Comments: The Lions return their skilled position players intact and it's a formidable group.

"That is doubtless a matter of taste," returned the Lion.

In 1974, the Lions showed continued improvement in posting an 8-8 record, and again returned to the playoffs for the second straight year.

In 1981, the Lions returned to the playoffs with a third place divisional finish and a 10-6 record.

The Lions finished 11-5 for the second-best record in team history and returned to first place for the first time since the 1964 season.

The time had come, Chernobog decided, to see if the Lion had returned to his slumber.

"I know it," returned the Lion, wiping a tear from his eye with the tip of his tail.

"I suppose there are," returned the Lion, "but I do not see any of them about."

After a seemingly long absence from New Zealand, the Lions returned in 1930 to some success.

The Lions did not return to South Africa until 1997, after the Apartheid era.