All Blacks close in on series triumph
Lions skipper Phil Bennett was unable to inspire the tourists to victory on this day in 1977
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1977
Phil Bennett's Lions are beaten 19-7 by the All Blacks in their third Test in Dunedin. Tries from Andy Haden and Ian Kirpatrick and eight points from the boot of Bevan Wilson propelled the hosts to victory to ensure they could not lost the Test series.
John Dawes, the captain of the victorious 1971 tour of New Zealand, was the Lions' coach while Wales fly-half Bennett led the side in their bid secure a third consecutive series victory following the 1971 triumph and the undefeated tour of South Africa in 1974.
New Zealand had taken control of the series with a 16-12 victory in Wellington but the Lions bounced back with a 13-9 win in Christchurch. The All Blacks went on to clinch the series 3-1 with a 10-9 victory in their final clash in Auckland.
1891
South Africa debut made their Test debut against the touring Lions - also playing their first-ever Test match in Port Elizabeth. The Lions won the match 4-0 thanks to tries from Randolph Aston and Tom Whittaker and a conversion from Arthur Rotherham.
1904
The Lions wrapped up their Test series against Australia with a third successive win. Tries by Blair Swannell and the Welsh threequarters Teddy Morgan, Rhys Gabe and Willie Llewellyn inspired a 16-0 victory in Sydney. The Lions had taken control of the series with a 17-0 win in the first Test in Sydney and a 17-3 success a week later in Brisbane.
1896
Port Elizabeth was again the scene for the opening Test of a Lions - South Africa series. Irish forward Tommy Crean led the tourists to an 8-0 victory on the Crusader Ground. Tries from Irishman Lawrence Bulger and Englishman Walter Carey and a conversion from Fred Byrne carried the tourists to victory.
1966
In one of the best performances of their tour of New Zealand, the Lions beat Auckland 12-6. Welshman Dai Watkins played a captain's role by dropping two neat goals.
1921
The Springboks suffered their first defeat on New Zealand soil. The South Africans were beaten 6-4 by Canterbury at Lancaster Park in Christchurch.
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