Inspirational Bentos puts Lions on road to glory

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

- Brendan Gallagher

What’s happening here?

It’s June 28, 1997 at sultry King’s Park Durban as the sun sets on yet another blisteringly hot day on the Lions tour. It’s the second Test and the turbo-charged Boks look ready to cause some serious damage. They are on a mission. The Lions are in for a long night but suddenly John Bentley – Bentos to one and all – lifts the mood a little as he chases a high kick and lands a thunderous tackle on Pieter Rossouw that left the Boks wing and the South African supporters reeling.

What’s the story behind the picture?

As ever the odds were stacked against the visitors as they took on the world champions but that is the big challenge for the Lions on tour and under Fran Cotton, Ian McGeehan and Jim Telfer they had acquitted themselves well in the opening games and selected their squad cleverly.

Included among the tour party were four recent returnees from Rugby League of whom John Bentley was the least heralded. He had won two England caps before turning professional and, although a very decent League pro with Leeds and Halifax and an England representative at the 1995 World Cup, he was not a huge star. He was though a ferociously hard-working, fit, focussed professional with a great line in banter who added to the team’s camaraderie wherever he went.

What happened next?