Four of the Lions that tamed the Springboks in the first international to be played at Loftus Versfled in Pretoria 53 years ago were reunited at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Tuesday afternoon.
The 'HSBC Audience with the 1955 Welsh Lions' saw pack members. Bryn and Courtenay Meredith and Russell Robins joined by wing Gareth Griffiths in the Welsh capital.
They recounted tales of their great deeds on that 1955 tour, on which the Lions drew the Test series 2-2 with the Springboks, and revealed their great respect for South African rugby.
The event was staged on the eve of the 53rd anniversary of the British & Irish Lions' hard-fought 9-6 victory over the 'Boks which saw them move 2-1 ahead in the four-match series.
Fellow Lion John Taylor chaired proceedings at the home of Welsh rugby, with the quartet also joined by 1950 tourists Jack Matthews and Bleddyn Williams, 1966 outside-half David Watkins, 1971 heroes John Dawes, Mervyn Davies, Geoff Evans, JPR Williams and Taylor, as well as multi-tourists Graham Price and Bob Norster.
"It seems like a big film and I was an actor in it," said Cardiff wing Griffiths, when recalling the tour.
"It was marvellous. We were well sought after, the South Africans liked us and the rugby was great.
"Being a Lion in South Africa was a bit like dying and going to heaven - everything I ever wanted to achieve came together in a fantastic four months.
"I loved playing on the hard grounds and really relished the contests with that legendary Springbok wing Tom van Vollenhoven."
Newport hooker Bryn Meredith, who became with England scrum-half Dickie Jeeps the first Lion to make three tours when he went to Australasia in 1959 and returned to South Africa in 1962, gave an insight into what was at stake in the third Test in Pretoria.
"That third Test was a real war of attrition Both sides knew that, with the series poised 1-1, this was the vital game. We had to hold on in the first Test to win by a point, but were forced to play for half the game with only 14 men. That third Test at Loftus was one of the hardest games of rugby I've ever had to play," said Meredith.
"Our backs were generally regarded as our strength but, on that day at Loftus, I'm proud to say that our pack, containing six Welshmen, stood up to the Springboks and came out on top. We had a hell of a party that night."
The 1955 fixture was the first international played at Loftus Versfeld, with the Lions now leading 3-1 in Test victories at the venue. Ian McGeechan's men will hope to continue that impressive record when they return to Pretoria in less than 10 months' time as they look to go one better than their '55 compatriots.
GREAT LIONS TESTS
Fifty-three years ago tomorrow (3 September) the British & Irish Lions became the first team to meet the Springboks in a Test match at Loftus Versfeld in what was one of the biggest events in the centenary of the city of Pretoria.
On Saturday, 27 June, 2009, Ian McGeechan's side will defend the Lions' impressive Test record at the ground - won three, lost one - in the second of their three internationals.
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday, 3 September, 1955
SOUTH AFRICA 6 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS 9
HT: 0-3 Attendance: 45,000
Scorers: South Africa: Pens - R Dryburgh 2; Lions: Try - J Butterfield; Pen - D Baker; DG - J Butterfield.
SETTING THE SCENE
The 1955 Lions are still regarded as one of the greatest teams to tour South Africa. With thrilling backs like Cliff Morgan, Tony O'Reilly and Jeff Butterfield, they charmed the South African fans with their try scoring ability. In the 12 matches up to the first Test, the Lions ran in 55 tries, conceded only eight and kept their line intact to half of the games.
The tour didn't get off to the greatest of starts because the Lions actually lost the first of their 25 fixtures, 9-6, to Western Transvaal in Potchefstroom. Things picked up after that and there was only one more defeat, 20-0, to Eastern Province, before the first Test in Johannesburg on 6 August.
That first Test became a true epic with the Lions triumphing 23-22 in front of 95,000 fans. The Boks gained revenge with a 25-9 victory in Cape Town two weeks later to set the stage for the third Test.
THE TEAMS
Springbok coach Danie Craven dropped five players after the first Test defeat, making two changes behind the scrum and three up front, and made two more for the third Test after the victory in Cape Town. He brought in Free State scrum half Coenrad Strydom to replace the diminutive Tommy Gentles and had to introduce Western Province No 8 Butch Lochner into his back row at a late date when Dan Retief withdrew.
The Lions had made only two changes from the first to second test, Gareth Griffiths taking over from Cecil Pedlow on the left wing and Tom Reid coming into the back row for Reg Higgins.
There were two further changes in personnel for the third Test and two positional switches. With the tour captain Robin Thompson unfit, Tom Reid moved up into the second row and Clem Thomas came into a reshuffled back row in which Robins moved to No 8.
Behind the scrum, Doug Baker took over from the unfit vice-captain, Angus Cameron. Cliff Morgan was given the captaincy and fellow Welshman Billy Williams led the pack.
