Lions Tour 1962

Collard: Action from the Durban Test

A low-scoring series ended without The Lions winning a single Test as they lost 3-0 to South Africa

Arthur Smith captained the team that was managed by Brian Vaughan.

The Lions looked at the success of the Barbarians team the previous year against the Springboks and opted for a massive pack.

The two packs matched each other in the first Test and the game ended in a 3-3 draw after a Ken Jones try for The Lions was equalled by South Africa's John Gainsford.

The Lions pack won the battle in the second Test but still went down as they failed to register a single point. A late Keith Oxlee penalty won it for the Springboks after a Keith Rowlands try at the death was not awarded by an unsighted referee.

The Lions needed a win in the third Test to have any chance of a series victory but a mistake shattered their hopes. Richard Sharp attempted to start an attack but his wayward pass gave the ball to Oxlee who scored a simple try which he converted before adding a penalty. Sharp tried to make amends with a drop goal for the tourists but it was not enough and The Lions lost 8-3.

South Africa scored 13 points in five minutes as they hit a purple patch in the fourth Test which blew The Lions away. Tries from Ron Cowan, Rowlands and Mike Campbell-Lamerton and a conversion and penalty from John Willcox were not enough as the Springboks ran in six ties, five conversions and two penalties to win the final test 34-14 and take the series.