Rugby fans are frothing at the mouth at present, feverishly selecting the Wallabies XV to face the Lions and raging indignation at the likely omission of their favourite player here or there.
For those interested in the more sedate pursuit of perusing history, in this particular instance, the history of the Lions, I would like to present them in a slightly different article in a simpler and more enjoyable format.
Hopefully, the Lions composite XVs will provide lovers of rugby history with a ready-reckoner of who were the key players of each tour at that particular point in time.
Since the end of WW2, there have been 18 Lions teams selected and I thought I would offer composite XVs plus bench, from each of these selections.
Those players chosen in the starting XV would be based on most Tests played on tour and so on.
I will also provide a brief offering of the Test results but avoid going into deep detail which can be found in numerous other publications.
My article will be divided into three parts which hopefully will be published on successive days for the purpose of continuity.
Part one will cover six Lions selections from 1950 to 1968. Part two will cover six selections from 1971 to 1986 (yes, 1986). Part three will cover six selections from 1989 to 2009.
So let’s start with the 1950 tour of New Zealand and Australia, comprising four Tests against the All Blacks and two Tests against the Wallabies.
The results against New Zealand were as follows: Drew 9-9; Lost 0-8; Lost 3-6; Lost 8-11. The results against Australia: Won 19-6; Won 24-3.
1950 Lions composite XV (fullback to loosehead prop)
Billy Cleaver (W), Ken Jones (W), Jack Matthews (W), Bleddyn Williams (W), Malcolm Thomas (W), Jackie Kyle (I), Angus Black (S), Peter Kininmonth (S), Bill McKay (I), Bob Evans (W), Roy John (W), Don Hayward (W), Tom Clifford (I), Karl Mullen (c-I), John Robins (W).
Bench: Lewis Jones (W), Noel Henderson (I), Rex Willis (W), Jimmy Nelson (I), Rees Stephens (W), Graham Budge (S), Dai Davies (W).
Jackie Kyle and Ken Jones were named in the New Zealand Almanac as two of five players of the year.
Teenaged utility replacement Lewis Jones moved onto a glittering career in rugby league.
In 1955 the Lions toured to South Africa, splitting the series 2-2. The results were as follows: Won 23-22; Lost 9-25; Won 9-6; Lost 8-22.
1955 Lions composite XV
Angus Cameron (S), Gareth Griffiths (W), Jeff Butterfield (E), Phil Davies (E), Tony O’Reilly (I), Cliff Morgan (W), Dickie Jeeps (E), Russell Robins (W), Jim Greenwood (S), Clem Thomas (W), Robin Thompson (c-I), Rhys Williams (W), Courtney Meredith (W), Bryn Meredith (W), Billy Williams (W).
Bench: Doug Baker (E), Cecil Pedlow (I), Johnny Williams (W), Reg Higgins (E), Tom Elliot (S), Tom Reid (I), Robin Roe (I).
The 1955 Lions were the first to fly, reducing sea travel by almost four months. They left Heathrow in a Lockheed Constellation on a 36 hour flight, with stopovers in Zurich, Rome, Cairo, Khartoum, Nairobi, Entebbe and finally, Johannesburg.
The stars of the tour were all backs – Butterfield, Morgan, the teenaged flyer O’Reilly and young scrumhalf Jeeps. However, it was felt the unsung heroes were the forwards who often gained parity with their renowned Boks opponents.
In 1959 the Lions returned to New Zealand and Australia. The results were as follows: (NZ) Lost 17-18; Lost 8-11; Lost 8-22; Won 9-6; (Australia): Won 17-6; Won 24-3.
1959 Lions composite XV
Ken Scotland (S), Peter Jackson (E), Dave Hewitt (I), Malcolm Price (W), Tony O’Reilly (I), Bev Risman (E), Dickie Jeeps (E), John Faull (W), Haydn Morgan (W), Noel Murphy (I), Roddy Evans (W), Rhys Williams (W), Gordon Wood (W), Ronnie Dawson (c-I), Hugh McLeod (S).
Bench: Terry Davies (W), Phil Horrocks-Taylor (E), Andy Mulligan (I), Ken Smith (S), Bill Mulcahy (I), Ray Prosser (W), Bryn Meredith (W).
The 1959 Lions were desperately unlucky not to level the series, losing a heart-breaking first Test 17-18, despite scoring four tries to none.
1955 hero Butterfield missed the Tests through injury. Once again, it was the backs who received greatest praise, especially wingers Jackson and O’Reilly.
It was considered a mistake to make Dawson tour captain, relegating the brilliant Meredith to the bench. This mistake would be repeated in 1983.
In 1962 the Lions returned to South Africa. The results were as follows: Drew 3-3; Lost 0-3; Lost 3-8; Lost 14-34.
1962 Lions composite XV
John Willcox (E), Arthur Smith (c-S), Kingsley Jones (W), Mike Weston (E), Niall Brophy (I), Gordon Waddell (S), Dickie Jeeps (E), Mike Campbell-Lamberton (S), Alun Pask (W), Haydn Morgan (W), Keith Rowlands (W), Bill Mulcahey (I), Ken Jones (W), Bryn Meredith (W), Syd Millar (I).
