All Blacks vs British Irish Lions 1971 1st Test Highlights

A classic series where the all powerful Lions took home the series victory over the mighty All Blacks.

[@MichaelQTodd]

I went to this game I can remember it quite well. Went to the Christchurch test about 3 weeks later. We had to queue overnight to buy tickets. Was freezing. I played wing we used to throw the ball in. I copied Bryan Williams with the extended arm. 50 years later I can tell you all about all the guys who played.Their occupations and towns they were from everything. Have all their autographs.

[@brianbooth679]

I was 2 at the time mom and dad gone now. Rugby is a religion in NZ.like the scrum no messing just get on the game, not like today. From UK btw.

[@hunterluxton5976]

I was 4 years old. Remember it well.

[@jackmarino7380]

One of the saddest days of my life, hihihi, not because we lost to the Lions, although that was quite sad. But because on that Saturday we buried our first born, (baby girl aged 5 months) and on the Sunday we buried my sister and brother in laws son aged 9 months. Strange how ones attitude towards what goes on in the world can have such a dramatic change of direction in ones life. I still love my rugby, still follow the ABs, but when we lost that first test, what would normally should have been a life changing downer, wasn't so significant after all . Suddenly, losing a rugby game paled into insignificance when compared to losing a child, got over it to a degree, as I said, still follow the ABs, my Super team, Chiefs, my Provincial team, Bay of Plenty and local club team Whakarewarewa. But since that day back in 1971, my perspective has always been, "Hell, its ONLY a game, a great game, but still just a game". Every time this game comes up, back come the memories, having said that, thanks for the upload, because other memories are there as well.

[@nepiahemopo1702]

Kia ora Jack. My wife passed away 18 years ago. She was Irish and I found myself thinking, how proud she would be to witness Ireland beating the ABs in a series. Like yourself, the loss had very little bearing on my attitude. Chiefs, BOP and Waikite.

[@andrewmorkel2269]

Only reading this on 20/10/22, but what Prophetic words. So sorry for yours as well as your family's losses. May their dear souls RIP 🙏 From a South African

[@jackmarino7380]

@@nepiahemopo1702 kia ora Nepia so sorry to hear about your wife my bro, and I bet she would have been as proud as, as was my Irish who followed the team over here. Have to say we spernt a lot of time celebrating even though neither he nor I drink any more lol

[@jackmarino7380]

@@andrewmorkel2269 Thank you for your kind words Andrew, I had the pleasure of touring your country following Andy Leslie's All Blacks in 1976, seems so long ago but never forgotten

[@johncourtneidge]

Thank-you. Condolences to you all, stil .

[@galloglas6907]

They say the modern game is faster and the players much fitter. But the fluidity of this game was unbelievable there was never a break in the play. No water or sports drinks, playing on a ploughed up field heavy woolen shirts. Would love to see this in hi def and colour it would be an amazing spectacle of rugby football.

[@drybrookwarbler7445]

The fluidity and balance of Barry John -fantastic

[@rh5466]

He missed a penalty kick to touch by a mile, and fluffed a kick at goal completely. All within the first few moments of the match. Missed three kicks at goal in the first half alone. "Having a bad day at Carisbrook" the commentators said.

[@bennachie1000]

Barry John was a wonderful player but in this match I think that his opposite number, Burgess, looked more dangerous with the ball in his hands.

[@williamwallace2278]

The wings throwing in on lineouts and no clear gap. Having to actually jump for the ball as well. Gibson? What a player he was

[@johncourtneidge]

Super star he!

[@gjr72]

What a jewel. I love old school rugby. So amateurish, but so full of daring dos and dare devils. I can almost feel the sunny afternoons of 40 years ago. Makes me want to play.

[@chasey2327]

i was expecting a far better quality game than this - dire stuff really compared to today's game at the top level. so many mistakes, chucking it around and losing possession willy nilly, like an under 12s schoolboy game with a bit more raking thrown in.

[@bmac4846]

What defense by the lions. Frantic and full blooded. Lions backs never showed their attacking ability but Gibson elegant and speedy at all times.

