1971 Rugby Union Test Match: New Zealand All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions (4th Test)

[@robertmiller2173]

So many GREAT players on both sides, especially the Lions. Great to see this again after following it devoutly at the time as a 13 year old boy from the country! My Local heroes were Phil Gard, Tom Lister and Laurie Mains as well as Griz Wyllie, Colin Meads and a young Peter Whiting and my Poster Star at the time was Bryan Williams....etc etc The we have to say that JPR, Barry Johns, Mc Bride, Duckham, Dawes..... etc etc

[@OscarOSullivan]

Mike Gibson.

[@KatharineShaw-z8u]

This was also the last match for the legendary Colin Meads 55 tests 1957-1971. The 71 Lions team will probably remain the only International side to be the All Blacks in a 4 test home series. Deserving winners with champion players like Edwards, John, JPR and a forward pack that dominated the ABs.

[@Nigelpreece]

Notice how we just got on with it on Tv back then. No 90 minute build up, no analysis to the nth degree. The teams were already on the park as the programme began. The game ended and that was it, play the music (sounded like Syd Dale) and the players were still coming off the pitch as the pictures faded out.

[@MrRugbylane]

JPR Williams Drop Goal exactly 60 mins into the video. RIP

[@MrRugbylane]

I counted 26 red cards in that game and then I stopped counting. Then it was halftime.

[@warreneddington3323]

The ķickers of a rugby ball today should take a look at the way Barry John punted the ball absolutely magic

[@terzacentro]

Thank you so much for your uploads! Your collection is definatly precious! Chicco

[@foxyjazzbopper]

Wow.. it’s brill to see this as a complete game👍👍👍

[@lesterwyoung]

How much better the scrums were in those days! Formed quickly. And the ball was heeled quickly. What a great half-back Syd was!

[@nigelwalpole8237]

Great uploads, thanks

[@jholmzjholmz6592]

At the start of this broadcast who can spot the late Dave Dalgleish, Teachers delegate and Auckland Rugby Union legend walking down the steps of the No 2 Stand? One minute 23 seconds into this broadcast and there is famous NZ photographer Geoff Dale prominent to take the shot of the goal-kicking Laurie Mains. But oh what a scrappy test match with very little scintillating rugby. Wingers throwing the ball into the lineout. Blunders galore. Barry John not taking a round the corner kick. Costly! And Dr Williams drop-kicking a goal. The late Colin Meads last test. Te Kuiti Meads sculpture done by Geoff Dale's daughter. And there I am, row 7 fourth from the left sitting amongst the spectators behind the left hand-side goal line where all the tries were scored. But above all Peter Dixon is still alive and not suffering from head-aches.

[@ldfreitas9437]

Yes, these players had more cuts and bruises than head concussions, because they tried to avoid tackles and not run into them, except for Meads.

[@richardmatatahi4563]

Man the scrums were a mess back in them days, funny I never noticed back then. no one wanted to concede an inch. Some very famous names from both sides, the Lions were a great side. Great commentator. The ref Mr Pring was New Zealands top ref for many years. You can say he was a ref first on the field, a kiwi off. love the booing aint heard that for awhile, funny.

[@ldfreitas9437]

They're more of a mess now and take lots of minutes to play out, if they are at all, because many scrums end up with a penalty given to the team on defense for breaking their binds as they get pushed back. It's ridiculous.

[@drmdrmy]

I think with TMO's then NZ would have had 5 red cards before half time

[@saltyspaceman5697]

there are still those that believe it was rugby was better when a certain amount of "self policing" went on........if the ref didn't see it , it didn't happen

[@gavinwood9137]

What an old women you are … go watch ladies golf .. this was real rugby …

[@Rugby-union-and-league]

Same with them

[@chrisbaxter3597]

@@saltyspaceman5697 it’s called antipodean thuggery - from colonists with big chips

[@Rugby-union-and-league]

​@@chrisbaxter3597 that's what happens when you lie on the wrong side purposely trying to stop the ball from coming out

[@philipmonolagi9076]

Colin Meads' last test match as an All Blacks

[@jamesgeorge2299]

45:32. I was wondering why the players appearing to head off the field at half time just stopped in one of the corners. Then I remembered players didn't go off at halftime, but gathered in two circles, eating oranges.

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

I heard that the ‘56 Lions tour in SA a couple of Lions joined the ref at half time for a smoke😃

[@darranwikeepa7079]

How does it go? The 1937 Springboks were the best team to ever come out of NZ and the 1971 Lions were the best team to ever come to NZ or something like that.

[@jacquelinefox2632]

Hahaha. Its not just a game, ya doughnut. Made me laugh, though.

[@JimmieCooper-le6vj]

That " hairdoo " of Taylor !!!

