What’s happening here?
It’s June 28, 1997 at sultry King’s Park Durban as the sun sets on yet another blisteringly hot day on the Lions tour. It’s the second Test and the turbo-charged Boks look ready to cause some serious damage. They are on a mission. The Lions are in for a long night but suddenly John Bentley – Bentos to one and all – lifts the mood a little as he chases a high kick and lands a thunderous tackle on Pieter Rossouw that left the Boks wing and the South African supporters reeling.
What’s the story behind the picture?
As ever the odds were stacked against the visitors as they took on the world champions but that is the big challenge for the Lions on tour and under Fran Cotton, Ian McGeehan and Jim Telfer they had acquitted themselves well in the opening games and selected their squad cleverly.
Included among the tour party were four recent returnees from Rugby League of whom John Bentley was the least heralded. He had won two England caps before turning professional and, although a very decent League pro with Leeds and Halifax and an England representative at the 1995 World Cup, he was not a huge star. He was though a ferociously hard-working, fit, focussed professional with a great line in banter who added to the team’s camaraderie wherever he went.
What happened next?
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 13, 2021 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 13, 2021 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