[@andrewbarton-willson495]

Frantic - almost no phase play and an extraordinary offhand view of the offside line. Line out and scrum were genuine contests for the ball - though lawless

[@kevinmcmahon2491]

Good to be reminded how fast and fluid the game was in those days. Given that no one was allowed onto the pitch with "sports drinks" during the match its amazing that we got through it. Part of the reason for the speed is that there were very few full-time professional administrators having to justify their existence in those days. Now the various Unions and other bodies spend their time over-analysing every aspect of the game and initiating changes so that all spontaneity is removed. It really was fun in those days.

[@johncourtneidge]

Yes!

[@canamrugby]

Incredible how quickly the front rows come together at scrum time, they don't even bother waiting for the locks! Great post

[@simonjackson7269]

Bloody dangerous!!

[@robertroberts2666]

@@simonjackson7269 Are you kidding?

[@robertroberts2666]

@@simonjackson7269 Who says?

[@grahamturner97]

@@robertroberts2666 statistics. I am a referee, and have been for 30 years - I don't like many of the post=professional law changes, but the changes to the scrum have drastically reduced serious injuries in that part of the game.

[@fullcircle4723]

I was 8 years old when my dad took me to this game.

[@cushyglen4264]

I was a schoolboy in Ireland in ‘71. These Lions were my boyhood heroes. Looking at this I was thinking most of them are probably dead now, but on investigation I find that only one of the Lions backs & 3 of the forwards are no longer with us. Only one - Gordon Brown - died young. They obviously kept healthy after their playing careers ended. That’s quite remarkable. They are all in their mid 70s/ early 80s. Can’t say for the All Blacks. Somebody else can research them.

[@RobertEscudier]

I was there as a Welshman living in Dunedin,,, fantastic match and great evening 😂👍

[@Teacher-lj6in]

Awesome history...this Lions side was putstanding and continued as a force when they toured SA 3 years later and were unstoppable! Thank you for posting...

[@sootcase]

What a frenetic game, full of mistakes but flat out. A very different game from today's but one principle survives: support the ball carrier at his shoulder. The All Blacks were pass-masters of this and I remember our skipper at Maidenhead RFC telling us at about this time that if you support the ball carrier closely you can't go wrong. A certain Welshman called Martin Gulliford - a top man.

[@fmj4138]

Fabulous Lions team star-studded! Going once said the closest he ever came to swearing was toward Bob Burgess, because he was forever kick, kick, kick! At times Bob forgot he had a backline chomping at the bit to have a go with the ball. Bad day at the office for my all time rugby hero, Fergie 'Fungus' McCormick. It was the last time he worn the silver fern. Good on ya Fergie!

[@williamwallace2278]

Gibson! What a player! Most complete player in any game he was involved with

[@mikeodonovan9299]

Agreed. I watched him against NZ Maori in 1977. He changed the whole 2nd half and won it for the lions at Eden park. Complete player.

[@pauloliver5943]

Agreed guys Gibson was an absolute genius in any position in a backline, complete versatile player. John was a complete footballer also as was Bennett who followed, and I think Mike Gibson's all round ability to play more or less anywhere in the backline made it an easy decision to play him at 12 outside both on Lions 71 & Barbarians 73, but why Ireland insisted on playing him there (at 12) behind a lot lesser talented Irish fly halves I will never know.

[@MrDeipnosophist]

To the person who uploaded this : THANK YOU!

[@prg54]

To the guy put this video here , thank you, gracias. Pure history. And great video that make possible to compare with today's games.

[@malcolmclayton6651]

In those days no substitution so you better be a warrior the whole game.Blood injuries were stitched on the side lines without anesthetics and the team played short handed.Todays game is different and so be it but back then it was played as fast as possible. Good Luck in todays world.

[@stephenreeds3672]

There was substitution for injury. Edwards came off and Hopkins went on. Number of knock ons, off sides and forward passes unpunished is incredible.

[@StonedGossard_]

the flow of the game seems incredible

[@drooky123]

back in the days when a TRY was only worth 3 points. it was changed to 4 points in 1971 (must have been after this tour), and then changed to 5 points in 1992. and to think that when rugby first started, a TRY was worth ZERO points, but only earned you the right to "try" and score a goal with a kick. only if the kick was successful was the try "converted" into any points. hence the names "TRY" and "CONVERSION"

[@edmurphy6556]

What a great film! All from the local point of view, but that's the focus.

