In 1971 the British 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.

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, 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.

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 Lion's players later admitted they were over-confident following their initial test victory. The Lions were hence 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 match 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. Remarkably, Williams' drop goal was the only one he ever landed in his test career. The All Blacks could only manage three further points from a sole penalty to draw the game and give the Lions the series.

Squad

Backs

• John Dawes (London Welsh and Wales) (captain)
• J.P.R. Williams (London Welsh and Wales)
• Bob Hiller (Harlequins and England)
• John C Bevan (Cardiff and Wales)
• Alastair Biggar (London Scottish and Scotland)
• Gerald Davies (London Welsh and Wales)
• David Duckham (Coventry and England)
• Arthur Lewis (Ebbw Vale and Wales)
• John Spencer (Headingley and England)
• Chris Rea (West of Scotland and Scotland)
• Mike Gibson ((North of Ireland FC and Ireland)
• Barry John (Cardiff and Wales)
• Gareth Edwards (Cardiff and Wales)
• Ray Hopkins (Maesteg and Wales)
• Chris Wardlow (Northampton and England) was an original selection but withdrew due to injury. His place was taken by Chris Rea

Forwards

• Frank Laidlaw (Melrose and Scotland)
• John Pullin (Bristol and England)
• Ian McLauchlan (Jordanhill College and Scotland)
• Sandy Carmichael (West of Scotland and Scotland)
• Sean Lynch (St Mary's College RFC and Ireland)
• Ray McLoughlin (Blackrock College RFC and Ireland)
• Brian 'Stack' Stevens (Harlequins and England)
• Gordon Brown (West of Scotland and Scotland)
• Geoff Evans (London Welsh and Wales)
• Willie John McBride (Ballymena and Ireland)
• Mike Roberts (London Welsh and Wales)
• Delme Thomas (Llanelli and Wales)
• Mike Hipwell (Terenure College RFC and Ireland)
• Rodger Arneil (Leicester and Scotland)
• Derek Quinnell (Llanelli)
• Fergus Slattery (University College Dublin RFC and Ireland)
• John Taylor (London Welsh and Wales)
• Mervyn Davies (London Welsh and Wales)
• Peter Dixon (Harlequins and England)

Results

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

The Matches

First Test

NEW ZEALAND; Fergie McCormick, Bruce Hunter, Bryan Williams, Wayne Cottrell, Ken Carrington, Bob Burgess, Sid Going, Jazz Muller, Tane Norton, Richie Guy, Peter Whiting, Colin Meads (c), Alan McNaughton, Ian Kirkpatrick, Alan Sutherland

LIONS; Williams, Gerald Davies, Dawes (c), Gibson, Bevan, John, Edwards (rep Hopkins), Lynch, Pullin, McLauchlan, McBride, Thomas, Taylor, Dixon, Mervyn Davies.

Second Test

NEW ZEALAND; Laurie Mains, Bruce Hunter, Howard Joseph, Wayne Cottrell, Bryan Williams, Bob Burgess, Sid Going, Jazz Muller, Tane Norton, Richie Guy, Peter Whiting, Colin Meads (c), Alan McNaughton, Ian Kirkpatrick, Alex Wyllie

LIONS; Williams, Gerald Davies, Dawes (c), Gibson, Duckham, John, Edwards, Lynch, Pullin, McLauchlan, McBride, Thomas, Taylor, Dixon, Mervyn Davies.

Third Test

NEW ZEALAND; Laurie Mains, Bruce Hunter, Howard Joseph, Wayne Cottrell, Ken Carrington, Bob Burgess (rep Mick Duncan), Sid Going, Jazz Muller, Tane Norton, Richie Guy, Colin Meads (c), Brian Lochore, Alan McNaughton Ian Kirkpatrick, Alex Wyllie

LIONS; Williams, Gerald Davies, Dawes (c), Gibson, Duckham, John, Edwards, Lynch, Pullin, McLauchlan, McBride, Brown, Quinnell, Slattery, Mervyn Davies.

Fourth Test

NEW ZEALAND; Laurie Mains, Ken Carrington, Mick Duncan, Phil Gard, Bryan Williams, Wayne Cottrell, Sid Going, Jazz Muller, Tane Norton, Richie Guy, Colin Meads (c), Peter Whiting, Ian Kirkpatrick, Tom Lister, Alex Wyllie

LIONS; Williams, Gerald Davies, Dawes (c), Gibson, Duckham, John, Edwards, Lynch, Pullin, McLauchlan, McBride, Brown, Taylor, Dixon, Mervyn Davies.

Notes and references

J.B.G. Thomas (1971) The roaring Lions (Pelham Books)

External links

• http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/headtohead.asp?team1=NZ&level1=All_Blacks&level2=tests&_oppot2=11
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/scrumv/features/lions/1971.shtml
• http://www.planet-rugby.com/Tournaments/British_Irish_Lions/History/index.shtml
• http://www.lions-tour.com/history/australianewzealand1971.asp