland
Lions 14-9 Taranaki
Lions 27-6 N.Z. Universities
Lions 12-22 New Zealand (Christchurch)
Lions 27-6 Wairarapa-Bush
Lions 25-6 Hawke's Bay
Lions 18-12 Poverty Bay/East Coast
Lions 19-12 Auckland
Lions 13-3 New Zealand (Wellington)
Lions 39-6 Manawatu/Horowhenua
Lions 11-5 North Auckland
Lions 20-14 Bay of Plenty
Lions 14-14 New Zealand (Auckland)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Palenski, R: Century In Black, 100 Years of All Black Test Rugby, page 122. Hodder Moa Beckett Publishers Ltd, 2003

J.B.G. Thomas (1971) The roaring Lions (Pelham Books)

[edit] External links

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