JPR: It was the worst time to lose my cool

IT’S time to conclude our ‘real time’ look back at the 1974 Lions tour which finished exactly 50 years ago yesterday with a 13-13 draw at Ellis Park. Was it an anti-climax? The hell it was! The draw still meant the Lions had gone through the 22-match tour unbeaten, the only team ever to achieve that in South Africa and, now that full length tours are a thing of the past, a record that will stand for ever.

The last two weeks of the tour were not entirely straightforward though. In fact they were packed with incident and controversy. There were still four fixtures to fulfil, four more opportunities for South African teams to become celebrated Lions tamers. The tourists had almost made a rod for their own backs.

In that last fortnight there was an emergency landing when their aircraft hit a flock of birds; more allegations – most of them seemingly true – concerning over-exuberant behaviour and hotel wrecking in East London; newspaper articles – almost certainly fictitious – alleging the Lions had been scrummaging in the nude with local girls; an unsavoury bust up between JPR Williams and Natal skipper Tommy Bedford and finally a concluding Test at Ellis Park noteworthy for a try that wasn’t scored – but was awarded – and a try that was scored – but wasn’t awarded.

In roughly chronological order, after the best part of 36 hours continuous celebration the Lions could have done without their 727 from Port Elizabeth to East London blowing one of its two engines 60 seconds after take off as it swung out over the Indian Ocean. The plane limped back into PE, a flock of birds flying into the engine was blamed, and a replacement plane flew down from Johannesburg.

Three of the shaken tour party – Chris Ralston, Stuart McKinney and Bobby Windsor – decided enough was enough and hired a car for the four-hour drive to East London.

The Lions, with five of the Test team from four days before, defeated Borer 24-6 but their departure the next day was marred by those accusations in the Afrikaans press.

Perhaps there were those in East London with long memories, a vengeful nature and a vivid imagination? Only six years earlier there had been a commotion when one group of Lions were presented with a large bar bill in an East London nightclub and reportedly set fire to it before leaving.

The bill, not the nightclub, you understand.

The prospect of Natal, with Bedford installed as captain, concentrated wandering minds. Durban was considered a very British city and team at the time and had been totally ignored by the exclusively Afrikaans Boks selectors. They trailed only 9-6 after 70 minutes after a fiery and skilful performance although they finally buckled and conceded three tries in an unprecedented 11 minutes of injury time and eventually lost 34-5. The game, however, is remembered mainly for the vicious confrontation between JPR Williams and Bedford.

To quote from JPR’s autobiography: “I could not have picked a worse time and place to lose my temper on a rugby field. Midway through the second half, when the Natal side was holding us extremely well, I was fielding a high ball in our 22 when I fumbled it and was bundled into touch by Tommy Bedford, the great hero of Natal. I was annoyed with myself and then felt my hair being grabbed plus a hefty kick to my head. I now realise this was accidental but at the time I was furious. I lashed out at Bedford by rabbit-punching him on the floor.

“As he lay there flat on his back, as if unconscious, the horror of the situation dawned. The incident took place very close to the spectators and I thought the whole crowd was going to attack me. They were screaming at me and one fan was beating me over the head with a stick. What a scene! The crowd was going berserk and throwing naartjies (tangerines) on the pitch, which was common in South Africa, and then came beer cans and bottles, which were not. Willie-John had to stop the game and call us together in the middle of the field for fear of injury.”

Bedford accepted JPR’s apology afterwards but Williams’ fiancée Scilla was living and working as a trainee doctor in Durban at the time and when the squad moved up to Johannesburg she was left dealing with a barrage of hate mail posted to the hospital. Ironically Williams returned to Durban after the tour and played for Natal alongside Bedford in a few games.

At the post-match function Bedford also had choice words for those Boks selectors: “I congratulate you on finally finding your way to Durban. Welcome, welcome to the last outpost of the British Empire. I think it’s ironic that Natal was put forward as South Africa’s last hope (of beating the Lions). Haha! The last outpost of the British Empire is the last hope for South Africa!” He concluded his outburst with a Churchillian salute in their direction.

Eastern Transvaal were dispatched in the last midweek fixture but the Lions were running on empty by the final Test. The result was a 13-13 draw and the main talk was over two try decisions by Max Baise, a referee the Lions rated above all others in South Africa who took control of the first Test before being “dropped” for the next two games.

The Boks were leading 3-0 in the first half and playing much better than the previous three Tests but were up against it with a scrum on their own line. The ball squirted out and Roger Uttley, with his back to the unsighted Baise, definitely dived for the ball, but really didn’t get very close to the touchdown when Baise whistled for a try which he later described as the worst decision of his life. In fairness to Uttley he never claimed the try but the Lions were not in the mood to look such a gift horse in the mouth.

Perhaps things evened themselves out though. In the last minute, with the score 13-13, Fergus Slattery was convinced – and remains convinced – that he had touched down, squeezing the ball between his legs, but Baise who didn’t seem to have a great view ruled otherwise. Karma prevailed or perhaps just common sense and self preservation. As Baise reportedly said to the Lions afterwards: “It’s all right for you guys, I’ve got to live here when you’re gone!”