Bench: Dewi Bebb (W), Richard Sharp (E), Budge Rogers (E), Willie John McBride (I), David Rollo (S).
While the 1962 Lions huge forwards matched their Boks counterparts, it was at the expense of expansive play, and the fizz had gone out of British rugby backplay in the 60s. Nevertheless, apart from the final Test, the series was extremely tight.
In 1966 the Lions toured New Zealand and Australia. The results were as follows: (NZ) Lost 3-20; Lost 12-16; Lost 6-19; Lost 11-24; (Australia): Won 11-8; Won 31-0.
1966 Lions composite XV
Stewart Wilson (S), Sandy Hinshelwood (S), Colin McFaddyean (E), Mike Gibson (I), Dewi Bebb (W), David Watkins (W), Roger Young (I), Jim Telfer (S), Alun Pask (W), Ronnie Lamont (I), Willie John McBride (I), Mike Campbell-Lamberton (c-S), Howard Norris (W), Ken Kennedy (I), Denzil Williams (W).
Bench: Stuart Watkins (W), Ken Jones (W), Arthur Lewis (W), Noel Murphy (I), Brian Price (W), Ray McLoughlin (I), Frank Laidlaw (S).
Although this was ‘the swinging 60s’, the 1966 Lions missed the beat. They seemed an unhappy bunch of tourists. Part of the problem appears to have been a growing disenchantment with the Kiwis “win at all costs” mentality.
The Aussie leg was a walkover, but the New Zealand leg turned into a nightmare.
In 1968 the Lions toured South Africa. The results were as follows: Lost 20-25; Drew 6-6; Lost 6-11; Lost 6-19.
1968 Lions composite XV
Tim Kiernan (c-I), Keith Savage (E), Barry Breshnihan (I), Jock Turner (S), Maurice Richards (W), Mike Gibson (I), Gareth Edwards (W), Jim Telfer (S), Bob Taylor (E), Roger Arneil (S), Willie John McBride (I), Peter Stagg (S), Tony Horton (E), John Pullin (E), Syd Millar (I).
Bench: Sandy Hinshelwood (S), Barry John (W), Roger Young (I), Peter Larter (E), Delme Thomas (W), Mike Coulman (E), Jeff Young (W).
The 1968 Lions were the “might have beens”. Two Tests were lost narrowly and a third drawn, yet their overall tour record was superb.
Barry John was injured early and Mike Gibson struggled to fill the flyhalf role, his true position being centre. The forwards were strong, but the backs wayward.
Although this series was lost, the Lions were building towards something special in the 70s.
joeb
Roar Rookie
``So let’s start with the 1950 tour of New Zealand and Australia, comprising four Tests against the All Blacks and two Tests against the Wallabies.’’ Pity this isn’t a 4-test series, and that the Tourists aren’t playing two against the ABs as well. Mouth watering. What a series that would’ve been. And the difference in score lines would’ve been an eye-opener too in judging just how well we’re progressing. Good piece btw, Sheek, and a relief to read, umm, "My nickname is a truncation of my surname, so I'm not Arabic - phew!" Here I was thinking we had an oil baron in our midst. :( http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5NCH29cPQt4
Rugby Fan
Roar Guru
Dave, since The Roar is an Australian site it only seems fair you should add this one too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHYAucvpR2g Ahh...Mike Gibson. Saying he was a better centre than he was a fly half certainly doesn't mean he was a bad fly half. You have to remember that, in 1968, once Barry John was out, Gibson had to play eleven of the remaining 13 tour fixtures. More importantly, the series was lost but the concept of the Lions was rekindled just as it was in 2009. I can't recall whether it was a Lions, Barbarians or Ireland match but one lasting memory of Gibson is his playing at centre late in his career. He took the ball and seemed to dance on the spot, while tacklers missed him, and then put in a pass to create a try.
Dublin Dave
Guest
Hey Sheek, I was merely pouring scorn on the suggestion that Gibson was uncomfortable at fly half through not being familiar with the role. On the contrary, he had played there for most of his rugby life up to that point. Although he did play at centre in the tests on his first tour to New Zealand in 1966 so that both he and the Welsh Dai Watkins could be accommodated in the same team. This of course was in the hey day of the great Welsh "outside half factory" which produced a succession of wonderful number 10s from Cliff Morgan in the 1950s through to Watkins in the 1960s who was succeeded by Barry John. And when he retired young the next person up was the twinkle toed Phil Bennett. The Welsh in general, and Mr Thomas in particular, were unwilling to cede an inch on the claim they staked to be the premier source of out half talent in the world. Gibson made his debut for Ireland in Twickenham in 1964, playing at 10 as he had done to universal acclaim in the varsity match shortly before when he was studying temporarily at Cambridge. He didn't score a try in Ireland's first win in England for 16 years but he made a couple, one of which still stands the test of time nearly 50 years later. Judge for yourself. :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=0xKCPGnxdBs
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi Dublin Dave, I take my cue from Clem Thomas' mighty tale of the Lions - "The History of the British & Irish Lions", 2001 edition. As you know, Thomas himself was a Welsh & Lions (1955) flanker before becoming a respected writer & commentator of rugby. Barry John was injured in the first test, with Gibson the first ever British/Irish replacement in a test & holding the flyhalf position for the remainder of the tour. According to Thomas, Quote, "Apparently, Mike Gibson had a disappointing tour at flyhalf, which suggests his true position was was at centre, where he was to excel in 1971." Unquote. Adding to your comments, Gibson was recognised as a flyhalf at the time of the Lions tour of 1968. But as we all now know, while he was a good flyhalf, he was an even more brilliant centre.
