I was at this game at Newlands , will never forget that Justin Swart try from James Small . I was 15yrs old at the time , the most skilled rugby side outside the All blacks I reckon .
Province had a great team in those days. Justin Swart, James Small, Percy Montgomery, Dirk Muir, Pieter Rossouw, Louis Koen, Corne Krige, Bobby Skinstad, Fritz van Heerden, Cobus Visagie, Christian Stewart, Toks van der Linde etc etc - yet Province lost to the British Lions and N.Transvaal beat the British?? Is it true that many provinces held back a number of Springbok players - the idea being to ambush the British Lions in the Bok tests with a better standard? If so, all the weakened provinces did was to enable the British to gel, practice moves, defence etc....and learn from all of their rugby league players. By the time they played the Boks, they were well drilled and very skilful (and our kickers couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo!).
the other main problem was administration, the political and back room situation at that stage was a shambles, going through a new coach every quarter. That, and pride... not willing to be a bit more respectful to the BI Lions (yes we had a better team, and scored more tries than them, but were tactically naive/stubborn)
