The British and Irish Lions announced their arrival in 2001 by starting their tour with a record-breaking win over Western Australia at the WACA.
The tourists shrugged off their jetlag and loosened up after the long journey by rattling in 18 tries and smashed Lions records for the overall score, the margin of victory and the number of tries scored in a match.
Number eight Scott Quinnell and winger Dan Luger both scored hat-tricks.
The Lions demonstrated a fluency on the pitch as they set about the tough task to build partnerships and develop communication to meld for the greater tests to follow.
Backs and forwards linked well and the pace of the Lions was relentless. Second-half substitutions kept them fresh and maintained the momentum.
The Lions got off to the perfect start with a first from Quinnell after only two minutes nipping down the blindside to the corner, before scrum-half Rob Howley showed his agility adding another in 10 minutes with a darting run from a scrum.
Western Australia’s paper-thin defence was just what the Lions wanted to allow them to stretch their legs, and after half an hour Neil Back had added a brace of tries from close-range lineouts.
Will Greenwood sported a dyed blond hairdo, getting himself noticed as he commanded the midfield in the first half lynchpin.
Everything attacking (and there was a lot of it) moved through his capable hands and the Lions roared in the scores to his vision. He got on the score sheet himself after 24 minutes following up a sparkling Brian O’Driscoll burst from fullback.
A frustrated outside-centre, O’Driscoll was champing at the bit to get in the game from full-back and came out of the traps like a prize greyhound.
Greenwood combined with Wood to send Luger over for his second. A second for Quinell and it was smiles all round for the Lions at 57-0.
The hosts were unable to stem the tide in the second half as the Lions ran in another nine tries, and Howley scored his second five minutes into the second period.
The pick of the second half tries was Balshaw’s second when he was sent through by a flicked scissors pass by Simon Taylor. The Lions by this stage were getting cocky.
But the WACA crowd were overjoyed to see two Western Australia scores: winger Brent Becroft and scrum half Robbie Barugh demonstrating that Australians keep going regardless.
The writing was well and truly on the wall by 52 minutes when Becroft banged in a score in the corner and received the biggest cheer of the night from the WACA faithful.
Scottish flanker Simon Taylor was impressive throughout and resumed the rout, crossing after 57 minutes. Luger and Quinell followed up by completing their hat-tricks.
Substitute Barugh took his chance to strike back for Western Australia after 67 minutes. But these Western Australia scores belied the fact that they ever really pushed the Lions at all.
The Lions showed superior fitness over the amateur Western Australia by rolling in four tries in the closing minutes to complete the try-fest
British and Irish Lions
Backs: B O’Driscoll (Ireland), B Cohen (England), W Greenwood (England), M Taylor (Wales), D Luger (England), R O’Gara (Ireland), R Howley (Wales);
Forwards: D Morris (Wales), K Wood (Ireland, capt), P Vickery (England), D Grewcock (England), M O’Kelly (Ireland), R Hill (England), N Back (England), S Quinnell (Wales).
Replacements: I Balshaw (England), R Henderson (Ireland), A Healey (England), S Taylor (Scotland), J Davidson (Ireland), J Leonard (England), R McBryde (Wales).
Western Australia
Backs: S Apaapa; M Gardiner, A Broughton, H Waldin, B Becroft; T Feather, M Fleet;
Forwards: T Stevens, C Duff, A New, N Hollis, T Thomas (capt), H Grace, R Coney, A Brain.
Replacements: D McRae, R Barugh, M Harrington, P Noriega, T Cameron, G Plimmer, R Kellam.
Referee: W Erickson (Aus)
British and Irish Lions scorers
Tries: S Quinnell (3), D Luger (3), N Back (2), R Howley (2), I Balshaw (2), W Greenwood, DDanny Grewcock, M Taylor, S Taylor, A Healey, B O’Driscoll
Conversions: R O’Gara (13).
Western Australia scorers
Tries: B Becroft, R Barugh.
Gavin Melville
Roar Pro
Simon Taylor was a giant of a player for Scotland. He got over 50 caps, but that was small return for a giant of a player. Years ahead of his time. Played a great 7s game too, on account of his mobility matching his power. I think he runs a chain of pubs in Edinburgh now. I can't remember the Graham Henry incident, but being showered with beer by an idiot is pretty much in an occupational hazard in rugby. Possibly even more so in Australia for a Kiwi. I can remember the times, though, being fraught with mis-match danger. The full-time pro versus part-time amateur stature kicked in about now. I reckon I got caught up in the euphoria of the big win in this game, so I never realised it here, but there was definitely a widening gulf between huge physical professional sportsmen and chaps who played the game for fun. I don't think it's so bad now - everybody knows the score. I watched a replay of a Wales game from the late 70s and centre Steve Fenwick was described as 'a hulking 13-stone frame'. It'd be tough to get a job as kit-man without beefing up a bit from there these days.
Atawhai Drive
Guest
Watching this match at the time, it occurred to me that it might not be a good idea in future to have professionals playing against amateurs (although the WA team had a couple of pro ring-ins from the east). It wasn't just the score; this was a game of giants against comparative pygmies, with implications for safety. Still, NSW Country gave the 2001 Lions a better run for their money, and it's pleasing that the 2013 Lions will line up against Combined Country in Newcastle. I also remember that 2001 match for Simon Taylor's strong showing. Injuries meant he never fulfilled his potential. And then there was the interview after the match with Lions coach Graham Henry, who was celebrating his 55th birthday. The interview was done in the players' tunnel and some idiot in the crowd showered the birthday boy with beer.