This was the only test success of the Lions' unsatisfactory tour of New Zealand in 1977, though they could claim to be unlucky in at least one other test.
The rugby was almost secondary to the major brawl on the field - and the breaking news before it.
The All Blacks' diminutive wing Grant Batty had been suffering from a knee injury on the tour to South Africa the previous year. Twice during that four-test series he'd been forced from the field early.
He returned to national colours for the first test and marked it with a brilliant sxolo try.
However, while training for the second test at Lincoln University (then College), Batty realised there was something wrong that wasn't going to be fixed by the odd game off and promptly retired from all rugby.
If the rugby public was in shock about that, the crowd at Lancaster Park were to receive a greater shock when they saw what their money had paid for.
In its understated way, rugby bible Men In Black might have put it best when it said: "As a spectacle this was a poor game. There was very little excitement and it wasn't played in the best of spirits, an all-out brawl which followed a late tackle by [Kevin] Eveleigh on [Phil] Bennett being particularly nasty."
The Lions, who were liberally festooned by some of the great names of British rugby - men like Bennett, Bill Beaumont, Fran Cotton, JJ Williams and Andy Irvine - deservedly won.
Williams scored a try after a clever dummy and Bennett's three penalties cancelled out the three by All Blacks wing Bryan Williams. It was their last real ray of light on the tour.
Christchurch, 1977
All Blacks 9
Lions 13
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
Batty withdrawal and an all-out brawl
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