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.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
By my count, the Brumbies have played three teams of consequence this season. The first two - the Chiefs and Blues - thrashed them…
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan says it’s “purely coincidental” that Semipeni Finau has put on a massive, late hit on a fourth fly-half in nine…
He was born 1905, 1904 or 1908 according to various reports, in Wairoa, Hawkes Bay, and is remembered as one of the great Māori players.
I don’t really get the comparisons between Joey Manu and Sonny Bill Williams. I realise they have the Roosters in common, along with a…
All Blacks star Jordie Barrett has announced a sabbatical to play with Irish club Leinster at year's end, while committing his future to New…
There are those who will forever play the man - and not the ball - where TJ Perenara is concerned. The All Blacks and…
