1989 British Lions tour to Australia
| 1989 British and Irish Lions Tour to Australia | |
|---|---|
| Date | 15 May – 16 July |
| Coach(es) | Ian McGeechan |
| Tour captain(s) |  Finlay Calder |
| Test series winners | British and Irish Lions (2–1) |
| Top test point scorer(s) | Gavin Hastings (28) |
In 1989 the British and Irish Lions toured Australia for the first time since 1971. Unlike previous tours to Australia, the British and Irish Lions did not play any matches against New Zealand, this being the first Australia-only tour since 1899. The side was captained by Finlay Calder.
The Lions suffered a 30–12 defeat in the first Test in Sydney on 1 July, then their heaviest defeat by Australia.[1] For the second and third Tests test team changes included Mike Teague, recovered from injury, at blindside flanker, Rob Andrew, replacing the injured Paul Dean, at 10, and Jeremy Guscott, then only 23, at centre. The team became the only Lions team ever to come from 1–0 down to win a series, winning the second test in Brisbane 19–12 and the third test in Sydney 19–18.[2] [3] Teague was named player of the series.
Squad
Backs
- Rob Andrew (Wasps and England)
- Gary Armstrong (Jedforest and Scotland)
- Craig Chalmers (Melrose and Scotland)
- Tony Clement (Swansea and Wales)
- Paul Dean (St Mary's College and Ireland)
- John Devereux (Bridgend and Wales)
- Peter Dods (Gala and Scotland)
- Ieuan Evans (Llanelli and Wales)
- Jerry Guscott (Bath and England) – replaced injured Will Carling[4]
- Mike Hall (Bridgend and Wales)
- Gavin Hastings (London Scottish and Scotland)
- Scott Hastings (Watsonians and Scotland)
- Robert Jones (Swansea and Wales)
- Brendan Mullin (London Irish and Ireland)
- Chris Oti (Wasps and England)
- Will Carling (Harlequins and England) – selected but withdrew due to injury[4]
- Rory Underwood (Leicester and RAF and England)
Forwards
- Paul Ackford (Harlequins and England)
- Finlay Calder (capt) (Stewart's Melville FP and Scotland)
- Gareth Chilcott (Bath and England)
- Wade Dooley (Preston Grasshoppers and England)
- Mike Griffiths (Bridgend and Wales)
- John Jeffrey (Kelso and Scotland)
- Donal Lenihan (Cork Constitution and Ireland)
- Brian Moore (Nottingham and England)
- Bob Norster (Cardiff and Wales)
- Dean Richards (Leicester and England)
- Andy Robinson (Bath and England)
- Steve Smith (Ballymena and Ireland)
- David Sole (Edinburgh Academicals and Scotland)
- Mike Teague (Gloucester and England)
- Derek White (London Scottish and Scotland)
- Dai Young (Cardiff and Wales)
Results
| Lions | 44–0 | Western Australia |
| Lions | 23–8 | Australia B |
| Lions | 19–15 | Queensland |
| Lions | 30–6 | Queensland B |
| Lions | 23–21 | New South Wales |
| Lions | 39–19 | New South Wales B |
| Lions | 12–30 | Australia (Sydney)[5] |
| Lions | 41–25 | ACT |
| Lions | 19–12 | Australia (Brisbane)[6] |
| Lions | 19–18 | Australia (Sydney)[7] |
| Lions | 72–13 | NSW Country |
| Lions | 19–15 | ANZAC XV |
References
- ^ "Lack of quality in crucial areas proves costly". Glasgow Herald (page 20). 3 July 1989. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ "Lions manage to gain pride". Glasgow Herald (page 19). 10 July 1989. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ "Australia 19 Lions 19 Match Report". Glasgow Herald (page 18). 17 July 1989. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ a b Rugby Football Union, "Official programme of 1990 Four Home Unions vs Rest of Europe programme, 1990, Rugby Football Union
- ^ "Australia 20 Lions 12". ESPN. 1 July 1989. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ "Lions re-find their roar". ESPN. 8 July 1989. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ "Australia 18 Lions 19". ESPN. 15 July 1989. Retrieved 3 July 2013.