#4 ‘Lions Flashback’- South Africa v British and Irish Lions 1974

Getting closer in our countdown to the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand, it is only fitting that Last Word On Rugby offer rugby fans a ‘Lions flashback’ or two. Continuing today, follow us as we recall ten of the best clashes from historic tours.

‘Lions Flashback’- South Africa v British Lions 1974 series

#4: From our Lions flashback in 1974, this is one of the more powerful results over the 100 plus years of the British [and Irish] Lions. And the harsh conditions seen in Africa did not seem to affect the tourists. While travel was still a trial, from this Lions flashback you can see that the Syd Millar coached side was well prepared, and well executed.

When you think of a tour to South Africa, you can envisage the dry, parched grounds. So while the sides today play on carpet-like surfaces, many players and fans will recall the brown grass–or worse in Rhodesia, and on the high veld.

The tourists arrived at a time when apartheid was still a political issue, and while any players personal opinions may have been put aside, there were protests across the sporting world and outside Twickenham (see below image). Played before the 1977 Gleneagles Agreement, tradition outstripped any arguments and the red shirts began the tour in strong form.

1974 Lions flashback carried on an Era of Invincibility

Captained by Willie John McBride, the squad was filled with players from the successful 1971 tour of New Zealand. JPR Williams and Phil Bennett, Fran Cotton, John Fergus Slattery, Ian McGeechan and the talents of halfback Gareth Edwards. With that power, and the cream of the British Kingdom rugby nation, it had the perfect start. Winning the first seven games before the opening test in Cape Town.

South Africa was hyped up for this tour. Isolated, their nation pinned their hopes on a big win. What then followed was a series of matches that epitomized the gap between the rugby hemispheres. In the first test, the boot ruled–yet the Lions still seemed to have a psychological advantage. Won by just 3-12, that was overshadowed by the second test win two weeks later.

9-28 is a score that back in 1974 was the equivalent of a thrashing. Five tries, two for JPR Williams, in a match notable for the style of play. And the tour itself was well organized. To combat the ‘supposed’ thuggery of the African teams, the side developed the 99 call. A policy where all members of the team would gather to retaliate if they felt the opposition were being over physical.

Tourists Claim a Memorable Series Win in Third Test

In the third and deciding test match, the hosts were still unable to break the defensive line. The Lions had men in their side who could strike, from lock Gordon Brown and JJ Williams who bagged another double.

With key men like Phil Bennett and Andy Irvine all contributing, the series won and a view toward an unbeaten tour, the fourth and final test loomed. With few changes to the test line-up, the continuity might have seen them produce another win, if it weren’t for the determined Springboks.

The national side will have felt the wrath of the home nation, so every effort was put into ‘denying’ an undesirable clean-sweep.

A Sense of an ‘Arranged Conclusion’ in the Fourth Test

The republic, then, more son than today, had a reputation for ‘an invasion of the rulings’. In no way can this be proven, or proof that any on-field ruling was favoritism–but the fact is at 13-13, and with the Lions on attack, the match was halted prematurely. Some would say that the visitors did not have any secured scoring opportunity….as others will report that with the win in sight, a referees call in the 76th minute saw the game terminated.

And while that put a full stop on the results, it could never change the fact that after the 1971 tour of New Zealand, this Lions flashback shows that the early 70’s was a bright-point in the history of the organization. The combined strengths of the side (at this time) had bettered both the All Blacks and the Springboks.

Such a record must be respected, and the 1974 vintage were legendary.

_______________________________________________________________________