The British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand in 1993 may not rank among the most successful but for Martin Bayfield it remains a gateway to an absurdly brilliant bygone era.
The game of rugby was changing when Ian McGeechan’s squad set sail down under, with professionalism looming ever larger.
The final Tour of the amateur era would pose a few challenges for the management team but for Bayfield, he firstly had to overcome a sense of imposter syndrome.
“We met up at a hotel in Weybridge and I was rooming with Ieuan Evans,” recalled Bayfield, who made his England debut two years previously.
“I was thinking, ‘Ieuan Evans, will not know who I am.’ He might have seen me for a few minutes on the pitch in Cardiff, in the Five Nations, but our paths will never have crossed on that pitch, he was well away from me.
“So I thought he would have no idea who I was, and I knew this was one of the greatest rugby players in the world but it just clicked and we got on.
“Seeing the different characters and different approaches to rugby from players across the unions was fascinating and there was a wonderful mix of professional attitudes on a Tour which, at times, felt like it was a school tour.”
There was certainly no messing about when the squad touched down in New Zealand, as they won each of the first four provincial matches to raise hopes of a first series victory against the All Blacks since the fabled 1971 Tour.
Their hosts were in something of a transitionary period. The protagonists of the 1987 World Cup triumph had mostly left the Test stage but those who starred in 1995 and beyond were yet to arrive.
As is often the case, a cagey first Test ensued, with New Zealand edging in front courtesy of a controversial 20-18 victory in Christchurch.
The Lions, captained by Gavin Hastings, then bounced back with one of their most famous victories in Wellington, demolishing the All Blacks 20-7, before fatigue got the better of them in the decider – a 30-13 reverse at Eden Park.
“We should have won the first test in Lancaster Park,” recalled Bayfield, who started all three Tests.
“We then inflicted upon the All Blacks one of their heaviest defeats in the second Test and I think for the third, we were just blown out, we were knackered.
“The All Blacks rejigged their team, we scored first but we just couldn’t hang on. We were done.
“I always find it interesting watching the behind-the-scenes videos and documentaries of Lions teams because from day one to the final day of that Tour, I didn’t do a single bit of training in the gym, nothing to keep my physical strength up.
“We would do some fitness testing but we trained, played a game, travelled, trained, played a game, travelled. We did no conditioning work really.
“So by the time I played the third Test, I was less fit than I was when I started the Tour because physically, I was probably weaker than when we arrived.
“I’m not saying that I was a complete gym bunny, but I’m sure some physiologists would say that was a disadvantage for us.
“We were just knackered and the All Blacks were proud and didn’t want to lose the series.”
In spite of the disappointment which followed a 2-1 series defeat, Bayfield reflects back fondly on his part in Lions history.
“The actual Tour itself was absolutely phenomenal, great players, great country to tour, the fans were phenomenal,” he added.
“I absolutely loved it, it was the highlight of my rugby career without a doubt.”
