The Lions are no strangers to playing in crimson-stained straitjackets rather than red jerseys: way back in 1968, they managed only a single try across four meetings with the Springboks, scored in Pretoria by none other than Willie John McBride at his…er… exhilarating, devil-may-care best.
If we’re being generous to the point of absurdity, we can at least celebrate the latest tourists’ doubling of that miserable tally.
It is also the case that they emerged from this most blighted of adventures in far better shape than the 1974 Boks, who also found themselves stuck on the most singular of single figures – a try by the centre Peter Cronje in the final, drawn Test in Johannesburg – and in so doing, staked an irrefutable claim to the title of “worst South African team in history”: an outfit almost as pointless in the literal sense as they had been in the metaphorical one.
But it is rare indeed to witness two sides suffering from collective agoraphobia at the same time and stifling each other into submission with equally conservative brands of riskfree anti-rugby. Sadly, this was the fare on offer over the last three weekends and unsurprisingly, it resulted in the lowest try-count of any Lions series since the first official venture way back when in 1910.
Denne historien er fra August 15, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 15, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
England show who's No.1
ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.
Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
ENGLAND women opened the Allianz Stadium era at HQ with a victory over New Zealand to make it 17 wins on the bounce before their WXV title defence.
Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
HONEYMOON periods are not set in stone and in my estimation Steve Borthwick’s ends this summer. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still in good shape.
Barrington ready to power up the Mob
RICHARD Barrington has signed up to the Ampthill “Mob” reassured that he’ll still have a target on his back most weeks.
Skivington keen to build identity
GLOUCESTER won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on holiday the day after the campaign ended the words in his head were never again.
Roebuck targets England success
WINNING a maiden England Test cap to top the best season of his career will not be enough for Sale winger Tom Roebuck.
Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.