Obituary: Legendary Wales and British and Irish Lions fly-half Phil Bennett
Phil Bennett scored 166 points in 29 internationals for Wales and 44 points in eight Tests for the British and Irish Lions
The audacity to take on four All Blacks just a few metres from his own try line - and the dexterity to dance past them and leave them floundering in his wake - illustrated Bennett's genius. By that point, he was already a fully-fledged international, having made his Wales debut as the country's first replacement in 1969.
With Bennett back in the team, Wales won the Five Nations Grand Slam in 1976 and, when the career of Wales skipper Mervyn Davies ended the following year, it was Bennett who assumed the captaincy. Later that year, Bennett led the Lions on their tour of New Zealand and, although that series ended in defeat, there was still time for a glorious closing chapter.
"I didn't want this game to be about me, this was a great Welsh team, we had just achieved the triple Triple Crown and were going for a second Grand Slam in two years."Afterwards, I walked into the changing room and I went up to Gareth and said thanks for everything and he replied, 'Bloody hell, you're getting out as well. Me too'."That was Phil Bennett. Understated, humble, class to the last.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Stephen Thompson obituaryScreenwriter and novelist who won a Bafta for his BBC drama, Sitting in Limbo, about his brother’s experiences of being threatened with deportation
Read more »
'Stage for England's World Cup auditions is huge'England's latest World Cup auditions may be taking place behind closed doors but the stage is huge for every member of Gareth Southgate's squad, writes Phil McNulty.
Read more »
Our obituaries editor picks the five best biographies ever written“Dorothy Wordsworth’s wonderful diaries drive any feminist mad: a fine, talented female mind totally devoted to waiting on her brother, the great poet. But it is she who notices the daffodils first”
Read more »
Iran ‘dangerously’ close to completing nuclear weapons programme🔴As Israeli officials said Western allies were 'waking up' to the threat of Iran becoming a nuclear power, Naftali Bennett called on Britain to keep up the pressure on Tehran's leaders
Read more »
Woman who had liver transplant forms special friendship with her donor's mumSue Bennett was emotional when she met Sharron Jones for the first time. They talked about Sharron's daughter Amy, whose liver saved Sue's life, after her own life was cut short by an epileptic seizure
Read more »
Hollyoaks star Andy Moss engaged to boyfriend after romantic yacht proposalHollyoaks' Rhys Ashworth star Andy Moss is set to tie the knot after his boyfriend Mark Bennett got down on one knee to propose to him on a yacht during a romantic holiday
Read more »