"Iconic Moments" - The British & Irish Lions' Record in 1st Tests in the Professional Era

Monday, 14 July 2025 at 15:16

byTom Sansom

The long wait comes to an end this Saturday, as the British & Irish Lions prepare for the first Test of a three match series against Australia. Andy Farrell's tourists remain unbeaten in the land down under, with their recent win over the Australia & New Zealand Invitational XV marking their fifth straight triumph upon Aussie soil.

The 48-0 landslide witnessed the Lions at their most formidable, against an invitational XV of decorated Test match players and emerging future Wallabies and All Blacks. The men in red got the job done, with all eyes now turning to Brisbane, for the first of three Test matches against Joe Schmidt's side.

The Lions return to Suncorp Stadium this Saturday, in the hopes that they re-capture that winning feeling they experienced against the Queensland Reds in the very same stadium earlier in the tour. The first Test is always a statement of intent, with both the tourists and hosts laying down a marker for the all-important advantage.

Since rugby union turned professional back in 1995, the British & Irish Lions have completed seven Test series, with a mixed bag of results against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In this article, we will revisit the 1st test from each of the last seven tours, to see whether history favours the Lions or their upcoming hosts of the Wallabies, ahead of the clash that will kick-start the series.

1997 British & Lions Tour of South Africa

South Africa 16 - 25 British & Irish Lions

June 21st 1997, Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

In 1997, at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town, the British & Irish Lions stunned the reigning world champions South Africa 25–16 in the First Test, in what was a watershed moment in rugby history. Under the strategic leadership of coach Sir Ian McGeechan and captain Martin Johnson, the Lions executed a perfect blend of physicality and precision to overcome the iconic green and gold of South Africa.

The hosts struck first with a try from Os du Randt, and Percy Montgomery booted a penalty to lead 16–12 at halftime. Neil Jenkins had kept the visitors within range through clinical goal-kicking, with the Lions still in touching distance of Springboks ahead of the second half.

The pivotal moment came in the 73rd minute, as Matt Dawson produced a legendary blindside dummy, wrong-footing four Bok defenders to score in the corner. With the score now 20–16, Alan Tait sealed the win with a late try, supported by Jenkins’s five penalty kicks for a memorable triumph in Cape Town.

The victory marked the Lions first opening Test win in South Africa since 1974 and set the tone for a historic 2–1 series triumph. The Lions’ first series win in South Africa and a defining moment in the early professional era highlighted by Jim Telfer’s “Everest” speech that has since captured the hearts and minds of Lions fans.

2001 British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia

Australia 13 - 29 British & Irish Lions

June 30th 2001, The Gabba, Brisbane

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At Brisbane’s Gabba, the British & Irish Lions once again stunned the reigning world champions, as they handed Australia a commanding 29–13 victory in the First Test of their tour. Against all expectations, Martin Johnson’s side delivered one of their greatest southern hemisphere displays, in one of the most iconic Lions triumphs of all time.

Flying England wing Jason Robinson sparked the carnage early, slicing past Chris Latham to score in the third minute. Two further first-half tries from Dafydd James and a breathtaking solo effort by Brian O'Driscoll—crowned Try of the Test Series - secured a 12–3 half-time lead. O'Driscoll’s second-half break then set up Scott Quinnell’s grounded fourth try, with Jonny Wilkinson contributing three conversions and a penalty towarrds the resounding margin.

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A sea of red, estimated at over 20,000 travelling Lions fans, turned the Gabba into a de facto home pitch for the Lions, which only amplified the intensity. Meanwhile, the Wallabies managed two late tries through Andrew Walker and Nathan Grey but couldn’t alter the outcome.

This emphatic win showcased the Lions’ blend of physicality and flair, delivering a psychological blow to Australia and setting an electrifying tone for the series. Though the Lions ultimately dropped the series 2–1, this opening Test remains a highlight of their storied history.

2005 British & Irish Lions Tour of New Zealand

New Zealand 21 - 3 British & Irish Lions

June 25th 2005, Lancaster Park, Christchurch

In Christchurch, upon New Zealand's South Island, the All Blacks defeated the British & Irish Lions 21–3 in a brutal and pivotal First Test of the tour. Just 77 seconds in, Lions captain Brian O’Driscoll was spear-tackled by Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu, dislocating his shoulder and ending his tour, in a moment that sparked global outrage and led to a later law change on dangerous tackles.

The Lions then went down to 14 men after Paul O’Connell was sin-binned, and Richard Hill suffered a knee injury shortly after. All Blacks maestro Dan Carter opened the scoring with early penalties, with his metronomic place kicking maintained into the second half.

Ali Williams claimed the All Blacks’ first try after capitalizing on a Lions’ line-out error, following that Sitiveni Sivivatu’s second-half score sealed the win for New Zealand. Jonny Wilkinson’s lone penalty in the 56th minute was the Lions’ only score, on a humbling day for the world-famous touring side.

