After the Lions wrapped the series last weekend after a controversial win, they now get the chance to get the brooms out and sweep the Aussies for the first time since 1966 when they toured both Australia and New Zealand.
If you’re looking for a three-nil sweep, then you must go back to the Lions’ 1904 tour of Australia and New Zealand.
The Lions won their last tour down under in 2013, 2-1. So, you don’t have to look far for the last time the Lions won a series on Aussie soil. The same can’t be said for their New Zealand tours, though.
The last time the British & Irish Lions won a Test Series in New Zealand dates back over 50 years. 54 years to be exact.
The 1971 Lions tour kicked off in Ballymore, Brisbane, against a Queensland side, where they were defeated 15-11. They had one more game in Australia before crossing the Tasman to take on New Zealand.
In total, the Lions played 26 matches during the tour. Taking on the different regions before their first Test at a sold-out Carisbrook Stadium in Dunedin.
Looking back at these four Test Matches will give you a taste of what New Zealand was back in 1971, the last and only time the Lions won a Test Series in our backyard.
1st Test, 26th June 1971
Carisbrook Stadium, Dunedin
Score: New Zealand 3 – British & Irish Lions 9
Six weeks after their tour began, the Lions were finally set to take on the New Zealand side on the 26th June 1971.
They’d beaten all the regions they’d faced since setting foot in New Zealand and had their eyes set on getting the Test Series started on the right foot.
The first Test very much set the tone for the rest of the Test Series. A gritty low-scoring win to the Lions, 9 points to 3.
It’s worth noting that the scoring system in play was as follows:
A try was worth 3 points, a conversion was worth 2 points and both penalties and drop goals were worth 3 points.
As we’re diving back into life in 1971, I thought we’d look at the top song in New Zealand at the time. A classic.
Top Song: I am… I said – Neil Diamond
2nd Test, 10th July 1971
Lancaster Park, Christchurch
Score: New Zealand 22 – British & Irish Lions 12
The second Test saw the New Zealand side claw one back in Christchurch thanks to tries from Super Sid (Sidney Going), Ian Kirkpatrick and two tries for NZ’s first five, Robert Burgess. This would go on to be their only win of the series.
Top Movie: Love Story (1970)
The movie, Love Story, directed by Arthur Hiller, returned to the top of the charts on the 30th of June 1971, 28 weeks after its release date. It stayed there for three weeks before being bumped off by Summer of ’42.
However, at the 44th Academy Awards, The French Connection took home the top movie of 1971. How about this for a trailer 👇
3rd Test, 31st July 1971
Athletic Park, Wellington
Score: New Zealand 3 – British & Irish Lions 13
The third Test saw the Lions bounce back in Wellington, winning 13-3 at Athletic Park thanks to two tries, a couple of conversions and a drop goal.
This result meant that the Lions had a chance to win the series with either a win or a draw at Eden Park on the 14th of August.
In a previous article on the last time the British & Irish Lions toured New Zealand, I compared the price of a Big Mac in 2017 to the price now. To keep the continuity going, I thought I’d do the same for this article.
However, I soon realised I wouldn’t be able to. That’s because no McDonald’s restaurants had opened in New Zealand the last time the Lions won a series in NZ!
The franchise’s first restaurant opened in Porirua in 1976.
4th Test, 14th August 1971
Eden Park, Auckland
Score: New Zealand 14 – British & Irish Lions 14
A draw!
The 56,000 people who packed out Eden Park on the 14th of August were treated to a nail-biter. Yes, New Zealand couldn’t salvage a series victory, but they could come away with a draw if they were to win the fourth Test.
New Zealand had the upper hand after scoring two tries, but JPR, who we know had some practice in the second Test, nailed another drop goal to tie the game and clinch a series win.
Check out this clip where J.P.R. nailed this drop kick from halfway to win the series 👇
The series may have been lost for New Zealand, but for sport and racing fans, the year 1971 marked a huge occasion.
For the first time, the Melbourne Cup was shown on live TV in NZ, allowing Kiwis across the nation to witness the 12th NZ-Bred horse to win the great race in 18 years.
Silver Knight, trained by Eric Temperton, took to Melbourne, and jockey Bruce Marsh gave him a masterful ride to win by a length and a half.
The Squads from 1971:
British & Irish Lions Squad
- John Dawes (Wales), Captain
- Frank Laidlaw (Scotland)
- John Pullin (England)
- Ian McLauchlan (Scotland)
- Sandy Carmichael (Scotland)
- Sean Lynch (Ireland)
- Ray McLoughlin (Ireland)
- Stack Stevens (England)
- Gordon Brown (Scotland)
- Geoff Evans (Wales)
- Willie John McBride (Ireland)
- Mike Roberts (Wales)
- Delme Thomas (Wales)
- Mike Hipwell (Ireland)
- Rodger Arneil (Scotland)
- Derek Quinnell (Llanelli)
- Fergus Slattery (Ireland)
- John Taylor (Wales)
- Mervyn Davies (Wales)
- Peter Dixon (England)
- J. P. R. Williams (Wales)
- Bob Hiller (England)
- John C Bevan (Wales)
- Alastair Biggar (Scotland)
- Gerald Davies (Wales)
- David Duckham (England)
- Arthur Lewis (Wales)
- John Spencer (England)
- Chris Rea (Scotland)
- Mike Gibson (Ireland)
- Barry John (Wales)
- Gareth Edwards (Wales)
- Chico Hopkins (Wales)
New Zealand Squad
- Colin Meads, Captain
- Ian Kirkpatrick
- Sid Going
- Wayne Cottrell
- Jazz Muller
- Tane Norton
- Richie Guy
- Peter Whiting
- Alan McNaughton
- Bob Burgess
- Ken Carrington
- Bryan Williams
- Bruce Hunter
- Alex Wyllie
- Laurie Mains
- Howard Joseph
- Mick Duncan
- Alan Sutherland
- Fergie McCormick
- Brian Lochore
- Tom Lister
- Phil Gard