- Ask Steven
When Ireland and Scotland joined forces
John GriffithsJanuary 30, 2014
What are the details of the Four Nations match that took place in 1975? Ian Monzari, New Zealand
This was the third of the matches played in the early 1970s and took place on April 19, 1975. It brought down the curtain on the Centenary celebrations of the Irish Rugby Football Union.
The Ireland/Scotland combination won 17-10.
The match details were as follows:
Ireland/Scotland: A H Ensor; T O Grace, I R McGeechan, R A Milliken, A R Irvine; C M H Gibson, J J Moloney; J McLauchlan, K W Kennedy, A B Carmichael, G L Brown, W J McBride (captain), W Lauder, D G Leslie, J F Slattery
Replacement: W P Duggan for Leslie (40 mins)
Scorers Tries: Milliken, Grace Penalty Goals: Irvine (3)
England/Wales: J P R Williams; T G R Davies, K Smith, R W R Gravell, A J Morley; W N Bennett, G O Edwards; F E Cotton, R W Windsor, G Price, C W Ralston, G A D Wheel, D M Rollitt, T M Davies, A Neary (captain)
Replacements: A G B Old for Smith (9 mins); P J Squires for Morley (25 mins)
Scorers Tries: T G R Davies (2) Conversion: Old
Referee: G Domercq (France)
These four-countries matches were invaluable "trials" for Lions selectors who between 1971 and 1977 managed to select three winning Test teams against both South Africa and New Zealand as well as teams that drew a Test each against the leading southern hemisphere sides.
The matches were also popular with crowds. The last of the ten such games staged since 1923 took place during the Welsh Rugby Union's Centenary season in 1980-81.
John Griffiths is a widely respected rugby historian and is the author of several sports books, a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and co-author of the IRB International Rugby Yearbook. He has provided insight for Scrum.com since 1999.