[@autumnleaves2766]

Amazing how the game has evolved in 50+ years. In this era there were so many knock-ons, handling errors, chaotic rucks, messy scrums and line-outs, and all played with a heavy leather ball on very muddy pitches. Interesting to see how the wingers used to bowl the ball into the line-outs. You only got 3 points for a try ! You have to remember that all these players were amateurs who had day jobs, so it is perhaps unfair to compare it with the professional era. It's like a rugby history lesson, things were very different 50+ years ago.

[@ldfreitas9437]

And better as far as I'm concerned. There was room for backs to run, no defensive lines to speak of, and the laws dictated how the game was played, as in forwards fighting for possession with mauls and rucks. There is no real rucking anymore and mauls are legalized obstruction. No one seems to avoid tackles, but runs into them.

[@chrisbaxter3597]

You forgot to mention All Blacks thuggery and biased refs

[@leemorgan8478]

Yeah brilliant thank you .

[@zabaleta66]

Pity Keith Murdoch never played in this series because our props were hopeless in the scrums.

[@emmettbrosnan3318]

Were there any rules?

[@cliftonboyz1959]

Emmett Brosnan not many....it was a mans game

[@newmanj8690]

@@cliftonboyz1959 it was also f*****g boring, play stopped pretty much every 10 seconds!

[@sharp2684]

aint never seen an A.B scrum that got so continuaslly monstered as in this series!

[@Rugby-union-and-league]

Yet they only just lost the series so yeah.

[@martybourke2428]

Hope Brett W okay,always had sensible comments

[@jacquelinefox2632]

Fantastic. What I remember my dad saying is gold because he played, too. I went on to play hockey. Of course I played fair. Don't be daft. We won 12-0. Lol.

[@jamesmckay-mount8689]

The theme tune sounds like a Bruce Lee film

[@peterlewis6820]

it was a much better game when it was an amateur sport,my father said that if it goes pro it will ruin it,i disagreed at the time but sadly he was proved right.

[@peterlewis6820]

+peter lewis ,i disagree with what you say but i defend to the death your right to say it.

[@matthewtempleton595]

There are pluses and minuses. There were far more errors in the older games and the lineouts were a mess. However the scrums were more efficient, players running to set them!!! Certainly agree if there had been a TMO in those days there would have been many cards under today's rules.

[@normanno8514]

are you serious? this game is terrible - the sheer amount of handling errors is unbelievable - the refereeing is woeful to non existent and their are several bafflingly long interruptions to play

[@newmanj8690]

I respect your opinion but also have to respectfully disagree; the games nowadays are much more tense, the ball's in play for a lot longer and the set piece, whilst less competitive is more technical and because there are far fewer breaks in play they're a lot more important. Professionalism also means the game's a lot more accessible to a wider social spectrum which was always going to be a massive bonus. It couldn't survive as an amateur sport

[@peterlewis6820]

@@newmanj8690 WHAT!!BALLS MORE IN PLAY!WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN WATCHING,25 MINUTES ARE SETTING A SCRUMWALES PLAYED FRANCE AND THERE WAS 1/2 HOUR EXTRA TIME JUST SETTING A BLEEDING SCRUM

[@JimmieCooper-le6vj]

Why did Duckam not go on the 74 tour to South Africa ???

[@martybourke2428]

Unbelievable he wasnt wanted, he was world class

[@JimmieCooper-le6vj]

@martybourke2428 Don't think he wasn't wanted.Maybe they just didn't need him ,for that tour.In any case he would have walked in ,in any other national team .He was that good.And I am from South Africa.That Lions team was the best team I have ever seen in real.life.And I was fortunate to see them in the 3 Rd test in Port Elizabeth,where they destroyed the Boks.Legends of the game.JJ and JPR.Phill Bennett,Gareth Edwards to name a few.Just brilliant players in that team.But the Lions teams of the 70's were all fantastic.👌

[@richardpowell1084]

He made himself unavailable for 74 Lions and England's tour of SA in 1972. John Reason in his book Unbeaten Lions thinks it's because he played centre once in SA and had a torrid time but no one knows for sure. His employers had given him leave to tour. Duckham said he was saturated with rugby. Who knows for sure? Gerald Davies didn't tour either, arguably Britain's best ever wing, in my opinion anyway.

