Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Great moments in Lions tour history: When the All Blacks were so boring the locals supported the visitors

1959 All Blacks vs Lions

Jamie Wall takes us back to the upside-down world of 1959 when a freewheeling try-scoring Lions side met a conservative kick-happy All Blacks in Dunedin.

ADVERTISEMENT

There is an irony in the dour 2017 edition Lions being in Dunedin to play the Highlanders on Tuesday. Fresh from a bruising, unexpected but otherwise pretty boring win (depending on which part of the world you’re from) over the previously unbeaten Crusaders, they now find themselves in a city where the old reputation of the freewheeling, entertaining Lions was born.

It was the first test of the 1959 series that saw the tourists score twice as many tris as the 2017 side have managed on the whole tour so far. But they still didn’t win, despite the fact that the All Blacks didn’t manage to cross their line once.

The All Blacks got home off the boot of legendary fullback Don Clarke, who kicked six penalties for an 18-17 win – back in those day tries were only worth three points.

https://youtu.be/kalBoK-4U7M?t=5m26s

Another thing worth bearing in mind is that the referees back in those days weren’t brought in from overseas. The man in charge that day wasn’t just a kiwi though – Alan Fleury was a Dunedin local controlling a game in front of many people who knew him personally.

The four tries he awarded were highly entertaining. Welshman Malcolm Price bagged a double, Englishman Peter Jackson and Irishman Tony O’Reilly got one each.

It was all set up to be a triumph of running rugby over the dour, kick-happy game of the All Blacks. Except Clarke was nailing his shots from everywhere, most importantly the one that gave the All Blacks the lead with two minutes to go.

ADVERTISEMENT

It’s worth mentioning that the stats indicate that Fleury gave out a whopping 20 penalties to each side that day – half that number would be considered a whistle-happy performance in this day and age. It’s not his fault that the tourists couldn’t kick their goals.

However, it meant little to the Dunedin crowd. They turned on him and the All Blacks for what they perceived to be an unfair result. Legend has it they were chanting ‘red, red, red!’ as the clock ticked down and booed when Clarke’s winner went over.

[rugbypass-ad-banner id=”1473306980″]

Yes, that seems a little unbelievable given what rugby is like now. The All Blacks being so boring their own crowd wanted the other team to win? The British being the bastion of entertaining, enterprising rugby? A ref who could have probably walked back to his house after the game?

Saturday night’s result that saw the tourists grind down the Crusaders is probably proof enough that this year’s Lions aren’t going to flick a switch and try and emulate their 1959 counterparts. Especially considering Dunedin hasn’t been the most hospitable city results-wise for them – in addition to the test in 1959, the Lions were thrashed 26-8 by Otago in the midweek game.

ADVERTISEMENT

Since then they’ve lost twice more to the local side, including another hiding in 1993. However, they did claim a famous first test win at the old Carisbrook ground on the victorious 1971 tour.

There’s no test at the impressive new Forsyth Barr Stadium on this tour, much to the consternation of the locals. However the way the Lions are playing so far, it’s highly unlikely that if there was the crowd would be switching their allegiance during the game like their grandparents did back in 1959.

ADVERTISEMENT

HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Men's Highlights

HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Women's Highlights

Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

The Rise of Kenya | The Report

The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

t
tonirobinson362 2 hours ago
Ex-All Blacks left confused after bizarre game strategy

