1971 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia

Rugby union tour March 2014 March 2014 150px 12 May – 14 August WAL Carwyn James WAL John Dawes British Lions 2–1 WAL Barry John (30) South Africa 1968 South Africa 1974 26 23 1 2 4 2 1 1 NZL 4 2 1 1 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. Background The Lions had done poorly when touring New Zealand in 1966, losing all four Tests to the All Blacks. However, Wales had won the Grand Slam in the Five Nations Championship in 1971 and supplied more players than any other home nation to the touring squad. Both the coach and captain were also Welsh. New Zealand, after a long period of success, had lost their most recent series in 1970 away to South Africa. Key factors 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."Palenski, R: Century in Black, 100 Years of All Black Test Rugby, page 122. Hodder Moa Beckett Publishers Ltd, 2003 The coaching team had also done important reconnaissance work.https://www.thetimes.com/article/boars-beers-and-black-eyes-that-forged-a-unique-bond-dmf8g9slj Boars, beers and black eyes that forged a unique bond for the 1971 Lions heroes Sarah Shephard www.thetimes.co.uk Colin Meads said Mervyn Davies was "the one player who probably had the biggest impact on that 1971 Lions Test series," particularly as he prevented New Zealand winning line out ball via Brian Lochore.Colin Meads Rob Cole Colin Meads Mervyn Davies obituary https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/mervyn-davies-rugby-union-player-considered-by-many-as-one-of-the-greatest-from-wales-7575740.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/mervyn-davies-rugby-union-player-considered-by-many-as-one-of-the-greatest-from-wales-7575740.html 1 May 2022 subscription live www.independent.co.uk The Independent 17 March 2012 For years so much of our play had revolved around throwing to Brian Lochore at the back of the line-out, but Mervyn dominated that area of the game for the entire series and stopped us playing.Willie John McBride David Roach Mervyn Davies Willie John McBride Mervyn Davies (rugby union) In Strength And Shadow: The Mervyn Davies Story 2004 Mainstream Publishing 978-1-84018-865-3 en Foreword Test series 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 Lions players later admitted they were overconfident following their initial Test victory. The Lions were thus convincingly beaten 22–12 in the second Test in Christchurch, with the All Blacks outscoring them five tries (Bob Burgess (2), Sid Going, Ian Kirkpatrick, pen try) to two (Davies (2)). The third Test 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 tries 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 J. P. R. Williams received the ball 45 metres out and attempted a drop goal, it was successful and put the Lions ahead 14–11. Williams's drop goal was the only one he landed in his Test career. The All Blacks could only manage three further points from a penalty to draw the game 14-14, which gave the Lions the series. Squad Backs John Dawes (London Welsh and Wales) (captain) J. P. R. Williams (London Welsh and Wales) Bob Hiller (Harlequins and England) John C Bevan (Cardiff and Wales) Alastair Biggar (London Scottish and Scotland) Gerald Davies (London Welsh and Wales) David Duckham (Coventry and England)reference_name_A a a Arthur Lewis (Ebbw Vale and Wales) John Spencer (Headingley and England) Chris Rea (West of Scotland and Scotland) Mike Gibson (North of Ireland FC and Ireland) Barry John (Cardiff and Wales) Gareth Edwards (Cardiff and Wales) Chico Hopkins (Maesteg and Wales) Chris Wardlow (Northampton and England) was an original selection but withdrew due to injury. His place was taken by Chris Rea Forwards Frank Laidlaw (Melrose and Scotland) John Pullin (Bristol and England) Ian McLauchlan (Jordanhill College and Scotland) Sandy Carmichael (West of Scotland and Scotland) Sean Lynch (St Mary's College RFC and Ireland) Ray McLoughlin (Blackrock College RFC and Ireland) Stack Stevens (Harlequins and England) Gordon Brown (West of Scotland and Scotland) Geoff Evans (London Welsh and Wales) Willie John McBride (Ballymena and Ireland) Mike Roberts (London Welsh and Wales) Delme Thomas (Llanelli and Wales) Mike Hipwell (Terenure College RFC and Ireland) Rodger Arneil (Leicester and Scotland) Derek Quinnell (Llanelli)reference_name_B b b Fergus Slattery (University College Dublin RFC and Ireland) John Taylor (London Welsh and Wales) Mervyn Davies (London Welsh and Wales) Peter Dixon (Harlequins and England)reference_name_C c c Results MatchDateOpponentLocationResultScoreMatch 112 MayQueenslandBallymore, BrisbaneLost11–15Match 215 MayNew South WalesSydney Cricket Ground, SydneyWon14–12Match 322 MayCounties /Thames ValleyPukekohe Stadium, PukekoheWon25–3 Match 426 MayWanganui /King CountrySpriggens Park, WanganuiWon22–9Match 529 MayWaikatoRugby Park, HamiltonWon35–14Match 62 JuneNew Zealand New Zealand MāoriEden Park, AucklandWon23–12Match 75 JuneWellingtonAthletic Park, WellingtonWon47–9Match 89 JuneSouth Canterbury /Mid Canterbury /North OtagoFraser Park, TimaruWon25–6Match 912 JuneOtagoCarisbrook, DunedinWon21–9Match 1016 JuneWest Coast-BullerRugby Park, GreymouthWon39–6Match 1119 JuneCanterburyLancaster Park, ChristchurchWon14– 3Match 1222 JuneMarlborough /Nelson BaysLansdowne Park, BlenheimWon31–12First Test26 JuneNZLCarisbrook, DunedinWon9–3Match 1430 JuneSouthlandRugby Park, InvercargillWon25–3Match 153 JulyTaranakiRugby Park, New PlymouthWon14–9Match 166 JulyNew Zealand UniversitiesAthletic Park, WellingtonWon27–6Second Test10 JulyNZLLancaster Park, ChristchurchLost12–22Match 1814 JulyWairarapa BushMemorial Park, MastertonWon27–6Match 1917 JulyHawke's BayMcLean Park, NapierWon25–6Match 2021 JulyPoverty Bay /East CoastRugby Park, GisborneWon18–12Match 2124 JulyAucklandEden Park, AucklandWon19–12Third Test31 JulyNZLAthletic Park, WellingtonWon13–3Match 234 AugustManawatu /HorowhenuaShowgrounds, Palmerston NorthWon39–6Match 247 AugustNorth AucklandOkara Park, WhangareiWon11–5Match 2510 AugustBay of PlentyTauranga Domain, TaurangaWon20–14Fourth Test14 AugustNZLEden Park, AucklandDraw14–14 The Canterbury game was particularly violent.https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/blood-curdling-inside-story-lions-13037406 The story of the Lions match still labelled 'a disgrace to rugby' Delme Parfitt 15 May 2017 WalesOnline Tests First Test 26 June 1971 NZL 3–9 Report British Lions McCormick McLauchlan John (2/6) Carisbrook, Dunedin 45,000 John Pring (New Zealand) Team details FB 15Fergie McCormick RW 14Bruce HunterOC 13Wayne CottrellIC 12Bryan WilliamsLW 11Ken CarringtonFH 10Bob BurgessSH 9 Sid GoingN8 8 Alan SutherlandFL 7 Ian KirkpatrickFL 6 Alan McNaughtonRL 5 Colin Meads (c)LL 4 Peter WhitingPR 3 Brian MullerHK 2 Tane NortonPR 1 Richie GuyReplacements:HK 16PR 17PR 18LK 19FL 20SH 21FH 22CE 23Coach:NZL Ivan Vodanovich FB 15WAL J. P. R. WilliamsRW 14WAL Gerald DaviesOC 13WAL John Dawes (c)IC 12IRE rugby union Mike GibsonLW 11WAL John BevanFH 10WAL Barry JohnSH 9 WAL Gareth Edwards 5N8 8 WAL Mervyn DaviesFL 7 WAL John TaylorFL 6 ENG Peter DixonRL 5 IRE rugby union Willie John McBride LL 4 WAL Delme Thomas PR 3 IRE rugby union Sean LynchHK 2 ENG John PullinPR 1 SCO Ian McLauchlanReplacements:LK 16SCO Gordon BrownSH 17WAL Chico Hopkins 5WG 18ENG David DuckhamHK 19SCO Frank LaidlawCoach:WAL Carwyn James Second Test 10 July 1971 NZL 22–12 Report British Lions Try: Burgess (2)GoingKirkpatrickPenalty try Con: Mains (2)Pen: Mains Try: Davies (2)Pen: JohnDrop: John Lancaster Park, Christchurch 57,500 John Pring (New Zealand) Team details FB 15Laurie Mains RW 14Bruce HunterOC 13Howard JosephIC 12Wayne CottrellLW 11Bryan WilliamsFH 10Bob BurgessSH 9 Sid GoingN8 8 Alex WyllieFL 7 Alan McNaughtonFL 6 Ian KirkpatrickRL 5 Colin Meads (c)LL 4 Peter WhitingPR 3 Brian MullerHK 2 Tane NortonPR 1 Richie GuyCoach:NZL Ivan Vodanovich FB 15WAL J. P. R. WilliamsRW 