Lions savaged by rampant All Blacks

Clive Woodward's stock was high after his World Cup win with England and, true to form, he did it his way. Likewise, the hosts did it theirs, spear-tackling captain Brian O'Driscoll in the opening minutes of the first test and ruling the Ireland skipper out of the rest of the series.

Woodward brought 44 staff and 51 players to New Zealand, a record for any touring party, and was immediately spoiled for choice. His selections drew criticism and amid rumours of discontent within the squad the Lions were brushed aside by the All Blacks and left the southern hemisphere with a whimper.

Hosts get the upper hand

Kiwi Graham Henry became the first southern hemisphere coach to take charge of the touring party and almost pulled off a series win against his old Aussie foes. His team, led for the second time by England lock Martin Johnson, won the first test 29-13, but were brought to a decider after a 35-14 defeat in the second.

With the scores in the final test locked at 23 each, Matt Burke put over two penalties to give the Wallabies a six-point advantage. A Keith Wood lineout offered hope of a late winning try but Justin Harrison's steal from the Irishman's throw ensured a first series win over the Lions for Australia.

Lions emerge with historic series win

The first tour of the professional era was led to South Africa by current coach Ian McGeechan and captained by England's Martin Johnson. The latter's team-mate Matt Dawson ensured victory in the first test with two tries and another Englishman, Jeremy Guscott, wrapped up a series win with a late drop-goal in a bruising second test. The Springboks took some consolation from a 35-16 win in the third but the spoils went to the tourists.

Lions put in their place despite rare win

Ian McGeechan's second tour as Lions coach saw him choose fellow Scot Gavin Hastings as captain, though 17 of the 30-strong touring party were English. New Zealanad outhalf Grant Fox ensured first blood as the last tour of the amateur age went to the hosts but the tourists struck back in the second test when Rory Underwood touched down in a 20-7 win. McGeechan's men raced into a 10-point lead in the third test in Auckland but were managed just three more points as the All Blacks romped to a 30-13 win and a series win.

Lions take typically bruising series

Scottish flanker Finlay Calder led the Lions to Australia for the first time since 1971. Four Irishmen - Donal Lenihan, Steve Smith, Brendan Mullin and Paul Dean - were in the squad. The series began poorly as the tourists conceded four tries and were beaten 30-12 by the hosts. A 19-12 win in Brisbane drew the Lions level, however, before a mistake by the legendary David Campese saw them triumph 19-18 in Sydney.

Toothless Lions taught severe lesson

The biggest ever victory over the Lions unfortunately came under the watch of two Irishmen. Captain Ciaran Fitzgerald and manager Willie John McBride, together with Scottish coach Jim Telfer, presided over only the second 4-0 defeat, the first having come against the same opposition in 1966. Ireland was also represented in the squad by Ollie Campbell, David Irwin, Mike Kiernan, Hugo MacNeill, Trevor Ringland, Donal Lenihan, Gerry McLoughlin and John O'Driscoll. The 18-match tour lasted almost two months and, aside from the four test defeats, the Lions also lost to Auckland and Canterbury.

Lions narrowly avoid whitewash

Against a fiercely contentious political backdrop, the Lions - coached and managed by Ireland's Noel Murphy and Syd Millar and captained by England's Bill Beaumont - toured South Africa. There was fierce opposition to the tour, given the apartheid regime in place at the time, and the 10-week visit proved to be just as volatile, with nine of the original 30 squad members returning home early with injury. Ireland's Tony Ward was brought in as a replacement and performed admirably in defeat in the first Test. Despite wholesale changes for the second test, they were beaten 26-19 in Bloemfontein and 12-10 in third match. A try from Ireland's John O'Driscoll helped them to a consolation win in the fourth test.

New Zealand a bridge too far for tourists

The Lions went to New Zealand in search of their third series win of the decade. Captained by Welshman Phil Bennett and coached by the John Dawes, the skipper on the victorious touring side to Australia and New Zealand six years earlier, sprits were high. There were four Irishmen - Phil Orr, Willie Duggan, Moss Keane and Mike Gibson - in the squad but the 26-match tour proved a gruelling one and the Lions lost five games. Prior to losing the tests 3-1, they were beaten by New Zealand Universities and on the way home, Fiji scored a 25-21 win over the tourists in Suva.

'Invincibles' tour unlikely to be bettered

Many refer to the 1974 of South African as the greatest ever and it's hard to argue the point. The Springboks were yet to be beaten in a 20th Century Test series but through a mix of attacking prowess and a refusal to be bullied, the Lions did just that with a 3-0 win. The side, coached by Ireland's Syd Millar and captained by Willie John McBride, won the first of four tests 12-3 and dominated the second, with five tries culminating in a 28-9 win. The Springboks' selection of a number eight at scrumhalf set the tone for the third test and prompted the now legendary Lions call of "99", which instructed each player to punch the nearest Springbok. It worked, and the series was won with a 26-9 win before a 13-13 draw in the fourth and final test.

All Blacks beaten in their own back yard

Finally, the Lions claimed a series against the heretofore unbeatable Kiwis. Captained by Wales' John Dawes and coached by his countryman Carwyn James, the Lions recorded their solitary win over the All Blacks with a 2-1 series win. The first test against the All Blacks ended in a 9-3 victory for the Lions but the hosts bit back in the second with 22-12 win. The third test in Wellington was decided by tries from Welshmen Gerald Davies and Barry John and a 13-13 draw in the final meeting ensured victory for the Lions.

Lions fail to make their mark

The 1968 Tour was seen by many as damage limitation after a dreadful mauling at the hands of New Zealand two years previously, but despite defeat, the Lions restored a semblance of pride in South Africa. Cork Constitution's Tom Kiernan captained the side to a 3-0 series defeat at the hands of the Springboks but managed a record personal haul of 35 points in the four tests, of which the second was drawn. The first and the third tests (20-25 and 6-11) were close affairs but the fourth was a comfortable 19-6 win for the hosts.

Prolonged suffering for the Lions

An eagerly anticipated tour began well with Test wins over Australia in Sydney and Brisbane, but the tourists were crushed in New Zealand and even beaten by Canadian province British Columbia en route home. Ireland's Des O'Brien was tour manager and there were nine Irishman in the squad. After a 31-0 win over the Wallabies, they travelled to New Zealand and were immediately beaten by Southland. Ottago and Wellington did the same before a 20-3 loss in the first Test in Dunedin. Three more defeats followed before the 8-3 embarrassment in Canada. A 19-8 win over the Canadian senior side was scant consolation.