Dublin Dave
Guest
" Mike Gibson struggled to fill the flyhalf role, his true position being centre." Think your chronology is a bit out there, Sheek. Gibson at that stage had never, so far as I know--it was a little bit before my time--played centre for Ireland. He had always been a number 10 up to then. It was only in the following season, 1969, that he moved into the centre to make way for Barry McGann, to play at fly half. Making way, being the appropriate term; McGann had a spare tyre round his waist that would do justice to many portly beer swillers twice his age. Not without justification was his nickname "Fatty".
sheek
Roar Guru
Jim, I recall Peter Johnson telling the story of the last minutes of the third test of 1963. The Wallabies were clinging to a slender lead and had a scrum in front of their posts. Ken Catchpole rolled the ball perfectly into the centre of the tunnel (unlike today!) but Johnson feared striking out in case he conceded a penalty. Time seemed to stand still as indeed vital seconds passed away. Both packs did nothing. Finally, it was the Boks hooker who striked out but he only succeeded in kicking the ball into the Wallabies scrum. The Wallabies hung on to go 2-1 up in the series. The Kiwis were scathing of SA refereeing in the 1976 series. This was the time when international sanctions were beginning to bite in the republic. Winning the series was seen as a matter of deep personal honour for Saffies. I sometimes wonder one of the main reasons NZ allowed the 1981 series to go ahead, despite having neutral refs & the surrounding political turmoil, was motivated by the thoughts of revenge. Politics aside, that 1981 series pitted two extraordinarily talented teams together. The Boks especially, were on the verge of greatness but sporting sanctions would severely restrict them in the 80s.
abnutta
Roar Guru
Apparently a third of the entire population of New Zealand attended a Lions match during the 1959 tour. I always have in my mind three photographic images in my mind of that 1959 tour... 1. Dickie Jeeps about to be monstered by the "hard as granite" All Black and Canterbury tight-loose forward Tiny Hill (whom Sir Colin Meads credits as the player who taught him the meaning of :hard" forward play) 2. Bev Risman diving into the corner to score a try in the 4th test at Eden Park 3. Don Clarke having just calmly evaded an airborne Peter Jackson (and no doubt looking to unleash another booming length of the field touchfinder whilst somehow managing not do displace a single hair of his brilcream-shaped coiffure.
DR
Guest
Hi Sheek, a bit before my time but I can remember my parents talking fondly of Tony O Reily and. jackie Kyle. My father often mentioned that Mike Gibson and Bruce Robertson were the best mid fielders he had ever seen. I am looking forward to part 2 and 3 which was more in my time, well 86 and on :)
Jim Boyce
Guest
Allanthus - I would have mentioned this about the S Af referees but Sheek's piece was about the Lions in NZ and Aust. If anything the All Blacks in South Africa got a rougher deal than we did in 1963. In certain respects we took the Boks by surprise and won 2 in succession after losing the first.In the 4th Test, It was a widely held view in our team that the ref had changed in his interpretations particularly re the scrums. We may have lost anyway but the All Blacks did not win a series in South Africa till after the Apartheid era had ended in the mid 1990s.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Sorry mate - a bit late in today but just a quick note to show that you've got at least one other reader out there... Jim is right about the refereeing. There are good bad and indifferent referees today but neutrality has taken a lot of heat and bad feeling out of what would have been difficult situations in those days. There was definitely some embarrassing home town refereeing in NZ during that era, but no worse than what NZ experienced overseas - particularly in South Africa.
sheek
Roar Guru
Thanks Jim, Yes, it should have been Tom & not Tim. Must have been late at night! I'm disappointed with the response to date, but I'll 'flick on' to The Roar part two (71, 74, 77, 80, 83, 86) & part three (89, 93, 97, 2001, 05, 09) for your benefit at least. Cheers - Sheek
Jim Boyce
Guest
Sheek - Good summary. The 1966 Lions had problems with strife amongst the national groups. I saw them being beaten in Vancouver at the end of the tour.The management of the Lions is a lot more sensitive position than with other countries. It is important that you keep winning games. An important factor in all these tours was when neutral referees started to be introduced. The period 1950 - 1968 were definitely home referees and this was usually reflected in the penalty count. This was just different rule interpretations and a factor in NZ. By the way it was Tom Kiernan in the 1968 team.