- Date of Birth24 / 10 / 1948
- Lions Tours1974, 1977
- International CapsWales / Lions
- Lions Origin ClubsBarbarians, Felinfoel, Llanelli, Crawshays
You’ve had a good Lions Tour when Willie John McBride singles you out as the key player in the stellar line-up that went unbeaten through South Africa in 1974.
Catapulted into the hot seat when Alan Old broke his leg, Bennett top-scored with 103 points and pulled the strings as the Lions dismantled the Springboks and went unbeaten through the Tour.
He struck three penalties as the tourists won the first Test 12-3 and then produced the performance of his career to inflict a record defeat on South Africa in the second, slicing through the home defence to score as the Lions raced to a 28-9 win.
The Llanelli hero kicked eight more points over the final two Tests, three of which came from one of the most celebrated of all drop goals, an injury-time coup de grace in the 26-9 third Test victory set up by Gareth Edwards' delicious reverse pass.
He captained the Lions on their next Tour to New Zealand in 1977, winning the second Test and was only denied a share of the series by a late, late try in the final Test. Bennett once again top scored on the Tour with 125 points.