[@johncourtneidge]

Talented defence versus overwhelming line out and scummaging. Thank-you!

[@TainuiaKid1973]

thanks for uploading! Great viewing for those wet Saturday winter afternoons.

[@cezzajamboree]

Thanks for posting !

[@lonestar6709]

No one, and I mean no one, tormented the All-Blacks more than Barry John. They just couldn't get near him. Drawing phantom tackles, penalties and punting them back to their own goal line again and again and again. New Zealand bowed the knee and proclaimed him 'King John'. And they still do to this day.

[@brucewilliams4152]

Barry was one of the nicest men I have ever met..

[@rmr3403]

Great footage. Awesome giants of the game. Enjoy how quickly the scrums set and restart the game. Pushing before ball in was not allowed, Unlike today the hit it effectivly scrumming without the ball, makes no sense and slow game so much.

[@TainuiaKid1973]

agreed scrums were much faster, so more ball in play time, and do their job as a restart. Would love to have something as efficient ad these again.

[@simonjackson7269]

The Scrums were hardly stable then.....moving all over the place before the ball was put in...... appalling body positions in the Scrum....bloody dangerous!!

[@paradisefound100]

Because the All Blacks lost this series to the Lions team, up until now and this is the first time I`ve seen this series, you couldn't get any film of this series unless you were only interested in the 2nd test which the All Blacks won. This series was brutal. The game before the first test the Lions played Canterbury and won. Sadly the Lions team were punch and kicked all through the match. The Canterbury side were given a list of players to nobble so they couldn`t play in the first test which the Lions team won 9-3. The disgusting Canterbury team managed to get two Lions players sent back to England as they were that badly beaten up.The reason why the Liuons team were not firing on all cylinders was because they were carrying injuries sustained in the Canterbury match. I listened to this match when I lived in New Zealand and I can still remember the disgusting New Zealand crowd shouting Kill the poms. I went to a primary school called Papatoetoe and our teacher when I was in standard 4 held a minute's silence for New Zealand Rugby. The laughable point is that the terms pom and pommy refers to any prisoner that was sent to Australia and New Zealand. So the terms apply to the Aussies and the Kiwis. A radio station called radio Hauraki had a presenter that had a show in the afternoon where people would phone in asking how to get rid of the poms. The presenter`s name was Tim Bickerstaff. Truly shameful.

[@buckstrickland6858]

I remember a similar nasty attitude the Kiwis had to the 77 Lions. I'm glad you mentioned the weakening of the Lions after the Canterbury bloodbath. With the first choice players fit and available they might have won by twice as much. I always wondered why they were so under par in this first test.

[@wellingtonian2009]

NZ was never a prison colony. Only Australia.

[@paradisefound100]

You see, that`s the attitude I was talking about. Well, those players that had to be sent back to Britain because their injuries were too severe for them to continue were Sandy Carmicheal and Ray McLoughin. Their replacements were Geoff Evans and Stack Stevens. I noticed that you didn`t mention the two lions players sent back to Britain after the Canterbury match. That`s why I have just done so. The other facts that you failed to notice. Yes, Australia was the penal colony. But, the authorities in New Zealand sent word to Australia for convicts to go to New Zealand to do all sorts of work. You can always tell when people have lost the argument. The Loser always calls the other person names. Incidentally, during the Lions tour of 1971, there was a was a pictorial souvenir put on sale. There were 6 pages and a caption of The Faces Of Victory on one of the pictures of the second test. However, there were only 4 pages of pictures of the 1st and 4th test and only 3 pages of pictures of the 3rd test. Care to take a guess as to who won the 1st and 3rd test and then drew the 4th. There are no radio stations over here that broadcast how to get rid of ANY nationality. Sadly in New Zealand, there is a radio station called radio Hauraki. The presenter`s name was Tim Bickerstaff. He had a weekly talk show where people would phone in and offer ways on how to get rid of and in their words Pommy Bastards. One of the best ever selling items in New Zealand were T-Shirts with POMMY BASTARDS written on them. The hilarious part of it is that the person who came up with the idea was ENGLISH. He couldn`t get a job in New Zealand because he was ENGLISH. This they would say to his face. We ain`t going to have a POMMY BASTARD working here. He became very rich courtesy of certain New Zealanders and Australians racial hatred. Now 3 doors up my street from where I live, there is a New Zealander and his wife and they are nice people and they have been welcomed here. They are also aware of what has previously happened to other people and me when we lived in New Zealand. They have said its wonderful to see you bare no hatred to New Zealanders on the same scale that you and others have been subjected to. Well to hate an entire nation having not met everybody from that country is sheer stupidity and is nothing more than racism. I simply save my anger for those that caused me harm. I have never met you, so therefore I can`t judge you. But you should not have called me those names. Take care and good luck to you.

