Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

While a little disappointed with the All Blacks defeat inflicted by the Lions last weekend, it sets up a likely thriller at Eden Park next Saturday night. 

In the last few days, Sideline Sid has continued to read "Lions Rampant" by legendary rugby scribe TP McLean, published in 1971.

Written in a very different style and grammar to todays tell-all sports books, it's a very interesting up close and personal view of the 71 Lions Tour of New Zealand.

Forty-six years ago, the press who followed the three month long tour had a lot more access to the goings on of the Lions journey throughout the length and breadth of the country.

In a "what goes on tour stays on tour" commentary, TP eludes to several off field incidents without revealing any details.

It's also a very interesting look at the state of New Zealand rugby in the early 1970's. The Wellington based NZ Rugby Union Council ruled supreme.

Only a Councilor could manage a New Zealand team. The Councilors appointed the National selectors and controlled the Union finances, which gave a huge amount of power to a few. 

The two issues of the day were rough play off the ball on the field and the refusal to allow live television coverage of test matches.

After last weekend's test, little has changed since the 1970's in regard to playing the man without the ball.

While Sonny Bill was rightly punished for a no arms tackle, the referee was inconsistent with his reaction to rough play.

In Sideline Sid's humble opinion, the Lions yellow card should have been red. 

While we take watching test matches for granted as it happens on television, albeit on pay for view Sky TV - the first All Black rugby test to be shown on New Zealand television, was a delayed broadcast in 1962.

The New Zealand verses Australia match in Dunedin on the 8th September 1962, was shown on Sunday evening following the Saturday play. 

The refusal of the NZRFU to televise matches live built to a crescendo during the 1971 Lions Tour.

The arguments finally centered on the decision not to permit the televising of the fourth test at Eden Park, when tickets had long sold out.

The NZRFU drew terrible pictures of people staying away in droves if test matches were shown live on television.  

Just twelve months later the Rugby Union gave in to the strident calls for live televised games.

On September 12, 1972, the now voice of Americas Cup yachting in Peter Montgomery along with Bill McCarthy, called the All Blacks verses Australia on black and white TV from Eden Park.

For the record the All Blacks triumphed 38-3. 

Another interesting aside of the TP McLean book was his call of the demise of club rugby.

Nearly 50 years later, the same calls are being made about the death of grassroots (club) rugby.

In this writers opinion the game of rugby in New Zealand continues to attract maximum attention - just in different ways, with professional rugby and the sevens international game grabbing many of the headlines.  

As a fervent and passionate All Blacks fan, Sid believes that the Mighty Blacks will roar back to remove last week's stain of defeat on Saturday night, to win by twenty. 

Go the Mighty All Blacks.