The match exposed the Lions’ frailties, ten lost line-outs, sloppiness in set-pieces, and a fragmented squad with little cohesion. Driven by harsh weather and home-side dominance, the result initiated a 3–0 series whitewash and marked a low point for Clive Woodward’s meticulously built, yet deeply flawed, campaign. In sum, the game was defined by O’Driscoll’s injury, All Blacks’ clinical efficiency, and the Lions’ collapsing structure, turning it into one of the darkest tests in Lions history.

2009 British & Irish Lions Tour of South Africa

South Africa 26 - 21 British & Irish Lions

June 20th 2009, Kings Park Stadium, Durban

In 2009, at Durban’s Kings Park Stadium, the Springboks narrowly defeated the British & Irish Lions 26–21 in a brutal First Test of the 2009 tour. South Africa dominated early as captain John Smit powered over in the fifth minute, and fly-half Ruan Pienaar added multiple penalties.

François Steyn extended the lead to 19–7 by half-time. The Bok forwards, led by Tendai Mtawarira “The Beast”, controlled scrums and mauls, with Heinrich Brüssow scoring a second-half maul try that exemplified the South African set-piece donminance.

Then the Lions staged a fierce comeback. Flanker Tom Croft grabbed two tries, one just before half-time, and the other in the 69th minute, whilst scrum-half Mike Phillips crashed over with just minutes left of the opening Test. Stephen Jones nailed all three conversions, pulling the score to 26–21.

It was a gut-punch of a Test as the Lions had four tries disallowed, yet the pressure was relentlessly maintained relentless right until the final whistle. Although the opening Test ended in a loss, the match showcased the Lions’ resilience, especially inside the final quarter of the fray. The physical dominance of the Boks up front set the tone, whilst the Lions’ late surge offered hope for the series ahead, and a consolation Lions triumph in the 3rd Test.

2013 British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia

Australia 21 - 23 British & Irish Lions

June 22nd 2013, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

In Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, the British & Irish Lions edged out Australia 23–21 in a pulsating First Test of their 2013 Australia tour. Opening exchanges saw Wallabies debutant Israel Folau score early, with James O’Connor converting, giving Australia a 7–0 lead.

The Lions replied gloriously when 21‑year‑old George North produced a legendary solo try, beating four players and celebrating with an iconic finger wag, that narrowed the score to 10–7 after Leigh Halfpenny’s conversion. North’s try marked a defining moment in Lions lore, in a core that has been replayed time and again in the lead up to the opening Test this Saturday.

Alex Cuthbert would then power over for the Lions' second try, to extend their lead to 20–12 by halftime. Australia hit back in the second half with penalties from O’Connor and Kurtley Beale, closing the deficit to just two points. In the final minutes, Beale had the chance to win the game with a long-range penalty, but slipped, and the kick drifted wide. Immediately after, Halfpenny calmly slotted a penalty to seal the dramatic victory, with Beale out for revenge as he lines up for the Pasifika & First Nations XV in a fortnight's time.

2017 British & Irish Lions Tour of New Zealand

New Zealand 30 - 15 British & Irish Lions

June 24th 2017, Eden Park, Auckland

On June 24, 2017, at Eden Park in Auckland, the All Blacks delivered a commanding 30–15 victory over the British & Irish Lions in the opening Test of the 2017 tour. New Zealand maintained their formidable Eden Park unbeaten run, bolstered by a punitive forward effort and slick execution,

Codie Taylor put the home side ahead with a well-taken first-half try, and Beauden Barrett added consistency with three penalties. Despite this, the Lions struck back when a brilliant team try, sparked by a line-break from Liam Williams and finished by Sean O’Brien and narrowed the gap to 13–8 at halftime.

In the second half, winger Rieko Ioane seized control with two incisive tries, the first following superb offloading, the second capitalising on a Lions error. Barrett’s boot added another penalty, extending the lead. Rhys Webb’s late try, converted by Owen Farrell, was merely consolation.

Coach Warren Gatland conceded the Lions had been tactically outplayed, noting New Zealand’s breakdown aggression and scrum-foot ball dominance. While the Lions showed flashes of brilliance, discipline lapses and missed chances proved costly. The All Blacks’ clinical second half left the tourists needing a win in Wellington to stay alive.

2021 British & Irish Lions Tour of South Africa

South Africa 17 - 22 British & Irish Lions

July 24th 2021, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

The British & Irish Lions defeated South Africa 22–17 in the First Test of the 2021 tour at Cape Town Stadium, in the first Test upon a tour like no other. Played behind closed doors due to COVID-19, it was South Africa’s first major Test since winning the Rugby World Cup in 2019.

The Springboks controlled the first half, leading 12–3 through four Handré Pollard penalties. Early in the second half, Faf de Klerk extended their lead with a try. But the Lions responded strongly, as Luke Cowan-Dickie powered over from a maul. The score was converted by Wales talisman Dan Biggar, who added four penalties to boot.

Maro Itoje delivered a dominant performance at the breakdown, earning Player of the Match. The Lions’ superior match fitness and impact from the bench were decisive, particularly against a South African side short on game time due to pandemic disruptions. The result was historic, it marked the Lions' first comeback win over a southern hemisphere side from a half-time deficit since 1938. It gave them a crucial 1–0 series lead and laid the foundation for a tightly contested tour.