Why aren't you? I am and I'm a Bok. They have produced some of the most exciting players. A nation of 3 million. Modern day, little Shane Williams was phenomenal. Are you a bitter Englishman? 😉 👍
To see these guys play was poetry in motion and never mind apartheid tours they were just great. I am 71 years old and saw two matches they played and followed the other matches on radio but will never forget this lion side they were just brilliant.
The Greatest Team ever to tour South Africa. The '74 British and Irish Lions side had no weaknesses. Lets not forget the 'Dirttrackers', great players who could not make the Test side...Andy Ripley, Alan Morley, Alan Old, Tony Neary, Mike Burton, members of the England side that beat the Springboks in 1972. Stuart McKinney, a flanker from Ireland kicked a penalty goal against Free State which kept their unbeaten record intact. Still can't work out why John Pullen and David Duckham were not selected....Garry from South Africa.
I was there at Ellis Park for the final 13all test. I was eighteen and on a mining course in Evander, Eastern Transvaal having emigrated from UK. No tv in SA in 1974. They used to bring reel-to-reel film out to the mine. I travelled up to Joburg to be with a couple of my British mates for the match day and to listen to it on the radio. I went for a walk and a car stopped next to me. "Soek jy kaarjkies?". Too right I was look for a ticket. I bought it face value and ran to the stadium. The rest is history .
I remember witnessing the Lions' absolute genius in the 2nd test at Loftus. My dad and I walked to our car utterly dejected, but in awe. The 4th test result? Lions should not complain. Roger Utley's try in the 1st half should not have been awarded anyhow. Chris Pope touched down before him. Pictures showed that clearly.
at 5:14 two knees go right into the face of JPR, such a cowardly thing to do and you can tell why they did it as none of them had any way of dealing with him, best fullback of all time and makes me proud to come from Bridgend
JPR Williams was one of the biggest backs of his era. He was 6'1" and weighed over 14 stone i.e. close to 90kg. This was at a time when the average weight of a back would have been about 80kg at most. So he was a big man for the time. Funny I read a similar comment recently in I think "The Times" where they talked about "the scrawny backs of the past like JPR Williams" - not the case he was a big man which no doubt helped him when he played on one occasion as a flanker for Wales.
great footage, I was just a year old in 1974, but even here in NZ, growing up I remember the name JPR Williams. Finally I get to see him play! Thanks for uploading!
For sure! The 3rd Test in PE where the Lions clinched the Test series was my first Test as a schoolboy, was awesome. Willie John and Fergus Slattery visited my school , De La Salle College in East London.
JPR. To be known world-wide by only your initials means you were a bit special. Plus it's great to see Gordon Brown in some clips. A very underrated player these days.
+Johnmac I always thought it was to distinguish him from JJ Williams - but I know what you mean - mention the inital JPR to any rugby fan... Agree with you about Gordon Brown. How special was Phil Bennett too - I never got to see Barry John play - so I can't make a comparison - but I don't think I've seen a better fly half than Bennett.
PopeGregoryIX By his own admission, fear of being tackled by an 18 stone+ forward is what made Phil Bennett such a great side-stepper. And I, for one, don't blame him! Haha!
Gareth Edwards, Phil Bennett, JJ, and JPR. A quartet of a Welsh Wizards, they tormented England, but I still could not help being in awe of their brilliance.
Hi Johnmac... JPR and HO. Gordon Brown, a Legend and a Gentleman...Rest in Peace, Gordon Brown. You can Google the story on Gordon Brown and Springbok lock, Johan De Bruyn, who had a glass eye. Greetings from Johannesburg.
@@catholicrugbyfan1635 Gordon was my coach for a while. when I was a schoolboy. He paired up with me for tackling practice and seemed to be impressed. then he told me to tackled him properly and several of my bones sprung awry. He was devastated and took me to the hospital and stayed with me. after phoning my parents. It was only a sprung collar bone but the man was, and remains a great hero of mine. Funny, a gentleman and a very good player.
@Mebrice Depace That's right and he was afraid of nothing or anybody. Strong as an ox and would yield to nobody. I was a kid growing up in his era and his name was legend.
JPR's drop goal in the 4th Test clinched the first ever Test series win for the Lions against NZ in 1971. I saw him in PE in 1974, in the 3rd Test against the Springboks. A true Legend.
JJ Williams was a former sprinter for Wales and during training Slattery used to race him and sometimes won. He was the only player in the side that got close to him
And the rest is history - well that try was disallowed - was it a try? - I believe there are only two people left in the world who know the answer - one is Springbok center Peter Cronje and the other Lion flanker Fergus Slattery
The best 15 of all times! Rugby total à la French flair! ;) Quand on les regarde jouer, c'est les français d'aujourd'hui... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DRV7oViOLsA.html
Shame on that tour and those who venerate the participants. Those who declined to go deserve infinitely more kudos than those who chose to legitimise one of the most revolting regimes in human history.
I hear what you're saying Alex and by today's standards what you say is undoubtedly true. However, we were a long way from that place in 1974. There was certainly no excuse for the English cricketers 7 years later - That was blood money. I think many people were just not so switched on in the early 70's. That's bad but it's just how it was. The anti-apartheid movement changed gear in the late 70's and the excuse that "sport and politics shouldn't mix" seemed intellectually ridiculous or embarrassingly naive. We are very much more aware of the international world than people were then. We can agree that the South African regime was revolting and a stain on humanity. Cheers. WT
