The Results
The Lions convincingly won the first test at Newlands 25-16 with Neil Jenkins kicking five penalties and Matt Dawson and Alan Tait scoring tries. Despite scoring three tries in the second test at Durban, the Springboks suffered from some woeful goal kicking and failed to land any penalties or conversions, whilst for the Lions Neil Jenkins once again kicked 5 penalties to level the scores at 15-15 before Jerry Guscott dropped a goal for an 18-15 lead for the Lions. The Lions then held off a ferocious South African fightback, Lawrence Dallaglio putting in a magnificent try-saving tackle, to win the match 18-15 and take the series. The third test at Ellis Park proved a match too far for the Lions squad and they lost 35-16.
The tour was a triumph for the Lions management of Fran Cotton (Manager), Ian McGeechan (Head Coach), Jim Telfer (Assistant Coach) and especially the Captain Martin Johnson. It was the last occasion on which the Lions returned victorious from a tour as it was followed by defeats in Australia in 2001, New Zealand in 2005 and South Africa in 2009.
Read more about this topic: 1997 British Lions Tour To South Africa
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