The 1955 Lions Tour of South Africa

South Africa were acknowledged as the best side in the world at this time and were a daunting prospect for the Lions.

The Springboks were acknowledged as the leading side in world rugby, having claimed the Grand Slam in Britain and Ireland in 1951-2 before going on to beat the Wallabies.

The Lions took a talented squad to South Africa in 1955, though, led by Irish lock Robin Thompson. The series was felt to be difficult to call and a titanic forward battle was expected.

A world record crowd of over 100,000 turned out for the first test at Ellis Park Johannesburg and they were not to be disappointed.

The Springboks took an early lead, but the tourists stormed back to claim the advantage. A late conversion could have stolen the game at the death for the home side, but the Lions held on for a 23-22 win.

The tour moved on to Newlands, Cape Town, with the Boks thirsting for revenge – it was duly sated. They ran out 25-9 victors.

The series hung in the balance at Loftus Versveld, where Cliff Morgan led the tourists in the absence of the injured Thompson. The tension showed in a tight game, but the battling Lions emerged with a famous 9-6 victory.

It was looking good for the tourists, particularly after a strong first half in the final test at Port Elizabeth. The Springboks had earned their reputation as the world’s best, though, and they came fighting back to blow the Lions away and claim a 22-8 victory.

The series was shared, and the popular tourists were sent home in style when 3,000 South Africans turned up at the airport for their departure.

The tourists were acclaimed for their running rugby that helped the re-birth of back play in South Africa – the Lions brought the realisation that brawn was not everything.

A game against an East African XV in Nairobi on the way home was won 39-12.

The 1955 Lions: Squad

Backs: DGS Baker (Old Merchant Taylor and England), J Butterfield (Northampton and England), A Cameron (Glasgow HSFP and Scotland), WPC Davies (Harlequins and England), GM Griffiths (Cardiff and Wales), REG Jeeps (Northampton), T Lloyd (Maesteg and Wales), CI Morgan (Cardiff and Wales), HT Morris (Cardiff and Wales), AJF O’Reilly (Old Belvedere and Ireland), AC Pedlow (Queen’s University Belfast and Ireland), JP Quinn (New Brighton and England), AR Smith (Cambridge University and Scotland), FD Sykes (Northampton and England), AG Thomas (Llanelli and Wales), JE Williams (Old Millhillians and England)

Forwards: T Elliot (Gala and Scotland), JT Greenwood (Dunfermline and Scotland), R Higgins (Liverpool and England), HF McLeod (Hawick and Scotland), BV Meredith (Newport and Wales), CC Meredith (Neath and Wales), ETS Michie (Aberdeen University and Scotland), TE Reid (Garryowen and Ireland), RJ Robins (Pontypridd and Wales), R Roe (Lansdowne and Ireland), RCC Thomas (Swansea and Wales), RH Thompson (capt) (Instonians and Ireland), RH Williams (Llanelli and Wales), WOG Williams (Swansea and Wales), DS Wilson (Metropolitan Police and England)Manager: JAE Siggins, assistant manager: DE Davies

The 1955 Lions: Results

Lions 6-9 Western Transvaal

Lions 24-14 Griqualand West

Lions 32-6 Northern UniversitiesLions 31-3 Orange Free State

Lions 9-0 South West Africa

Lions 11-3 Western Province

Lions 22-3 South Western Districts

Lions 0-20 Eastern Province

Lions 34-6 North Eastern Districts

Lions 36-13 Transvaal

Lions 27-14 Rhodesia (Kitwe)

Lions 16-12 Rhodesia (Salisbury)

Lions 23-22 South Africa (Johannesburg)

Springbok XV: Chris Koch (Boland), Colin Kroon (EP), Amos du Plooy (EP), Salty du Rand (NTVL), Johan Claassen (WTVL), Stephen Fry (WP), Basie van Wyk (TVL), Daan Retief (NTVL), Tommy Gentles (WP), Clive Ulyate (TVL), Sias Swart (SWA), Des Sinclair (TVL), Tom van Vollenhoven (NTVL), Theuns Briers (WP), Jack van der Schyff (WTVL)

Lions 21-14 Central Universities

Lions 11-0 Boland

Lions 20-17 Western Province Universities

Lions 9-25 South Africa (Cape Town)

Springboks: Chris Koch (Boland), Bertus van der Merwe (Boland), Jaap Bekker (N-Tvl), Salty du Rand (NTVL), Johan Claassen (WTVL), Stephen Fry (WP), Dawie Ackermann (WP), Daan Retief (NTVL), Tommy Gentles (WP), Clive Ulyate (TVL), Tom van Vollenhoven (N-Tvl) , Des Sinclair (TVL), Wilf Rosenberg (Tvl), Theuns Briers (WP), Roy Dryburgh (WP).

Lions 17-17 Eastern Transvaal

Lions 14-11 Northern Transvaal

Lions 9-6 South Africa (Pretoria)

Springboks: Chris Koch (Boland), Bertus van der Merwe (Boland), Jaap Bekker (N-Tvl), Salty du Rand (NTVL), Johan Claassen (WTVL), Stephen Fry (WP), Dawie Ackermann (WP), Butch Lochner (WP), Popeye Strydom (OFS), Clive Ulyate (TVL), Tom van Vollenhoven (N-Tvl) , Des Sinclair (TVL), Wilf Rosenberg (Tvl), Theuns Briers (WP), Roy Dryburgh (WP).

Lions 11-8 Natal

Lions 15-12 Junior Springboks

Lions 12-14 Border

Lions 8-22 South Africa (Port Elizabeth)

Springboks: Chris Koch (Boland), Bertus van der Merwe (Boland), Jaap Bekker (N-Tvl), Salty du Rand (NTVL), Johan Claassen (WTVL), Stephen Fry (WP), Dawie Ackermann (WP), Daan Retief (NTVL), Tommy Gentles (WP), Clive Ulyate (TVL), Tom van Vollenhoven (N-Tvl) , Des Sinclair (TVL), Wilf Rosenberg (Tvl), Theuns Briers (WP), Roy Dryburgh (WP).

Lions 39-12 East African XV (Nairobi)

www.bbc.co.uk/wales/scrumv/features/lions/1955.shtml