Brent McKenzie debuts against Lions in 1983..........

Playing the Lions is once in a lifetime experience and it was not different than in 1983.  Here are some stories from the public.....

Southland wanted to use its backs against the Lions in 1983 and to their credit attacked as well as any provincial team.  O'Connell says that" Southland played with a better spirit than its game against Otago" on 31st May, but it was impossible for the team to break the strong defensive line.
The power of the Lion's forward pack was immense and O'Connell says that "Southland never looked like coming to terms with the great forward power of the Lions."

Reference:   O,Connell, L. Southland Subjugate By British Isles. The Southland                         Times. June 1983.
                        Destreieux, C.  Lions Criticized By Kevin Laidlaw.  The Southland                         Times.  June 1983

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The team were:  Brent McKenzie, Jimmy Cormack, Steven Pokere, Paul Laidlaw, Brian Dickison, Brian McKechnie, Chris Hiini, Bruce Robertson, Leicester Rutledge, Paul Henderson, Alan Byrne, Fergus Dermody, Doug Murcott, Lex Chisholm, Paul Cosgrove, John Chittock, Paul Macfie, Milton Haig, Trevor Bokser, Alister King, Mark Crowther.

Lions V Southland stories:

Murray Hunter, Star 14th Grade.

Brett Munyard, Star 13th Grade.

Ash McGregor, Player/coach Albion Senior team. Recent All Black who had toured the British Isles.

Kevin Laidlaw - Coach