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Originally, poorly organised Lions teams received regular thrashings by their hosts, but by 1955 the tourists were taking the matches seriously enough to obtain a 2-2 draw in South Africa. If the 1960s were forgettable for the Lions, the 1970s saw a renaissance. The 1971 team, centred around the great Welsh half-back pairing of Gareth Edwards and Barry John, secured a series win over the All Blacks.

Perhaps the best known, and undoubtedly the most successful, Lions team was that which toured South Africa in 1974 under the great Irish forward Willie John McBrideWillie John McBride MBE is an Irish rugby player. He was born in Toombridge county Antrim on Thursday June 6 1940 and was educated at Ballymena Academy, Northern Ireland. His international rugby union debut was on Saturday February 10 1962 against England, which went 21 games unbeaten and triumphed 3-0. The test series was beset by violence. The management of the Lions concluded that the Springboks dominated their opponents with physical aggression. At that time, in test matches the referee was from the home nation, there were only substitutions if a doctor agreed that a player was physically unable to continue and there were no video cameras and sideline officials to keep the punching, kicking, and head-butting to a minimum. The Lions decided "to get their retaliation in first" with the infamous 99 call. The idea was that a South African referee could hardly send off all the Lions if they all retaliated against "blatant thuggery". At the battle of Boet Erasmus Stadium, one of the most violent in rugby history, there is classic video footage of (Mr(Dr)) JPR WilliamsJohn Peter Rhys Williams born 1949- 03-02 in Cardiff, and known universally as JPR Williams played rugby for Wales between 1969 and 1981. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest full-backs of all time. Williams' devastating tackling and fiercen running over half the pitch and launching himself at van Heerden after such a call.

Other tours include Test series wins over AustraliaAustralia is the sixth-largest country in the world (geographically), the only one to occupy an entire continent, and the largest in the region of Australasia. Australia includes the island of Tasmania, which is an Australian State. Its neighbouring count in 19891989 is a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). Events January January 7 Akihito becomes Emperor of Japan following the death of Hirohito. The Heisei period begins January 8 the Kegworth Air Disaster A British Midland Boeing 737 cra and South Africa in 19971997 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Reef''. Events January January 3 NBC's Today Show Bryant Gumbel signs off for the last time January 8 Mister Rogers receives a star on t, and defeats by New Zealand in 1977For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). Events January 1 First woman Episcopal priest ordained January 6 EMI sacks the Sex Pistols January 18 Scientists identify a previously unknown bacterium as the cause of the mysterious " legionnaire's disease" Januar and 1983Events January January 1 Beat Raaflaub became Basel Boys Choir's new conductor January 1 the ARPANET officially changes to use the Internet Protocol, creating the Internet. January 1 compulsory wearing of seat belts becomes law in the UK. January 2 The mu, South Africa in 1986, and Australia in 2001.