[@claudettekotze3913]

Canterbury were a very intimidating side in all the provincial matches at the time and they were considered by many as the epitome of tough NZ manhood. NZ and South African rugby over the years up to that time was often very brutal. They were the norms of the time but I still agree with you, that that Canterbury game was a shameful blot on NZ rugby history. Pure thuggery and no excuses. You harbour a strong bitterness towards New Zealand. But aren't you practising moral relativism? There was strong anti-British feeling at the time as the trade unions were holding the country to economic ransom. Strikes were rampant everywhere and EVERY union official interviewed on TV was always British. Resentment grew. Also at that time there seemed to be a prevailing superiority attitude amongst many English immigrants who extolled the virtues of "the Mother Country." (To add to your list of egregious insults I remember a T. shirt emblazoned with "Punch a Pom a Day.") Also, some of this ill-feeling was historical as in WW 1 thousands of NZ soldiers were killed because of the arrogant, uncaring ineptitude of British generals particularly at Gallipoli. I was in my teens at the time and I can look back now and see that these past negative attitudes, both British and New Zealand, were childish and only fostered prejudice. I have moved on now. Have you? We have had the most wonderful Lions tour where fans of both sides enthusiastically embraced each other. Respect prevailed in the games. I consider our country was very lucky to have been settled by the British who at the time had developed a base of common law that emerged from the Magna Carta and were centuries ahead of any other European country in that respect. Come on mate. Lighten up. Let the past go. Be thankful.

[@stevvvvveperry]

The whole purpose of the warm up matches were to soften the lions up for the tests lol, the reason why lions have had little success in nzl is because they couldnt handle the tough fast paced brand of rugby the all blacks played, that also applies to SA and australia

[@rmr3403]

I know we did not get this covered in the republic of South Africa, because we did not have TV yet, it was considered "not in the public interest" by the genius government of the day.

[@joeoak8181]

What strikes me is how quickly the scrums were set in comparison with now, 2024, when it takes ages to engage.

[@cliffhughes6010]

Barry's kicking was off that day, or it would have been a very different score.

[@chrisegan19681]

@5:27 who'd have thunk it. An All Black No7 slowing the ball down on the wrong side.

[@barneyboy2008]

The Lions should have grown some and rucked him out.

[@grahamturner97]

When the line-out was a contest. This was the last season when a try was worth 3 points.

[@paulthomson2288]

imagine how good these players could have been if they were not playing in swamps and bogs and field drainage had been invented.

[@pabloperez1792]

Que cosas raras!!!! los periodistas metidos en el campo de juego tambien los policias y el line tan paretado y juntos los jugadores.....

[@FrankNstyn]

Was the picture quality really that bad?

[@user-ey4jp4ep9q]

Note the formation of the scrums

[@leonlazaus4443]

Checked the place kicking on the halfway line when starting. They should bring it back ❤ Good old rugby days. Never and never again will it be the same. Reason being money and big money the players now a day earns. What a shame.

[@johncourtneidge]

Yes! End of that greater era!

[@rhysdavies7764]

Is this from 'The Rugby Collection' box set?

[@dashercronin]

mike gibson

[@grahamturner97]

No talking to the referee in those days: you didn't have the puff for it anyway.

