1971 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia

In 1971 the 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.

1971 British Lions tour to New Zealand
Date12 May  – 14 August
Coach(es) Carwyn James
Tour captain(s) John Dawes
Test series winnersBritish Lions (1–2)
Top test point scorer(s) Barry John (30)
1971 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
Summary
P W D L
Total
26 23 01 02
Test match
04 02 01 01
Opponent
P W D L
 New Zealand
4 2 1 1

Background

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.

NZ, 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."[1] The coaching team had also done important reconnaissance work.[2]

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 NZ winning line out ball via Brian Lochore.[3]

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 JPR 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

^1 1 Duckham had been playing for England at centre, but was selected on the wing.

Forwards

1 Derek Quinnell had not been capped at the time of the 1971 tour, but later played for Wales.

2 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.

Results
Match Date Opponent Location Result Score
Match 1 12 May Queensland Brisbane Lost 11–15
Match 2 15 May New South Wales Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Won 14–12
Match 3 22 May Counties-Thames Valley Pukekohe Won 25–3
Match 4 26 May King Country-Wanganui Wanganui Won 22–9
Match 5 29 May Waikato Rugby Park, Hamilton Won 35–14
Match 6 2 June New Zealand Māori Eden Park, Auckland Won 23–12
Match 7 5 June Wellington Athletic Park, Wellington Won 47–9
Match 8 9 June South Canterbury-Mid Canterbury-North Otago Timaru Won 25–6
Match 9 12 June Otago Carisbrook, Dunedin Won 21–9
Match 10 16 June West Coast-Buller Greymouth Won 39–6
Match 11 19 June Canterbury Lancaster Park, Christchurch Won 14–9
Match 12 22 June Marlborough-Nelson Bays Blenheim Won 31–12
First Test 26 June New Zealand Carisbrook, Dunedin Won 9–3
Match 14 30 June Southland Invercargill Won 25–3
Match 15 3 July Taranaki New Plymouth Won 14–9
Match 16 6 July New Zealand Universities Athletic Park, Wellington Won 27–6
Second Test 10 July New Zealand Lancaster Park, Christchurch Lost 12–22
Match 18 14 July Wairarapa-Bush Memorial Park, Masterton Won 27–6
Match 19 17 July Hawke's Bay Napier Won 25–6
Match 20 21 July Poverty Bay-East Coast Gisborne Won 18–12
Match 21 24 July Auckland Eden Park, Auckland Won 19–12
Third Test 31 July New Zealand Athletic Park, Wellington Won 13–3
Match 23 4 August Manawatu-Horowhenua Palmerston North Won 39–6
Match 24 7 August North Auckland Whangarei Won 11–5
Match 25 10 August Bay of Plenty Tauranga Won 20–14
Fourth Test 14 August New Zealand Eden Park, Auckland Draw 14–14

The Canterbury game was particularly violent.[4]

The Test matches

First Test
26 June 1971
New Zealand  3–9 British and Irish Lions
Pen: McCormick
 Report Try: McLauchlan
Pen: John (2/6)
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: John Pring (New Zealand)
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