Ahead of the first Test between New Zealand and the British & Irish Lions on Saturday at Eden Park, Paul Radley takes a look back at five memorable moments from recent Lions series.
1997 – Matt Dawson’s “schoolboy dummy”
A year after Francois Pienaar and Nelson Mandela had given rugby its most indelible image, the Lions toured. They were supposed to be on a hiding to nothing in the land of the new world champions.
And then Matt Dawson threw a “schoolboy dummy”, as he later termed it, left four Springbok players – and even the cameraman – grasping at thin air, and stole in at the corner to set the tourists on their way to a 25-16 win in the opening Test. The Lions went on to win the first series of the professional era, thus safeguarding its future.
2001 – Justin Harrison plods to victory
The 2001 series in Australia was the first when media management was as talked about as game management.
English player Austin Healey caused a ruction via a newspaper column he was writing while on tour.
Healey termed Australia second rower Justin Harrison, with whom he had been feuding, a “plank” and a “plod”.
Harrison laughed last. In the 78th minute of the deciding Test, he stole a lineout as the Lions pushed for a potentially match-winning try near the Australia tryline.
2005 – Gavin Henson and Clive Woodward go for a walk
The last time the Lions went to New Zealand, it was such a tale of woe that any image showing misery and confusion would fit the bill here.
The spear tackle on Brian O’Driscoll. The flight manifest with the names of most players in Britain and Ireland written on it.
Clive Woodward’s ill-fated go at Lions coaching probably reached its nadir, though, when a photo of him walking merrily with in-form but unselected – and thus disaffected – centre Gavin Henson was staged without the Welshman’s knowledge.
It was supposed to show all was rosy in the garden. It was not.
2009 – ‘Justice 4’ Bakkies
The 2009 tour of South Africa had its gory moments. No surprises there. The Springboks are seldom known for being friendly and welcoming on the field.
Bakkies Botha was well known for being on the abrasive side of tough. The mountainous lock cleared out a ruck in the second Test with such force that he dislocated the shoulder of Adam Jones, the highly durable Welsh prop.
When Botha was subsequently banned for two weeks, his teammates protested, in the form of armbands saying “Justice 4” Bakkies. It earned the ire of the game’s governing body, and a hefty fine.
2013 – George North’s fireman’s lift
The battle between two flying three-quarters at the peak of their powers was one of the highlights of the tour of Australia four years ago.
George North and Israel Folau were like the irresistible force and the immovable object.
The Welsh Lions winger eventually hit on the best mode of actually moving his foe – namely via a fireman’s lift while he was on a rampaging run towards the Australian tryline.
pradley@thenational.ae
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