South Africa: Roy Dryburgh (Western Province); Theunis Briers (Western Province), Des Sinclair (Transvaal), Wilf Rosenberg (Transvaal), Karel van Vollenhoven (Northern Transvaal); Clive Ulyate (Transvaal), Coenraad Strydom (Orange Free State); Jaap Bekker (Northern Transvaal), Bertus van der Merwe (Boland), Chris Koch (Boland), Jacobus du Rand (Northern Transvaal), Johan Claassen (Western Transvaal), Stephen Fry (Western Province, captain), Butch Lochner (Western Province), Dawie Ackermann (Western Province)
British & Irish Lions: Doug Baker (Old Millhillians/England); Gareth Griffiths (Cardiff/Wales), Jeff Butterfield (Northampton/England), Phil Davies (Harlequins/England), Tony O'Reilly (Old Belvedere/Ireland); Cliff Morgan (Cardiff/Wales, captain), Dickie Jeeps (Northampton); Billy Williams (Swansea/Wales), Bryn Meredith (Newport/Wales), Courtenay Meredith (Neath/Wales), Rhys Williams (Llanelli/Wales), Tom Reid (Garryowen/Ireland, Clem Thomas (Swansea/Wales), Russell Robins (Pontypridd/Wales), Jim Greenwood (Dunfermline/Scotland)
Referee: Ralph Burmeister (South Africa)
THE MATCH
Cliff Morgan won the toss and decided to choose ends rather than kick-off. It was the Springbok outside half Clive Ulyate who got the game started. It was a tense affair and the home side got the first chance to score when lock Johan Claassen lined-up a long range penalty in the first five minutes.
That kick drifted wide and in the eighth minute the Cardiff wing Gareth Griffiths slipped his marker, went outside the cover and was only pulled down inches short of the line.
Griffiths' wing partner Tony O'Reilly did actually cross the Springbok line, and run behind the posts, for what many of the fans thought was a try, but the Lions touch-judge, the Old Millhillians and England scrum half Johnny Williams, had his flag up to indicate a foot in touch 15 metres out from the line.
The obvious disappointment in the Lions camp was short lived because the line-out came back on their side and when the ball went loose, Jeff Butterfield picked it up, swivelled and dropped a goal with his left foot. It was the first drop goal for the Lions on the tour, Butterfield's first in representative rugby and, without doubt, the first with his left foot.
Claassen had earlier missed with a second long range penalty, so the England centre's snap drop goal remained the only score of a pretty dour first-half.
The pressure continued from the Lions and Butterfield's co-centre Phil Davies suffered the agony of losing the ball over the Springbok line after a strong burst. The emergency full back Doug Baker then doubled the Lions' lead with a 30 metre penalty on 51 minutes.
A scrum infringement five metres inside the Lions half then gave Stephen Fry's men a chance to aim for goal. After two misses, Classens was overlooked and full back Roy Dryburgh stepped up to drop kick the penalty and cut the deficit.
The next score would be crucial and when Ulyate was caught in possession 10 metres out from his own try line on the hour the Lions were handed a golden opportunity to strike. The ball was recycled, Clem Thomas picked up and ran to the blindside before giving a scoring pass to Butterfield.
His corner try gave the Lions some breathing space, although Dryburgh's second penalty two minutes later meant there was still all to play for in the final 18 minutes.
Could the Lions hang on and go 2-1 up in the series with one Test to play? Dryburg missed for the first time, again from long range, after Dickie Jeeps had been penalised and then the full back was wide with a drop goal attempt.
Thomas charged down another drop goal attempt, this time from the centre Wilf Rosenberg after a scrum inside the Lions 22. Home fans thought flanker Dawie Ackermann had crossed the Lions line after one forward drive, but referee Ralf Burmeister said "No".
The last chance had gone for the Boks and so ended an amazing week for the Lions in Pretoria. The previous weekend they had beaten Northern Transvaal 14-11 at Loftus and now they had taken the lead again in the four match Test series with a 9-6 triumph.
WHAT THEY SAID
Danie Craven (Springboks Coach)
Before the series - "If I had the Springbok team for three weeks they would win the series. Our opponents are one of the best sides ever to come to South Africa."
After the third Test - "The Lions deserved their victory, for they were the better side, even though I thought Ackerman did get a try in the closing minutes. If the try had been allowed, the Springboks would not have deserved to draw."
Cliff Morgan (Lions captain)
"I'm very proud at having led the Lions to victory and now my one ambition is to lead Wales. I expect they will be delighted with the result back home."
THE LIONS AT LOFTUS VERSFELD
P11 W8 L3
1955 Northern Transvaal 11, Lions 15
South Africa 6, Lions 9 (3rd Test)
1962: Northern Transvaal 14, Lions 6
Junior Springboks 11, Lions 16
1968: Northern Transvaal 19, Lions 22
South Africa 25, Lions 20 (1st Test)
1974: South Africa 9, Lions 28 (2nd Test)
Northern Transvaal 12, Lions 16
1980: Northern Transvaal 9, Lions 16
South Africa 13, Lions 17 (4th Test)
1997: Northern Transvaal 35, Lions 30
THE 1955 BRTISH & IRISH LIONS
Irish second row Robin Thompson was the tour captain and Scottish full back Angus Cameron the vice-captain.
Tour Manager Jack Siggins decided that he needed a young and lively side to take to South Africa and initially wanted his fellow selectors to disregard and players over the age of 27. In the end, only one player over the age of 30 - Maesteg scrum half Trevor Lloyd - was included in the tour party.
