On this day 1983: Lions suffer worst ever defeat

Coach Jim Telfer would reflect on it as one of his darkest moments in rugby as outclassed Lions are routed by All Blacks
Ireland's John O''Driscoll fields for the British and Lions during the fourth Test against New Zealand as Scottish scrum-half Roy Laidlaw looks on. Photograph: Allsport UKIreland's John O''Driscoll fields for the British and Lions during the fourth Test against New Zealand as Scottish scrum-half Roy Laidlaw looks on. Photograph: Allsport UK
Ireland's John O''Driscoll fields for the British and Lions during the fourth Test against New Zealand as Scottish scrum-half Roy Laidlaw looks on. Photograph: Allsport UK

On 16 July 1983 the British and Irish Lions suffered their record Test defeat, 38-6 to New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland, as the All Blacks wrapped up an emphatic 4-0 series win.

Scottish coach Jim Telfer would reflect on it as one of his worst experiences in rugby as the tourists suffered a miserable experience and the growing gulf between the southern and northern hemisphere was laid bare.

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Iain Paxton, Iain Milne, Colin Deans, Jim Calder, John Beattie, Roy Laidlaw, John Rutherford and Roger Baird were the eight Scots in the squad.

The British and Irish Lions concluded the 1983 tour of New Zealand with a record-breaking defeat.

After close encounters in each of the first three Tests, the All Blacks proved too strong in the fourth match and secured a 38-6 victory at Auckland.

It ensured New Zealand sealed a 4-0 whitewash, with the same series scoreline achieved 17 years earlier in 1966.

Following 16-12, 9-0 and 15-8 defeats, the Lions only had pride to play for at Eden Park and at half-time trailed by 13 points. That 15-8 loss in the third Test was one of the Lions’ better showings on an 18-match trip, with both tries scored by Scots. Rutherford, in a non-familiar centre role, touched down and so did wing Baird for the only try in his 31-Test international career. He never scored for Scotland.

New Zealand stepped up another gear in the second period though, with Stu Wilson going over for a hat-trick to make him the All Blacks record try scorer at the time.

Penalties from Ollie Campbell and Gywn Evans were scant consolation in the six-try rout.

The 32-point losing margin remains the Lions heaviest defeat.

While the Lions have not won a series in New Zealand since 1971, their last visit three years ago in 2017 ended in a 1-1 draw after the third and final Test in Auckland finished 15-15.

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