A few weeks ago, I came across a YouTube ad that stopped me in my tracks. It looked like a live broadcast of Elon Musk announcing Tesla’s “exclusive crypto project.” The production was flawless, professional, convincing, and eerily realistic. His voice, expressions, mannerisms everything matched what you’d expect from a real Tesla livestream.The ad promised massive returns if you “joined the project” by sending Bitcoin to a wallet address. I was skeptical at first, but the countdown timer, skyrocketing charts, and Elon’s confident pitch chipped away at my doubt. Eventually, I gave in. I sent $8,000 worth of BTC, thinking I was getting in early on a groundbreaking initiative.But just a few hours later, something didn’t sit right. I checked Tesla’s official channels. No mention of any crypto project. My stomach dropped.I rushed to a blockchain explorer and looked up the wallet address I’d sent the funds to. What I saw confirmed my worst fears: my BTC was being split and moved rapidly across multiple wallets in a process known as “smurfing,” a common money laundering technique. I had been scammed.In desperation, I searched for help and came acrossCHAINTRACE ASSET RECOVERYa blockchain forensics firm. Honestly, I didn’t expect much but I reached out anyway. To my surprise, they responded quickly and took my case seriously. Their team began tracking the funds in real time, tracing the flow of my BTC through a web of wallets.Incredibly, they managed to link the stolen funds to a wallet connected to an account on Finance, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges.They didn’t waste a second. Within 48 hours, CHAINTRACE ASSET RECOVERYhad coordinated with Binance’s security team, who were able to freeze the scammer’s account before the funds could be withdrawn or laundered further.A few days later, the impossible happened the full $8,000 was returned to me.Even now, I can hardly believe it. I went from being scammed by a deepfake crypto con to getting every dollar back, all thanks to the quick action and expertise of CHAINTRACE ASSET RECOVERY.If you’ve fallen victim to a crypto scam, don’t give up. Get help immediately. Time is critical, and with CHAINTRACE ASSET RECOVERY,recovery is possible.  

WHATSAPP : ‪‪+1 (581) 256‑1989‬‬

TELEGRAM : ‪https://t.me/CHAINTRACE_ASSET_RECOVERY‬ WEBSITE ‪https://chaintraceassetrecovery.com

5 Go to comments
K
Katy Martin 6 hours ago
Glasgow's honest take on Sam Prendergast: 'I think they make it easy for him'

As a truck driver who spends long hours on the road, I understand the value of hard work. My job demands long shifts, constant focus, and time away from loved ones. To make extra income during my limited downtime, I started mining cryptocurrency. After months of dedication, I finally saved enough to buy BITCOIN through P2P on Binance. It felt like a major milestone. I was proud of what I had built, turning my effort into BITCOIN, an asset I believed in. That pride quickly turned into heartbreak. Someone I trusted scammed me out of $85,000 worth of BITCOIN in a single transaction. I was crushed. I had sacrificed sleep, missed out on time with friends and family, and worked relentlessly, only to have everything taken from me in seconds. The emotional and financial blow was devastating. Still, I was not ready to give up. I started researching ways to recover stolen BITCOIN and came across TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY. I saw countless testimonials from people who had lost cryptocurrency and managed to recover it with their help. Desperate but hopeful, I reached out and shared my story. To my complete shock, TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY managed to trace and recover my stolen BITCOIN within just 21 hours. The funds were safely returned to my wallet. I cannot describe the relief I felt. Months of hard work were not wasted after all. My belief in BITCOIN as a store of value had been shaken, but thanks to TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY, I got a second chance. Even more incredible, their team helped law enforcement track down the scammer responsible. That person was arrested, and justice was served. I could finally breathe again, knowing that the person who took advantage of my trust was held accountable. If you have lost BITCOIN or other crypto to a scam, whether through fake investments, phishing schemes, or fraudulent platforms, do not lose hope. TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY specializes in recovering stolen BITCOIN and other digital assets, even from apps like Binance, Cash App, or Coinbase. Their team is fast, trustworthy, and truly committed to helping victims like me. Losing BITCOIN you worked hard for is painful, but recovery is possible. Reach out to TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY today and take back control of your financial future. CONSUL THEM wa.me/15617263697