[@grahamturner97]

@Gary Duncanson Chris Liilley, who spent years at Bath as understudy to Gareth Chilcott and Richard Lee, is an old mate. He once told the story that he was playing against Pontypool, Graham Dawe and Coochie were the rest of the front row: Coochie was famous for keeping up a running commentary throughout a match. At one point Jeff Perkins, the notorious Ponty hard man, threw a punch from second row and hit Graham Dawe: "f(ck me, Dawesy, you took a good one there" says Gareth. When the scrum was over the front row stood up, and Lilley and Chilcott released Dawe - who slid to the ground - out cold !! Every top flight team had a nutter like Perkins, Bath had Phil Hall back in the day. Colin Smart, the ex England and Newport prop, is an old schoolmate: a guy called Jeff X (can't remember his name) was the Newport hard man. Colin once said to me "Jeff X is a c&nt: I can't stand the bloke - but I don't want to take to the pitch without him, he watches everybody else's back." The good old days ?

[@Matt-uj6jm]

Fearless does not cover the lions 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

[@luppitt1]

I started playing in the mid 70s but can't recall wingers throwing to the line-out. Was that normal at the time?

[@rahowherox1177]

yep

[@MALANDRINON]

it changed to hookers about that time

[@nigeledwards5911]

luppitt1 I played from 1970 onwards and in the early days wingers threw the ball at the lineout. It was only a few years later that hookers took over the role. I cannot recall a winger throwing in from 1974 onwards.

[@tollyt7465]

From about 74 onwards it had all but died out, and when I began playing senior rugby in 78 as a flanker, it was extremely rare by then that anyone other than the hooker threw in at line outs. Although it did happen occasionally, but mostly for trick plays near the opposition line.. By the time my county coach decided I was a headcase and should play hooker along with the other nutters in 82 it had completely disappeared..

[@ericcarlson1709]

Curious why the archival games never include any games where the All Blacks won, which they did more often than not then and now.

[@shane-irish]

71 in black and white 😧

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

from a forum. More to come soon.

[@user-wz9mb6ty2q]

Proper game with no TV refs and head contact allowed!

[@7915thomas]

Began knocked on prior to the first try, poor ref

[@rh5466]

The Lions' No.11 (Bevan?) knocked on at 7:45. The try that followed shortly after shouldn't have counted. Good grief.

[@richardtarr9767]

Correct, but I see it as a sort of karma for Sutherland's behaviour at 5:24

[@stephenreeds3672]

Glad they didn't but how did the ABs not win. The Lions had virtually no ball.

[@philmalley7888]

My dad was a friend of Barry John's and even he admitted to him that he didn't know how they won this match. New Zealand had enough possession to have won the game but missed their opportunities. Talking of missing things I think the ref had the sun in his eyes on some occasions when he got the decision clearly wrong. Maybe its my impression but this seemed a narrow rugby pitch for an international in my opinion.

[@carl1095]

No color film in '71?

[@williamdmason9375]

1:46 The linesman in those days looked like they were hot foot straight from there allotments and took there trousers of and left there Jack boots on..I wonder if percy thrower is there linesman.🤗

[@miketownsend1254]

Miss the way they got straight down to the scrum and no fannying like today.

[@paulreynolds6554]

notice the scrum!!how easy lofe was during the amature game

[@bbQuk]

Why is the ref wearing a cricket jumper? ;) P.S. And calling marks outside the 22 (sorry, 25)!

[@barneyboy2008]

Nice spear tackle on the all black wing at 3:10. Where's BOD when you need a good moan.

[@simonjackson7269]

The random way they stand around for the national anthem!!!

[@user-te3jc3sl7r]

Unlike previous Lions teams the 1971 side has a forward pack which could match and at times dominate the ABs pack. Mighty mouse McLauglan small and at only 15 stone was a superb prop who got the better of his opponent 18 stone Jazz Muller. Mervyn Davies completely dominated the back of the lineout. The Lions probably should have won this test by 10 points but Barry John played it safe with his tactical kicking which ended AB fullback Fergie McCormicks career.

[@ericcarlson1709]

Always frustrates me watching Bob Burgess kick the ball away. Get it out to Williams!

[@ericcarlson1709]

and damn, wasn't McCormick a terrible goal kicker?

[@nickpilgrim1966]

This is like the keystone cops. Barry John is awful! Love it. Rugby the way it should be played. What a difference between 71 and 74 in broadcasting.

[@ringo688]

Correction-1871

[@mrhaymack]

How did All Blacks lose this?

