Rugby: Top 10 Lions' memories

Ken Jones sprints to the line at Eden Park in 1950. Photo / NZ Herald File

As Ian McGeechan's Lions prepare to face the Springboks on Sunday morning, David Leggat recalls some of the touring sides' greatest moments.

1 All Blacks 11 Lions 8, Eden Park, July 29, 1950

Okay, it wasn't a famous Lions win, but it did produce a moment to remember. The All Blacks had wrapped up the series four weeks earlier and at 11-3 up before a 58,000 crowd, it seemed the tour would end without a test win.

Then Lewis Jones - later a Great Britain league captain - made a break from his goal-line, and at halfway released the Olympic and Empire Games' sprinter Ken Jones.

From there, pursued by three All Blacks he dashed away to score a thrilling try, the crowd roaring him on. Twice in the dying moments the Lions could have scored again, but a magic memory, rather than a test victory, would be the Lions' lot that day.

2 Lions 23 South Africa 22, Johannesburg, August 10, 1955

The Lions had rattled up 55 tries in 12 games going into the first test and 95,000 packed Ellis Park. The Boks were 11-8 up at the break, but down to 14 men soon after the restart.

Then brilliant Welsh No 10 Cliff Morgan scored a famous solo try, hurtling around the defence. He steered the Lions to a 23-11 lead, but with the last kick of the game, fullback Jack van der Schyff could have won the test for South Africa.

His sideline shot swung across the posts. Van der Schyff never played for his country again.

Celebrated Lions and Ireland wing Tony O'Reilly, asked what was in his mind as van der Schyff lined up the kick, replied: "I was in direct communication with the Vatican."

3 All Blacks 18 Lions 17, Carisbrook, July 18, 1959

A black day for rugby, or as the Herald's headline put it: "Saddest victory for NZ rugby." The Lions had a superb set of backs - wings O'Reilly and Peter Jackson got 16 tries apiece - and the tour produced 113 tries in 25 games.

At Carisbrook, they ran in four, but the All Blacks kept getting penalties from Otago referee Alan Fleury, and Don "The Boot" Clarke kept kicking them between the posts. His sixth and last of 10 shots was two minutes from the end. It ensured a desperately hollow win, from 17-9 down. Wrote 1938 Lion Vivian Jenkins in the Sunday Times, "we wuz robbed". Few were arguing with that.

4 Lions 9 All Blacks 6, Eden Park, September 19, 1959

Reward came in the fourth test, the clean sweep being averted in spectacular fashion. Even the diehard All Black fans didn't begrudge the Lions their afternoon delight.

They packed out the park with 60,000, a show of this Lions' team's appeal at the end of a grey era. Their reward was a three tries to two penalty win, which told its own story for the second time in the series.

Jackson's fine first-half try was followed after the break by O'Reilly darting across on the blind side before the coup de grace. First five-eighth Bev Risman - later a league star, captaining Britain - ran around to the short side against the traffic, beat three cover defenders to dive across near the corner for a dazzling try.

Clarke could have spoiled it with a handy penalty just before the end. Justice prevailed.

5 Lions 13 All Blacks 3, Athletic Park, July 31, 1971

The Lions killed the contest inside the first 20 minutes through three brilliant Welshmen.

Barry John drop kicked a goal; Gareth Edwards ran the short side to allow wing Gerald Davies to squeeze in at the right-hand corner; and when Edwards fended off Bob Burgess to set up John to score by the posts, it was 13-0 after just 17 minutes.

The All Blacks never caught up, their only response a try for fullback Laurie Mains. At 2-1 up the series could not be lost.

Former captain Brian Lochore, playing club rugby, was called up the day before to fill an injury gap at lock. He left the celebrated "Gone to Wellington. Playing test tomorrow" on the kitchen table for his wife Pam. Those were the days.

6 All Blacks 14 Lions 14, Eden Park, August 14, 1971

Lions manager Doug Smith predicted a 2-1 series win, with one drawn before the tour began. It was a cute line, which came true. Things were testy early on but it was all square at halftime, 8-all, and 11-all early in the second half.

Then Lions fullback JPR Williams let fly with a dropped goal from just inside the All Blacks half and it sailed between the sticks. The 3-1 win was denied by a Mains penalty eight minutes from the end. It was the first Lions series win in New Zealand, achieved under a gifted coach, Welshman Carwyn James.

It was one of the great Lions accomplishments, only one game out of 24 being lost.

7 Lions 26 South Africa 9, Port Elizabeth, July 13, 1974

Down 2-nil, the Springboks decided to rough things up, from which sprang the infamous "99" call by the Lions, leading to brawling during the match, which will forever be known as the "Battle of Boet Erasmus".

The hosts, in a panic, handed out new caps to six players, chose a No 8 as halfback and got dusted. Welsh wing J. J. Williams scored twice, lock Gordon Brown once, and Andy Irvine and Phil Bennett kicked the goals for a series-clinching victory.

There's a strong case for this being the greatest of all Lions tours - played 22, won 21, drew the last test 13-all, when a last-moment try by flanker Fergus Slattery was ruled out.

8 Lions 19 Australia 18, Sydney, July 15, 1989

The series was all square, the Lions having drawn level in the second test at Brisbane, a game notable for ugly punchups. It was tight, 9-all at halftime, before David Campese's biggest blunder in a Wallaby jersey.

Never one to die wondering, the mercurial winger attempted to run the ball out from behind the Australian line.

However he threw a wonky pass to fullback Greg Martin. Welsh wing Ieuan Evans pounced and the Lions had a one-point lead.

Gavin Hastings' fourth and fifth penalties had the tourists 19-12 up and, although Michael Lynagh nailed a couple of late penalties, the Lions hung on for the series victory.

9 Lions 18 South Africa 15, Durban, June 28, 1997

The first test had surprisingly been won and it was 15-all in the dying minutes of the second when the ball reached centre Jeremy Guscott. He calmly drop-kicked the goal to clinch the series.

The Lions had played Welsh first five-eighth Neil Jenkins at fullback to ensure a reliable kicking presence. He got five penalties that day. The Boks scored three tries but couldn't hit the side of a barn.

Said Guscott of his historic moment: "If you'd seen me spraying drop kicks all over the pitch in training during the previous week - off the outside of my foot, off the inside of my foot, off the end of my toes - you would have bet as much money on me putting it over as you would on a one-legged man in a backside-kicking competition."

10 Lions 29 Australia 13, Brisbane, June 30, 2001

There was plenty of off-field argy-bargy between the coach and players on this tour of Australia. But the first test didn't unfold as the hosts anticipated.

Put that down in substantial part to events in the third minute. Jinky Jason Robinson, aka Billy Whizz, was a former British league winger. By and large they steer clear of the touchline.

But when Robinson was offered the outside channel by Wallaby fullback Chris Latham, he took it, speeding around Latham for a stunning opening try. Suitably inspired, three more Lions tries followed.

The Aussies were demolished. The Wallabies won the series, but for the thousands who made the trek, bypassing Wimbledon and the Ashes, this night was rugby heaven.