They drew the Test series 2-2, winning the first and third internationals.
Their final tour record was:
P25 W19 D1 L5
Points For 457 Points Agst 283
Tries For 103 Tries Agst 34
750,000 fans paid more than half-a-million pounds to watch the 25 games in South Africa.
They arrived at Jan Smuts Airport on 11 July and didn't leave Nairobi until 29 September, arriving home on 30 September.
They travelled 25,000 miles from start to finish on their tour.
Among the many tributes paid to the 1955 Lions were the following:
HW 'Paddy' Carolin, the 1906 Springbok half-back and vice-captain, wrote in the Cape Argus: "As a 10-year-old I watch Bill Maclagan's team give us our first lesson in rugby at Newlands in 1891. Since then I have been fortunate enough to have watched every international touring side which has visited these shores . . . I have no hestiation in saying that, in my opinion, the 1955 British isles teams in the srtongest of all."
Dannie Craven, who was chairman of selectors for the 1955 Sprigboks, offered a similar view: "They are the strongest touring side I have ever seen in South Africa. Their back play is a treat to watch."
Newport and Wales hooker Bryn Meredith and Northampton and England scrum half Reg Jeeps became the first Lions to play on three successive tours when they followed their exploits in South Africa in 1955 with trips to Australasia in 1959 and South Africa again in 1962
Bryn was part of an all-Welsh front row that played throughout the four Test series in 1955. He was the hooker and had Swansea's Billy Williams and Neath's Courtenay Meredith as his props.
The three played together for the Lions seven times - winning four, losing three. They played in the opening game (loss to Western Transvaal, game 4 win over Orange Free State, Game 11 win over Rhodesia, Game 13 win in the 1st test, game 17 loss in 2nd Test, Game 20 win in 3rd Test and Game 24 loss in 4th Test).
The front row played nine times together for Wales, winning seven times. Their combined record for Wales and the Lions in internationals is P13 W9 L4.
Billy and Courtenay propped up the Welsh scrum on 12 occasions.
On only one other occasion since World War 11have the Lions selected a front row unit from the same country to start a Test match. It was the 3rd Test in South Africa in 1968 when England provided Mike Coulman, John Pullin and Tony Horton to the pack
Billy Williams played 17of the 25 tour games, Bryn Meredith 15 and Courtenay Meredith 14.
Two other Welsh forwards figured in all four Tests with the front row - Llanelli lock Rhys Williams and Pontypridd back row man Russ Robins. Robins played in 17 games on tour and Williams 16.
The "Famous Five" also played three internationals for Wales in the same pack prior to the tour and then one more in 1956 post-South Africa, making it an amazing eight Tests in a row. They won five of them.
In the four Tests in 1955 there were 6 Welshmen in the 1st, 7 in the 2nd, 8 in the 3rd and 8 in the 4th. Cliff Morgan captained the side to victory in Pretoria in the third Test and Billy Williams led the pack.
Bryn Meredith played in 43 matches for the Lions on his three tours, including eight Tests. The only other Welshman to play more games for the Lions is Llanelli's Delme Thomas, who played 43 times on three tours - 1966, 1968 and 1971.
Gareth Edwards played 39 times on three tours and Rhys Williams 38 on two.
DID YOU KNOW
When the 1955 British & Irish Lions played their first game in South Africa there was a prize of PS15 on offer for the first player to score a try.
The 30-strong Lions tour party were given 5 shillings per day (25p) to live on and the players decided to throw 10 shillings each into the kitty for the first try scorer. Or at least that was what was meant to happen.
In the end, only 29 players coughed up, as the Cardiff and Wales outside half Cliff Morgan revealed in his autobiography.
"Our opening game was against Western Transvaal at Potchefstroom. To avoid the worst of the heat we kicked off at four in the afternoon on a ground that was set like concrete," Morgan wrote.
"Although we were living on only five shillings pocket money a day, we decided to put ten shillings each into a kitty which would go to the player who scored our first try. The chance came to me in the second minute of the game.
"I took the ball behind a 10-yard scrum, went on the blind side, sold a dummy and dived over to score. So I took the kitty - or almost all of it.
"Cecil Pedlow, the Irish wing who was outside me, reckoned that I should have passed the ball and given him the honour, so he refused to pay up. Cecil did get a try of his own soon afterwards, and we were looking pretty good at that moment."
In the end, though, Western Transvaal got two dropped-goals and a penalty and the Lions lost 9-6. They would only lose one more game in their next 15 and ended up drawing the series 2-2, with Pedlow and Morgan among the try scorers again the epic 23-22 first Test victory in Johannesburg.
Picture: Back Row L-R, Jack Matthews (1950), David Watkins (1966), Bleddyn Williams (1950), Geoff Evans (1971), Rob Norster (1983, '89), Mervyn Davies (1971, '74), JPR Williams (1971, '74), John Taylor (1968, '71), Graham Price (1977, '80, '83) and John Dawes (1971) Front Row, Russell Robins (1955), Gareth Griffiths (1955), Bryn Meredith (1955, '59, '62) and Courtenay Meredith (1955)