July 9 down the years
All Blacks turn on their own after Lions loss
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JJ Williams scores the only try of the match in the Lions' 13-9 win over the All Blacks in 1977 © Getty Images
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1977
Ian McGeechan set up a try for Welsh sprinter JJ Williams as the British & Irish Lions squared the series against New Zealand with a 13-9 win in the mud in Christchurch. It was the only try of the game and the first Lions victory on the ground in eight visits since 1980. New Zealand's press turned on their selectors after the match - they had gambled on not playing a specialist kicker - with former All Blacks hooker Norman Wilson saying the convenor of selectors would be a brave man if he dared turn up to watch the third Test.

2008
Topsy Ojo and Mike Brown were fined and reprimanded after being found guilty of misconduct on England's tour of New Zealand the previous month. Judge Jeff Blackett, the disciplinary officer of the RFU, investigated the affair after the tour was overshadowed by lurid tabloid headlines. Ojo was fined £500 and reprimanded after he was found to have stayed out all night, while Brown was fined £1,000 and reprimanded after also staying out all night and arriving late for a physiotherapist appointment.

1891
The first ever match played by a representative British side in South Africa took place at the Newlands ground. Bill MaClagan of Scotland led the side to a convincing win in the tour opener against Cape Clubs. Paul Clauss and Randolph Aston each scored a brace of tries for the tourists.

1927
Hawkes Bay defeated Wairarapa 21-10 in the famous Battle of Solway for the Ranfurly Shield in front of 10,000 spectators at the Solway Showgrounds in Masterton. Opposing forwards Maurice Brownlie and Quintin Donald were both sent off in the first half. The Shield, however, was restored to Wairarapa who successfully appealed that the Bay had fielded an ineligible player.

2011
The Reds claimed their first Super Rugby title by defeating the Crusaders 18-13 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The two sides were tied at 13 points apiece with just 12 minutes to go when Will Genia dived over for the hosts after a stunning break from inside his own half. The Crusaders piled on the pressure in the closing stages but the Reds held on to become only the second Australian franchise, after the Brumbies, to claim the top prize in southern hemisphere club rugby.

1903
Mark Morrison's Lions opened their tour of South Africa with a 13-7 defeat by the Western Province Country XV at Newlands. It was the first time outside a Test series that the Lions had lost on South African soil.

1983
Ollie Campbell's golden boots drove the Lions to a 25-16 tour win against Counties at Pukekohe. The Irish No.10 added five penalties and two drop goals to John Carleton's try for the visitors.

1930
The legendary George Nepia was in storming form leading the NZ Maori. He kicked two conversions and a penalty in his side's narrow 19-13 defeat by the Lions in Wellington. Jack Morley and Tony Novis each scored a brace of tries for the tourists as Dai Parker landed a conversion and a penalty.

1938
The Lions, on their first ever visit to Johannesburg's Ellis Park, went down 16-9 against Transvaal. Freddy Turner scored a try, two conversions and a penalty to give the hosts a famous victory.

1966
The Lions triumphed 6-3 over a North Auckland side, which featured a then uncapped and relatively unknown Sid Going at scrum-half. Ronnie Lamont and Keith Savage scored a try apiece for the tourists in Whangarei.

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