[@JimmieCooper-le6vj]

@richardpowell1084 Thanks for the info.To be realistic,they were not needed,for the tour in 74 ,as they had so many legends in the group already,and the Boks,were really rubbish.Or,were the Lions just that good !! I am from South Africa,and the Boks looked like school boys,playing against men.That Lions of 74,were simply the best.👌

[@richardpowell1084]

@@JimmieCooper-le6vj To be honest it's a combination. I think the Lions of 71 were better. But it's opinions. I think SA selectors made life harder for the Boks. Read Dugald Macdonald's book Ja-Nee. Best rugby book I have ever read. Funny, poignant and very honest. He won his only cap at Loftus in 74. I lived in SA 75-77. Remember these Boks beat France home and away 74-75 and NZ in 76. Lots of factors at play. No doubt 74 Lions were legends though.

[@kelvinlewis4065]

Barry John ...The King .......

[@seasideunderinvestigation6211]

Could you imagine Edwards and John behind that All Black pack...

[@martybourke2428]

Gareth brilliant player but why fake injuries , Cardiff v ABs 72, this test, ist test in this series, clouded his magnificent reputation

[@rittherugger160]

I'm a little confused here. The Lions are a once every 4 year event that rotates through the 'southern big 3" once every 12 years. I just finished watching the Lions vs the All Blacks in NZ from 77. The 6 year difference shouldn't be a Lions year at all and is only half the time that the Lions should take before returning to NZ. What happened with the cycle? If it was a "Lions year" I could possibly see them going some place other than RSA due to protests against Apartide but I thought that was a bit later.

[@rainman4578]

The "once every 4 year through the southern big 3" concept did not exist in the 1970s. Australia was not considered good enough until 1989 to host a Lions tour. They were not seen as a rugby union nation of consequence. Up to 1983 the Lions only toured NZ or South Africa, sometimes 6 years between or 5. It didn't have to be as precise in those amateur days. Australia might be tagged on with an extra 2 or 3 games, like in 1966 & 1971, or bypassed, like in 1977 and 1983. No Lions tour to South Africa was cancelled until 1986.

[@rittherugger160]

@@rainman4578 Thanks for that. I'm in the states and being 'current' with events over here at that time was impossible. All we got was dribs and drabs of what may have happened months ago. I remember Australia's emergence though. I especially remember videos of drills being run that influenced my coaching style.

[@admiralbenbow5083]

Poor old Duckham didnt get much in that game. Threw in well tho!

[@warreneddington3323]

The kicker

[@cliftonboyz1959]

Beg to differ...I think 74 was stronger

[@jacquelinefox2632]

McBride played a blinder.

[@jacquelinefox2632]

And Gerald and Merv. You can't fault their hoyle.

[@jacquelinefox2632]

And JJ.

[@cliftonboyz1959]

Jacqueline Fox JJ Williams had major pace

[@myroseaccount]

The 1971 tour was the first time the referees at least tried to be neutral

[@ldfreitas9437]

That's why the referee, Pring, did the four games. He was considered to be an "honest broker" by Carwyn James.

[@LBVeil4215]

Who was the commentator?

[@nigelwalpole8237]

The late and great "Cliff" Morgan who played for Cardiff RFC and for Wales between 1951 and 1958.

[@jacquelinefox2632]

Some posh Welsh guy. Clive something or another. Lol.

[@jacquelinefox2632]

@@nigelwalpole8237 Mate, I was just a nipper, but I remember his teeth. He had a gap. And I'm only 27. Lol. Kill me if I'm wrong.

[@jacquelinefox2632]

@@nigelwalpole8237 I remember Nigel Walpole. Long hair. Lol

[@mckay1402]

@@jacquelinefox2632 posh? From a valleys mining family

[@dougherron8255]

Clear to see that the All Blacks "playing the referee" is another enduring tradition!!

[@stevenwilliams4172]

Yes the abs were and are dirty bastards

[@Justiceforpets]

@@stevenwilliams4172 that was the era. Watch any other southern international team of the era and you’ll appreciate that, NZ’s do not tolerate unfair or thuggery in the game of union, they get shafted quick smart! NZ have a sound and hard working ethos history in building the game from the most humble roots.

[@philipmarsden7104]

@@stevenwilliams4172 Kings of the cheap shots.

[@stevenwilliams4172]

@@philipmarsden7104 i agree Phil, but they didint like playing the French. they would give it back to them big style

[@fletmok3548]

Nah poms are just soft kients 😂

[@foxyjazzbopper]

Rugby was much better as an amateur sport.. these days players are super fit and with that stupid “bring on fresh players” as and when needed.. gaps in the field are harder to find. In the old days there were gaps as players got tired.. chaos.. randomness and a better flow.. a much better spectator sport. However, rugby is the king sport.. much better than watching those pretty boy ballet dancers shouting at the ref on a football field👍👍

[@JimmieCooper-le6vj]

Geez,the scrums were a mess !!!

