France's Mathieu Bastareaud admits to lying about an alleged assault whilst on tour in New Zealand © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Players/Officials: Mathieu Bastareaud | Andy Irvine | Cherry Pillman | Hennie van Zyl

Teams: British and Irish Lions | Canterbury | England | France | New Zealand | South Africa | Wellington

2009
France centre Mathieu Bastareaud admitted that he lied over his alleged "assault" while on tour in New Zealand with the national side. Bastareaud returned to France after receiving facial injuries, which the player said were caused by an assault involving up to five men following France's narrow defeat to the All Blacks in the second Test in Wellington.

But Bastareaud later revealed that his injuries were caused by a fall in his hotel room stemming from having had too much to drink. Bastareaud released a statement through his club, Stade Francais, admitting his fabrication after CCTV footage reportedly surfaced showing him entering his hotel uninjured in the early hours of Sunday morning. "I want to go back on the incidents that occurred in New Zealand," his statement read. "I need to tell the truth to everyone. The claims forced a police investigation and a public apology from New Zealand Prime Minister John Key. Bastareaud was reportedly hospitalised with severe psychological problems on his return home and allegedly tried to commit suicide. A French Rugby Federation (FFR) disciplinary hearing later ruled that he must complete 18 activities to benefit amateur rugby by 2010 or face a three-month suspension from playing.

1960
New Zealand failed to register a point in a Test for the first time for more than six years when they lost 13-0 to South Africa at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, in the opening Test of their four-match series. Hennie van Zyl scored two tries for the Springboks.

New Zealand levelled the series with an 11-3 victory in the second Test in Cape Town before both sides battled to an 11-11 draw in the next game in Bloemfontein. The hosts wrapped up the series with a narrow 8-3 victory in the decider in Port Elizabeth.

1977
The Lions won a cliff-hanger 14-13 against Canterbury thanks to a late penalty kicked from in-front of the posts by Andy Irvine.

The 1971 captain John Dawes was chosen as coach for the 1977 trip to New Zealand, and to captain his team he chose fellow Welshman Phil Bennett. The Lions were looking for a third consecutive series victory following their success in New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa in 1974 but eventually went down 3-1 to the hosts.

1910
England's Cherry Pillman, the star of the 1910 Lions in South Africa, single-handedly won the game against Western Province converting his own try in a 5-3 victory over the Currie Cup holders.

1921
Attie van Heerden crossed for five tries and centre Charlie Meyer scored two in the Springboks first official match on tour in Australia.

Slip Carr registered the home side's only try as the South Africans won 25-10 against the Waratahs in a match that subsequently was raised to Test status by the Australian Rugby Union. (It is not, however, regarded as a Test by the South Africans.)

1938
Gerry Brand's goal-kicking gave Western Province the upper-hand in their 21-11 win against the Lions in Cape Town.

1955
Welsh wing Haydn Morris sprinted away for a hat-trick of tries in the Lions 24-14 win against Griqualand West.

1966
The Lions crashed to their third provincial defeat of their tour in New Zealand when Wellington overwhelmed the visitors 20-6 at Athletic Park.