As the excitement levels crank up to fever pitch approaching Saturday’s first Test of the series against Australia, RugbyPass is counting down some of the most iconic moments in Lions history.
With due deference to the legendary teams of previous generations, we have restricted ourselves to the seven tours of the professional era since 1997.
Our panel of RugbyPass writers – featuring contributions from Bryn Palmer, Jamie Lyall, Neil Squires, Owain Jones and Pat McCarry – are jogging your memories with five moments on each day this week, before Andy Farrell’s men perhaps burnish these standout snapshots with some of their own.
Again, do let us know your thoughts on our selection, politely of course, and feel free to suggest other moments of your own.
20. Justin Harrison nicks late lineout to deny Lions in series decider in 2001
‘Lions, Lionnnssss, LIONNNNSSSSS’
The chant rang out across the Sydney Olympic Stadium as the Lions, trailing by six, made their way deep into the Wallabies 22. An attacking lineout, 10 metres out. Keith Wood had Danny Grewcock and Martin Corry as potential targets, but his captain, Martin Johnson, gave the signal.
The injured Stephen Larkham saw Johnson bounding to the front of the lineout. From the sidelines, he bellowed at Justin Harrison, ‘Get up, get up, get up!’. If in doubt, Johnson was calling the lineouts on himself. “It was a pretty obvious tell,” Larkham recalled.
Even Miles Harrison, on commentary duty for Sky Sports, called it. “Wood to Johnson,” he declared, as both sets of forwards lined up. Sitting alongside him, Stuart Barnes ladled on the significance – “This is their moment.”
Harrison had caused the Lions problems at the lineout all night. Christened ‘The Plank’ by Austin Healey after an incident in the final midweek game against ACT, the Brumbies lock spied Johnson setting Darren Morris and Phil Vickery for the lift. On his Test debut, that night, Harrison told himself, ‘Right, I’m going to have a go for it.’
Johnson beat him to the jump by a split second but, while he was up first, Harrison had the momentum. He came down under a clatter of bodies, but with the ball. (PM)
19. Taulupe Faletau puts Lions on path to first Test win in NZ for 24 years (2017)
Sonny Bill Williams became the first All Black to be sent off on New Zealand soil in the 25th minute of the Second Test, but it should not detract from a tub-thumping Lions win which levelled the Series.
With the Lions trailing 18-9 in a rain-drenched Wellington, the numbers had been matched up for 10 minutes after a Mako Vunipola yellow card, but a lightning break down the right-hand touchline from Anthony Watson gave the Lions precious field position.
The Lions were able to move the ball 40m right to left, through Johnny Sexton, Owen Farrell and Liam Williams, before the ball found Taulupe Faletau, 15 metres out, patrolling the tramlines.
With a quick scan, he used his exemplary footwork to drive towards Israel Dagg before dropping his shoulder to bounce off the full-back and propel himself over the wet turf towards the try line with inches to spare. Crossing the line, the No 8 was first grabbed by captain Sam Warburton, before being drowned by Lions shirts.
The Lions were back in it, and a sublime Conor Murray try pulled them level with 12 minutes to go before Owen Farrell sealed the win with a 69th minute penalty. To cries of ‘Oh Maro Itoje’, the Lions marched on to Auckland for the decider with renewed vim and vigour. (OJ)
You can watch the full match replay of the Second Test in New Zealand on RugbyPass TV.
18. Captain O’Driscoll spear-tackled out of first Test by All Blacks duo (2005)
A dark and disastrous moment. Brian O’Driscoll was the shining light of a Lions team that looked mighty strong, on paper. Clive Woodward selected a host of England stars he won the 2003 World Cup with, then sprinkled in exciting talents from Wales and Ireland, with some token Scots.
By the time the First Test was over, the Lions had lost Phil Vickery, Mike Tindall, Iain Balshaw, Malcolm O’Kelly, Simon Taylor, Danny Grewcock, Tom Shanklin, Lawrence Dallaglio, Richard Hill and their captain, O’Driscoll.
The Ireland talisman had been in fantastic form heading into the tour, and fans were excited to see him team up with centre partner Jonny Wilkinson, with Stephen Jones at 10. That combination lasted all of 46 seconds as O’Driscoll’s tour ended in an agonised heap.
Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu’s eyes lit up as O’Driscoll went in for a second nibble at the breakdown, after Leon MacDonald had been tackled. Their intent was to deliver a resounding message to the Lions captain.
Umaga and Mealamu lifted a leg apiece, up-ended O’Driscoll and unceremoniously speared him into the Lancaster Park turf. Being charitable, they surely never meant to dislocate his shoulder and end his tour. That’s how it played out, though, and the All Blacks showed no mercy. (PM)
You can watch O’Driscoll discussing the incident among the top 10 moments of the 2005 tour on RugbyPass TV.
17. Last address brings the ‘Lion King’ to tears before final Test in 2009
Ian McGeechan knew these were his final days inside the institution which defines his legacy. The Lions’ credibility lay in tatters after the 2005 farce in New Zealand. McGeechan would ensure, even though his tourists lost a brutal, at times vicious, Series against the Boks, their reputation burned brightly once more.
Before the third Test, with the Lions facing an unassailable 2-0 deficit, he gave his last pre-match address.
“They say we’ve got nothing to play for. I think we’ve got everything to play for, because today will determine what we are. We can make sure, when people think about the Lions, they think good. Some of you might be there to pick up the next jersey in four years. Some of us won’t be. Please, please, give them something to play for and understand.”
When the last player left the room, McGeechan broke down, overcome with emotion, and sobbed as Graham Rowntree took him in a fraternal embrace. It’s an astonishingly powerful piece of footage.
The tourists had lost the first and second Tests by a combined eight points. They battered South Africa 28-9 in the third. The Lion King bowed out, not victorious in the series, but triumphant in many other ways. (JL)
You can watch McGeechan’s speech among the top 10 moments of the 2009 tour on RugbyPass TV.
16. Alex Cuthbert carves up the Wallabies in Lions’ first Test win in 2013
The first Test in Australia a dozen years ago is often remembered as the tale of two giants: the Welsh behemoth, George North, and Australia’s shiny new cross-code convert, Israel Folau. Each made an indelible mark with their magical tries the prelude to North’s fireman’s carry number a week later.
Another towering Red Dragon had his say at Suncorp, however. Alex Cuthbert, 6ft 6ins and well over 100kg, carved a devastating gash through the home midfield, blasting his way to the try line and a two-score lead the Lions never relinquished.
From a set-play on second phase, Cuthbert tore off his wing, took Johnny Sexton’s pass, and evaded four tacklers on his slaloming, 30m dash. The lurking great Brian O’Driscoll opened a gap for Cuthbert, who dismissed Wallaby after Wallaby on his surge through the home 22.
O’Driscoll’s nudging of O’Connor, one of those whose despairing lunge did little to stall Cuthbert, was reviewed by the officials. Chris Pollock awarded the try. Another referee might have seen things differently, particularly now, when such scrutiny is applied and online debate is ferocious.
Pollock raised his arm, though, and Cuthbert’s effort was voted sixth in the Lions’ list of top tries of the 2000s. (JL)
You can watch the best Lions tries of the 2000s on RugbyPass TV.
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Vickery and Tindall never toured in 2005 due to club injuries. They were only ever announced as ‘to be added’ if they regained fitness. To add them to the list of injuries post the first test really suggests they were injured during it, which is very incorrect.
Only Richard Hill, Grewcock and O Driscoll were injured during the first test itself. Only 7 touring players had to be replaced which is actually pretty good going injury wise.