Intro image: Pixabay; Pvcurcio
As rugby fans gear up for the British & Irish Lions tour 2021, we round up the greatest moments in Lions history.
Register here for 2021 Lions Tour hospitality packagesEvery four years the very best rugby talent from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales come together to face some of the greatest teams in the world. In 2021, The British & Irish Lions will head to South Africa.
To help Lions fans get geared up for the tour, we’ve rounded up the very best British & Irish Lions matches ever played.
28th June 1997 – Second Test - South Africa 15 - 18 Lions
After winning the first Test, Ian McGeechan’s side were already surprising many against reigning World Champions, South Africa. In the Second Test, the South African’s started brightly scoring two tries early on. The home side’s indiscipline cost them as Neil Jenkins scored five penalties, leaving the scores at 15-15. With minutes remaining, up stepped Jeremy Guscott to slot a drop-goal which sent the Lions to a 18-15 win - and a series victory to boot.
30th June 2001 – First Test - Australia 13 - 29 Lions
Maybe one of the finest Lions performances of all-time; in 2001, against the reigning World Cup winners at The Gabba, the Lions ran riot. Jason Robinson scored early on, before Brian O’Driscoll announced himself on the world stage with a jinking run through the Aussie midfield. Australia were stunned, but they recovered and went on to win the series 2-1 - a missed opportunity for the Lions.
27th June 2009 – Second Test - South Africa 28 - 25 Lions
South Africa’s second Test match against the Lions in 2009 is regarded as one of the greatest Lions Test matches ever; following a loss in the first Test, the Lions faced a must-win game at Loftus Versfeld. Intensity was through the roof and overflowed when Schalk Burger received a yellow card for eye-gouging Luke Fitzgerald. Throughout the game the Lions faced injury after injury to their top players. A last-minute penalty from Morne Steyn decided the breath-taking spectacle - one that will go down in rugby history.
22nd June 2013 – First Test - Australia 21 - 23 Lions
George North’s spectacular solo try sparked the match into life at the Suncorp Stadium, before Alex Cuthbert stretched the lead for the Lions. With the Aussies 23-21 down, the Wallabies won a relatively straightforward penalty in the last play of the game. Kurtley Beale slipped as he contacted the ball meaning the ball sailed wide of the uprights and gave the Lions the perfect start down under.
1st July 2017 – Second Test - New Zealand 21 - 24 Lions
The All Blacks had won the first Test convincingly with a 30-15 win. The Lions had to win the second Test, and in wet conditions, they did just that. A high tackle from Sonny Bill Williams meant the All Blacks played 65 minutes with 14 men. The Lions capitalised through tries from Murray and Faletau, before Owen Farrell knocked over the winning penalty 4 minutes from time.
Comments