Close Quarters: 1997 Second Test final 20

[@bryandunleavy6522]

One day I was ten and my mother was putting a nail in dry wall. My first thought was to ask her if Keith Wood at full pace would run through it. No prizes for the answer. What a game, made me fall in love with the sport.

[@mesnilman2327]

We all remember Guscott's drop. But just watch who sets up the field position (from about 12:10 in). Take a bow, take a very deep bow the wonderful Keith Woods.

[@AB-lq1zd]

Keith Wood

[@Mr___X]

The ref allowed a very dubious turnover just prior to Woods' kick downfield.

[@danroth2163]

I love the Holyfield v. Tyson pay-per-view plug at 6 minutes .

[@cal8087]

Lovely drop goal by Guscott, but Neil Jenkins goal kicking for the entire tour broke the Boks.

[@markspence5288]

Matt Dawson showed how he was world class in this trip

[@speak_your_truth.]

And that he was a complete ass with his diaries on the other 💩

[@cringycook9597]

If anyone would, Keith Wood.

[@jerryfields4837]

IRELAND and Britland rugby team done very well here, in case anyone missed it,

[@speak_your_truth.]

How can the ref blow full time when the kick has gone out on the full?

[@flyduck]

wonderful lions victory but watching it back you wonder why the bocks didn't go for the drop goal with the possession they had near the end.

[@leewilliams2763]

Seeing as we missed all our kicks up to that point, I am not too sure we could have landed a drop goal anyway! Jannie De Beer played in the 3rd test, where goal kicks were no longer a problem! Nope the 97 B & I Lions were a very well-organised squad, coached by the brilliant Sir Ian Robert McGeechan, and knew how to beat us!

[@scottstuart6716]

Need to add.Once a year my village team played a memorial match against an international 15.Some of the players on this pitch played.They were astonishingly fit,quick,skilful and big guys.But us minnows played them.Today the same side situation would result in 15 Seriously injured village players in minutes.Nutrition and sports science has not come that far to produce the beasts that you see today without wrongdoing.Its happened in every other sport until the "scandal is revealed" Rugby....It's coming to you.

[@Mr___X]

Increible amount of leeway afforded t the Lions by the referee. Have to say, though, that this is so much more watchable than modern day rugby.

[@speak_your_truth.]

Lol, not to the Bokke though? 😂🤫

[@bryandunleavy6522]

I agree that the tension here is so watchable.

[@bryandunleavy6522]

In the phases leading up to the penalty on 10 minutes, the lions infringed at least 3 times

[@stuartclaridge8537]

Indeed, better watch all round compared to some of today’s “professional” era. How much quicker were the scrums!!! So much less faffing about and the front row lasting the full 80+ minutes most games

[@jacklav1]

I can't understand people saying this is much more watchable than modern rugby. There is passion and courage and history here but let's be honest the rugby is not as dynamic, tactical and sophisticated, skillful and spectacular as today's game. Any danger of someone doing a step like Cheslin Kolbe or a one handed offload or a massive floated pass? Or running set plays or clever tactics? It was a different game- these guys are the best in the world at what they did, but it's not fair to call the current generation not watchable.

[@Andrew-q8k]

#casual...I bet you prefer NBA today and soft arse football too...🤡

[@jacklav1]

@ Lols. Physically, the modern game is brutal with harder athletes colliding at higher speeds. They are trained for longer and more effectively, put more body mass on, run faster. But they are professional, I concede that on a passion level, you can’t top lions series and the like. I’ve never watched NBA and I’m one of those annoying football fan that only gets interested when the World Cup is on.

[@Andrew-q8k]

@jacklav1 they're not tougher... they're not stronger... they have no rugby brain... just bish bash bosh!

[@johnkewley]

The lions were telling the referee what to do

[@stephenreeds3632]

Scott Gibbs' hit would be yellow carded today.

[@garyforster2062]

And your point is? Since it was within the laws when the game was played in 1996 ? One could go through that that game and pick out numerous other things that would now be considered illegal

[@speak_your_truth.]

So? What's your point? Cry harder 😭

[@johnhanson5943]

Biased or poor ref.

[@scottstuart6716]

Tons of skill and they weren't on the juice like today.God they've ruined rugby by ignoring drug taking.