1974 British and Irish Lions: The Second Test Pretoria

Taken from the DVD 'The Invincibles: The 1974 British and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa'. Available from www.digitalclassicsdvd.co.uk and all major retailers.
In 1974 the South African apartheid regime was under worldwide condemnation; in defiance of a developing international policy to isolate South Africa, the British and Irish Lions rugby team controversially accepted the invitation to tour the country and play a test series against their ancient rivals, the Springboks.

The resulting series was one of the most violent in Lions history; yet those 22 matches produced remarkable rugby, including many memorable tries. The Lions enjoyed unparalleled success and with some of the greatest players ever to grace the game, they went unbeaten, going down in rugby legend as The Invincibles.

This film, which includes unique personal footage from the players, is both a thrilling celebration of a remarkable rugby team and a poignant reminder of the scale of change in South Africa since that landmark tour.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• 1974
• British
• Irish
• Lions
• Second
• Test
• Rugby
• South
• Africa
• Willie-John
• McBride
• Gareth
• Edwards
• JJ
• Williams
• JPR
• William
• invincibles
• pretoria
• tries
• famous

[349quinman]

Phil Bennett , never be another "the master"

[hunk4hire]

@jacqloock

The names Gert Bezeidenhout and Piet Robbertse will live in infamy. In the 1970s they were the difference makers when the All Blacks toured South Africa. Beizeidenhout actually admitted as much in an apology of sorts for his performance in 1976. There was one ridiculous incident in the game against Northern Transvaal in 1976 when the NT captain, Thys Lourens conspired in Afrikaans with Robbertse to penalize the All Blacks. Google the names "Lourens and Robbertse" and read about it!

[jacqloock]

@ragers66: In the final test of '81, time was up with the Boks trailing by 4. Mordt scored to draw it level, Botha missing the conversion. The game then dragged on for another eternity until the All Blacks were within range -- sort of. Short arm penalty for... something. Advanced by another 10 yards for... some reason. And magically turned into a penalty because... because... just because. Hewson kicked it to win the series and Norling was man of the match.

[jacqloock]

@takineti Brown (5) passes it forward to Edwards (9) at 2:44. It's arguable, but a cheating ref would have called it up.

At 2:49, Utley (6) kicks the ball to Williams (13), who is in front of him. That's offside, and it's blatant.

The Lions would have won anyway, but this myth of cheating South African refs is just that, a myth. The Springboks didn't lose a test series, anywhere, between 1900 and 1956. That takes more than cheating refs.

[ragers66]

@jacqloock How did Clive cheat in 1981?  Nah, good try.

I love rugby from this period, not overly structured and a lot of man beating man play.

[galya]

never ever has such a brilliant team strode the rugby pitch

[takineti]

@jacqloock I looked, but couldn't see the points you mention, brilliant try!

[jacqloock]

Crooked refs, my ass. Forward pass at 2:44. Blatant offside at 2:49.  If you want to see cheating, watch Wales vs SA, 1999. Or watch Clive Norling in NZ, 1981.

That said, the '74 Lions were probably one of the best teams ever.

[hunk4hire]

It was tough playing in South Africa in those days.

Not only did you have to beat the Boks, you also had to contend with the South African refs who were not known for their evenhandedness and impartiality.

[calengr1]

SA phrase "jack in the box"