Lions 2009 First Tests

Lions series first test is extraordinary in the history, create some of the most unforgettable and controversial minutes. In the old Lions have travelers coming back 1-0 deficits to win the series in 1989, when Finlay Calder's team took a 30-12 thumping in the first Test in Sydney but stormed back to clinch a 2-1 series win.

Here are some Lions openers that shook the rugby world.
2005: Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll felled after only 42 seconds in Christchurch as Tana Umag and Kevan Mealamu went to work with the spear tackle, which overshadows a series won by a great All Black team.

1997: High-octane action at Newlands in Cape Town decided by perhaps the most outrageous one in international rugby history from Matt Dawson, who stopped Andre Joubert, Gary Teichmann and Joost van der West Huizen in tracks along the way to the line. Another try from Alan Tait added Luster to a famous 25-16 win.

1993: Bitter fighting in the beginning and end. New Zealand's Frank Bunce was awarded a try when Ieuan Evans seemed to have more of the ball, and at the last minute, with the Lions leading 18-17, the Australian judge awarded a punishment against Dean Richards without reason that has ever been evident. Grant Fox stepped up to kick the winning number of goals.

1989: The fiercesome Lions pack endured a bizarrely of the day and Australians ran riot, wining 30-12.

1974: Willie-John McBride's Lions put in some very hard yards in the mud of Newlands. It has never recovered from thumping dished out by the Lions pack.

1959: An all-singing, all-dancing Lions back division fried All black live, outscoring their opponents four tries to NIL.

1955: There are many, of a certain age, which ranks the Lions' epic 23-22 win at Ellis Park as the greatest Test ever played.

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