2 Go to comments
t
tonirobinson362 6 hours ago
‘Redefine the future’: India unveils revolutionary Rugby Premier League

A few weeks ago, I came across a YouTube ad that stopped me in my tracks. It looked like a live broadcast of Elon Musk announcing Tesla’s “exclusive crypto project.” The production was flawless, professional, convincing, and eerily realistic. His voice, expressions, mannerisms everything matched what you’d expect from a real Tesla livestream.The ad promised massive returns if you “joined the project” by sending Bitcoin to a wallet address. I was skeptical at first, but the countdown timer, skyrocketing charts, and Elon’s confident pitch chipped away at my doubt. Eventually, I gave in. I sent $8,000 worth of BTC, thinking I was getting in early on a groundbreaking initiative.But just a few hours later, something didn’t sit right. I checked Tesla’s official channels. No mention of any crypto project. My stomach dropped.I rushed to a blockchain explorer and looked up the wallet address I’d sent the funds to. What I saw confirmed my worst fears: my BTC was being split and moved rapidly across multiple wallets in a process known as “smurfing,” a common money laundering technique. I had been scammed.In desperation, I searched for help and came acrossCHAINTRACE ASSET RECOVERYa blockchain forensics firm. Honestly, I didn’t expect much but I reached out anyway. To my surprise, they responded quickly and took my case seriously. Their team began tracking the funds in real time, tracing the flow of my BTC through a web of wallets.Incredibly, they managed to link the stolen funds to a wallet connected to an account on Finance, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges.They didn’t waste a second. Within 48 hours, CHAINTRACE ASSET RECOVERYhad coordinated with Binance’s security team, who were able to freeze the scammer’s account before the funds could be withdrawn or laundered further.A few days later, the impossible happened the full $8,000 was returned to me.Even now, I can hardly believe it. I went from being scammed by a deepfake crypto con to getting every dollar back, all thanks to the quick action and expertise of CHAINTRACE ASSET RECOVERY.If you’ve fallen victim to a crypto scam, don’t give up. Get help immediately. Time is critical, and with CHAINTRACE ASSET RECOVERY,recovery is possible.  

WHATSAPP : ‪‪+1 (581) 256‑1989‬‬

TELEGRAM : ‪https://t.me/CHAINTRACE_ASSET_RECOVERY‬ WEBSITE ‪https://chaintraceassetrecovery.com

1 Go to comments
K
Katy Martin 6 hours ago
English rugby's longest-serving ‘one club man’ prepares to bow out

As a truck driver who spends long hours on the road, I understand the value of hard work. My job demands long shifts, constant focus, and time away from loved ones. To make extra income during my limited downtime, I started mining cryptocurrency. After months of dedication, I finally saved enough to buy BITCOIN through P2P on Binance. It felt like a major milestone. I was proud of what I had built, turning my effort into BITCOIN, an asset I believed in. That pride quickly turned into heartbreak. Someone I trusted scammed me out of $85,000 worth of BITCOIN in a single transaction. I was crushed. I had sacrificed sleep, missed out on time with friends and family, and worked relentlessly, only to have everything taken from me in seconds. The emotional and financial blow was devastating. Still, I was not ready to give up. I started researching ways to recover stolen BITCOIN and came across TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY. I saw countless testimonials from people who had lost cryptocurrency and managed to recover it with their help. Desperate but hopeful, I reached out and shared my story. To my complete shock, TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY managed to trace and recover my stolen BITCOIN within just 21 hours. The funds were safely returned to my wallet. I cannot describe the relief I felt. Months of hard work were not wasted after all. My belief in BITCOIN as a store of value had been shaken, but thanks to TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY, I got a second chance. Even more incredible, their team helped law enforcement track down the scammer responsible. That person was arrested, and justice was served. I could finally breathe again, knowing that the person who took advantage of my trust was held accountable. If you have lost BITCOIN or other crypto to a scam, whether through fake investments, phishing schemes, or fraudulent platforms, do not lose hope. TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY specializes in recovering stolen BITCOIN and other digital assets, even from apps like Binance, Cash App, or Coinbase. Their team is fast, trustworthy, and truly committed to helping victims like me. Losing BITCOIN you worked hard for is painful, but recovery is possible. Reach out to TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY today and take back control of your financial future. CONSUL THEM wa.me/15617263697

0 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Can Rugby Australia afford to go ‘all in’ on the Queensland Reds? Can Rugby Australia afford to go ‘all in’ on the Queensland Reds?
Search