14WAL Gerald DaviesOC 13WAL John Dawes (c)IC 12IRE rugby union Mike GibsonLW 11ENG David DuckhamFH 10WAL Barry JohnSH 9 WAL Gareth EdwardsN8 8 WAL Mervyn DaviesFL 7 WAL John TaylorFL 6 ENG Peter DixonRL 5 IRE rugby union Willie John McBride LL 4 WAL Delme Thomas PR 3 IRE rugby union Sean LynchHK 2 ENG John PullinPR 1 SCO Ian McLauchlanCoach:WAL Carwyn James Third Test 31 July 1971 NZL 3–13 British Lions Try: Mains Try: DaviesJohnCon: John (2)Drop: John Athletic Park, Wellington John Pring (New Zealand) NEW ZEALAND: Laurie Mains, Bruce Hunter, Howard Joseph, Wayne Cottrell, Ken Carrington, Bob Burgess (rep Mick Duncan), Sid Going, Brian Muller, Tane Norton, Richie Guy, Colin Meads (c), Brian Lochore, Alan McNaughton Ian Kirkpatrick, Alex Wyllie LIONS: Williams, Gerald Davies, Dawes (c), Gibson, Duckham, John, Edwards, Lynch, Pullin, McLauchlan, McBride, Brown, Quinnell, Slattery, Mervyn Davies. In the pack, the Lions selected Gordon Brown over Delme Thomas.https://www.lionsrugby.com/2016/01/28/lions-hero-john-spencer-on-gordon-brown/ Lions Hero: John Spencer on Gordon Brown 28 January 2016 www.lionsrugby.com Fourth Test 14 August 1971 NZL 14–14 British Lions Try: CottrellListerCon: MainsPen Mains (2) Try: DixonCon: JohnDrop: WilliamsPen: John (2) Eden Park, Auckland John Pring (New Zealand) NEW ZEALAND: Laurie Mains, Ken Carrington, Mick Duncan, Phil Gard, Bryan Williams, Wayne Cottrell, Sid Going, Brian Muller, Tane Norton, Richie Guy, Colin Meads (c), Peter Whiting, Ian Kirkpatrick, Tom Lister, Alex Wyllie LIONS: Williams, Gerald Davies, Dawes (c), Gibson, Duckham, John, Edwards, Lynch, Pullin, McLauchlan, McBride, Brown, Taylor, Dixon, Mervyn Davies.Thomas replaced injured Brown 60mins Appraisal The 1971 Lions are often compared to the unbeaten 1974 British Lions tour to South Africa. Many of the players who played on the 1971 Lions tour believe the 1974 Lions team would have beaten the 1971 Lions team, due to having better forwards and because many of the 1971 players had become better players by 1974.Willie John McBride, Ian McLauchlan, Ian McGeechan, Fergus Slattery, Chapter 24, Undefeated, Rhodri Davies J. P. R. Williams has said that while the 1971 Lions back division could not be bettered, the 1974 squad was better at winning games.https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/life-jpr-70-courageous-welsh-15920882 The life of JPR at 70, a Welsh rugby great who was different from the rest Mark Orders 4 March 2019 Wales Online However South Africa had not played a test match for two years before playing the Lions, whereas the New Zealand team had been active.https://www.thetimes.com/article/dick-milliken-the-springboks-were-physical-and-frightening-but-they-believed-we-were-invincible-dbf2sgxf9 Dick Milliken: The Springboks were physical and frightening – but they believed we were invincible Peter O’Reilly www.thetimes.co.uk In addition the 1971 Lions overcame the mental hurdle of the Lions having lost every previous series in New Zealand before. Notes and references Notes reference_name_A a a Duckham had been playing for England at centre, but was selected on the wing. reference_name_B b b Derek Quinnell had not been capped at the time of the 1971 tour, but later played for Wales. reference_name_C c c Peter Dixon had not played for England at the time of his selection for the 1971 tour but then won his first cap against the President's Overseas XV on 17 April 1971 three weeks prior to the squad's departure for Australia. Bibliography Thomas J. B. G. 1971 The Roaring Lions London Pelham Books 0-7207-0545-2 External links British & Irish Lions | History Lions Flashback: 1971 - allblacks.com https://web.archive.org/web/20210228035640/https://www.allblacks.com/news/lions-flashback-1971/ 28 February 2021 Category:1971 rugby union tours 1971 1971 Category:1971 in Irish sport Category:1970–71 in British rugby union Category:1971 in New Zealand rugby union Category:1971 in Australian rugby union