[@MkhuluMlungu]

Mthis rugby at its best

[@Rugby-union-and-league]

Gangsta 11:34 😂

[@CaptC4t]

I saw Canadian University matches in the mid 70's that had better continuity; fewer handling errors and cleaner recycling than this match. Much of that was because the ref understood that he needed to let the players play and didn't dominate the game with his whistle. Still this is the All Blacks and the British Lions. Poor show lads.

[@paulthomson2288]

Don't compare university games to test matches and certainly not "Canadian" rugby, there's no adding any valuable insight with anecdotal observations and recall from over 40 years ago.

[@CaptC4t]

The "insight" is that this match was NOT a showcase of the best rugby in the world. Doesn't matter who makes the observation.

[@paulthomson2288]

@@CaptC4t 1971 was a particularly wet winter in nz and many stadiums had no modern drainage systems.I think given the appalling underfoot conditions and the rules of the game as they were played at the time there was still brilliance on display.

[@ldfreitas9437]

@@CaptC4t Watch the 3rd test when the Lions blow the All Blacks off the park the first fifteen minutes, and then open your trap!

[@Rugby-union-and-league]

University matches don't feature the best of the best do they easy to look good when you only have amateurs playing so to speak

[@JimmieCooper-le6vj]

At every scrum the All Blacks gained at least 5 yards by running forward while packing the scrum ,and the referee did nothing !!!

[@xpat73]

Back then they were known as the "British Lions" ;)

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

I know but I put "British and Irish Lions" on this video for more appeal

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

from a website. Nah, I don't have em but I hope I will get them soon and upload those matches on here.

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

***** hold up. I may have it.

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

***** Nah bro, I don't have the third test because they didn't keep it aachievedor they didn't televised it.

[@rjjrjj8219]

@@aboriginalbrotha9947 They definitely televised it - saw it!

[@jacquelinefox2632]

Now you know not to knock 2 Welsh statues over. Bevin and Edwards. Educate xx

[@neilbe7118]

Special lions side

[@petercooper6959]

So as it turns out the All Blacks have been a dirty team for quite some time. So much for tradition.

[@cliftonboyz1959]

SA had smashed these AB in SA in 1970

[@99waylon]

I wouldn't say 'these' All Blacks as only 7 of this team played in 1970 series. The All Black team against the Lions was very much a rebuilding team after a lot of retirements after 1970. I don't know if the Lions would have still one this series if those guys didn't retire and stayed on for another year.

[@Rugby-union-and-league]

Like how the ABs have smashed SA even more hahaha

[@JimmieCooper-le6vj]

And this Lions team smashed South Africa in 74 in South Africa !! 😅😅😅😅

[@thadtuiol1717]

Rugby was boring agricultural shite back then. Thank god it went professional in 1995 and improved itself so much.

[@Rugby-union-and-league]

The cards and tmo these days suck

[@ianbetts4435]

Silly behaviour 🤪

[@bobwatson5970]

What crap referee

[@foxyjazzbopper]

Yes.. and the late great JPR told the team on the bus to the ground that he was going to drop kick a goal!!!… loved the way he looked up to The subs in the stands and gave a “thumbs up” sign… supreme confidence👌👌👌🫡

[@roberthowes7827]

Anothfr terriblrdisplay of dropped balls and mistakes by British Isles. I don't know why hey bother..

[@dougherron8255]

In those days the balls were leather and if it was even a little wet they soaked up the moisture getting heavier and as slippery as soap...Today's professional players would have every bit as much trouble handling it as they did back (maybe even more).

[@martinmold1051]

Don't know what sort of horrible leather stitched rugby ball they had..we had them in school (70's) remember playing in the 80's with a dark brown leather ball..in German league match..I'm.not much of a kicker but, being under pressure in our own 25,was forced to try to kick the ball out of trouble, I gave the wet ball what I thought was a good whack with my foot and it was like hitting a pound of sugar...it ballooned into the air travelled about 20 metres leaving us with all sorts of problems!! NO, the game and the equipment used in the 70's can't be compared to the equipment used in the professional era. The 'all weather' synthetic rugby balls that are developed now make it easier for the player to direct the ball a good distance in all weathers..you know the wet and windy days where the most skill is needed to keep the rugby ball under control when passing receiving or kicking. When we played in the rain the ball was like a big bar of soap..(50 years ago)

[@richardanon5892]

Hero’s of there day don’t look so good when you see it for the first time. The effectiveness of the forwards was appalling too loose no cohesion.

[@mikeacton2203]

no love lost here with the all white all blacks running scared

[@Rugby-union-and-league]

How things have changed,All Blacks is a more appropriate name now.By the way,the ABs never run scared,they don't back down to no one and that's why they dominate rugby.

[@JimmieCooper-le6vj]

At every scrum the All Blacks gained at least 5 yards by running forward while packing the scrum ,and the referee did nothing !!!