[@simonwoods8809]

Bad goal kicking - that head on style is so...well...rubbish, surely... If you look at that great Barbarians v NZ match in 1973 I was totally impressed by Joe Karam's superb kicking from hand but his goal kicking with the toe poke style is awful. No wonder nobody uses it any more. With a try only worth 3 points in those days and a penalty being the same and with the missed conversion to boot (as it were) the British Isles were given a helping hand. Mind you even the great Barry John was inconsistent with the boot that day.

[@paulreynolds6554]

i think they got beat!by too many Welsh players,.hehe

[@TainuiaKid1973]

+paul reynolds lol

[@paulreynolds6554]

+TainuiKid1973 Hi,Thank you for your reply,Well we were pretty good then,So sorry to hear Of Jonah lomu,I saw him in Cardiff a few years ago,He was a gentleman and not a nicer man you could meet,

[@david10101961]

I recall listening to Bob Irvine's radio commentary, and then watching the delayed TV coverage of this frustrating match, as a rugby mad teenager. The All Blacks had something like 70% possession and territory, but somehow missed maybe five or six try scoring opportunities through a combination of poor finishing, handling errors, and great cover defence by the Lions. And of course Fergie missed those two easy penalty kicks. For some reason, Fergie's toe-based goalkicking was remarkably consistent for Canterbury, but he had both great days (including a world record 24 points against Wales in 1969) and horror days (like his 3 goals from 14 attempts against France in Christchurch, 1968) when playing for the All Blacks. The wings Hunter and Carrington failed to cover the sidelines properly, allowing Barry John to place cleverly angled kicks behind Fergie, forcing him to turn and backpedal helplessly in the mud, which effectively ended the ageing fullback's test career. The last quarter of the game was incredibly exciting as the All Blacks stormed the Lions goalline repeatedly, but somehow the Lions managed to hold them out. Had the All Blacks gone to 8-6 with a converted try, I doubt that they would have been headed. But they didn't, and so history records a very courageous and important victory for the Lions, giving them first blood in the series.

[@chasey2327]

what a mess the game was then compared to how clinical it is now. constant loss of possession and so many random kicks within sight of the tryline. coaches would go mental if players did that today surely. pitch looks like a ploughed field and you could throw a blanket over 20 players in open play most of the match. as for the place kicking...

[@desmondstroud5253]

Place kicking much harder in those days. You dug a whole as you say in a plough field. Remember these were amateur players. They all had normal jobs. You can't compare with today. Just enjoy it for a different era.

[@stephenreeds3672]

I agree. Seemed like a free for all. The standard of refereeing was abysmal.

[@grahamturner97]

and how exciting it was compared to how boring it is now. I never watch 'professional' rugby, it's a yawnfest, after 55 years in the game as player and referee I know exactly what is going to happen next in a professional match. If I am not refereeing I will go and watch a couple of local junior sides rather than Bath - though I live less than 500 metres from the Rec. As for the ignorance of the crowd, don't start me.....

[@montyf2165]

@@grahamturner97 Absolutely correct. I can't watch today's rugby. So sad, at least you tube has plenty of the old stuff to enjoy.

[@mikemorgan7893]

the lions coach admitted the all blacks should have won by at least 15 points

[@NoName-hg6cc]

I know it's eight years late, but: sources?

[@mikemorgan7893]

@@NoName-hg6cc I had a book published in the late 70s about the history of Rugby Union and the quote was in it

[@NoName-hg6cc]

@@mikemorgan7893 Which book? So I can find that quote

[@mikemorgan7893]

@@NoName-hg6cc The World Of Rugby published in 1979

[@NoName-hg6cc]

@@mikemorgan7893 Thanks. Can you give me author and year of publication too?

[@nigelwalpole8237]

amateurs they may have been but they could teach today's pros about 'sport'

[@simonbackhouse5142]

What, exactly?

[@tigerarmyrule]

how to get on with a scrum for one

[@tyonamin]

+tigerarmyrule That's more to do with the scrum laws and not the players...

[@rodneyward9261]

Beggars belief that people payed to watch that! I know, I know, different era and all that.....but.....what a dreadful game. Aimless kicking and terrible passing. Crap ref and All blacks kicking anything on the ground. (Some things never change!) Best rugby book ever written...The Victorious Lions by John Reason...captures this tour brilliantly.