June 22 down the years
England stun Argentina in Buenos Aires
Scrum.com
England captain Phil Vickery celebrates an historic victory over Argentina, Argentina v England, Velez Sarsfield Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 22, 2002
England skipper Phil Vickery celebrates a famous victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires © Getty Images
Enlarge

2002
Phil Vickery becomes the first Gloucester player to lead England, captaining an experimental side to a 26-18 Test win against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

Four penalties from the boot of Pumas' fly-half Gonzalo Quesada gave the hosts a 12-3 lead at the break but a young England team, denied the services of their big names and including five new caps rallied in the second half with tries from winger Phil Christophers and lock Ben Kay. Fly-half Charlie Hodgson, one of the most experienced players on view with just 10 caps, steered the visitors home with two conversions and three penalties.

Skipper Vickery said, "The players didn't surprise me. There was a lot of determination out there, and they all wanted to do well. We always said that we would give it our best shot, and we never gave up.

1974
The Lions took a two-Test lead in their four-match series with South Africa. Two tries by J J Williams help the tourists to a 28-9 win in Pretoria where Springbok captain Hannes Marais goes to the rescue of Phil Bennett when the Lions skipper is attacked by a spectator after the match.

The 'Invincibles', as the team became known, won 21 of their 22 matches and drew the other. The side, captained by Willie John McBride and coached by Syd Millar, clinched a superb 3-0 series victory over South Africa with the Springboks denying the tourists a clean sweep with a 13-13 draw in the fourth Test in Johannesburg.

1971
In their last tour match before the Test series begins, a makeshift Lions team in which Willie-John McBride deputised as No.8 beat Marlborough/Nelson Bays 31-12 in Blenheim.

The team led by John Dawes, managed by Doug Smith and coached by Carwyn James, became the first Lions to win a series in New Zealand in almost three-quarters of a century of trying.

The Lions actually lost the first of the two warm-up matches they played in Australia but suffered only one further defeat in the entire 26-match tour and won the Test series 2-1, with the final international drawn.

1977
Phil Bennett's Lions put their Test defeat behind them and get their tour back on the road with a 45-6 win against South Canterbury/Mid Cantebrury/North Otago at Timaru where Andy Irvine scores 25 points.

John Dawes, the captain of the victorious 1971 tour, was the Lions' coach while Wales fly-half Bennett led the side in their bid secure a third successive tour triumph - following the 1971 triumph and the undefeated tour of South Africa in 1974. In total they won 20 of their 26 games. However, they lost the Test series with the All Blacks 3-1 with their only success coming in Christchurch.

1938
In South Africa there was a try hat-trick for Llanelli & Wales wing, Elvet Jones, as the Lions defeated South Western Districts 19-10 at Oudtshoorn.

1949
Fred Allen's All Blacks ran in five fine tries in an easy 19-3 victory over Western Transvaal in Potchefstroom.

© Scrum.com

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.