"Barrel-chest of a shot putter" - Bill McLaren ranked top 5 all-time Lions

Legendary commentator Bill McLaren took on the daunting task of picking his greatest British & Irish Lions of all time for a book in 1998.

A tribute to the special spirit of the British Lions rugby team, with a history of Lions tours and pen portraits of the sixty greatest Lions players since 1971.

Playing for the British Lions has been the ultimate accolade for any Home Union rugby player, ever since the first Lions tour to South Africa in 1910. In his capacity as a rugby commentator on national radio and television for more than 35 years, Bill McLaren is the ideal person to uncover the magic and pride in putting on a Lions shirt and playing in the world’s most famous rugby touring side.

The book features McLaren’s personal portraits of the 60 greatest Lions players. Below are his top five.

Bill McLaren’s Dream Lions is a special tribute to the unique spirit of the British Lions, a quality that has won the admiration of rugby followers around the world.

McLaren said: "He burst onto the scene with elegant, smooth acceleration, superb judgement of angle and distance, and subtle body balance in swerve and pace change, that were to decorate his career as one of the most gifted centres to ever play the game."

McLaren said: "He flitted like some phantom through the cluttered confines of the opposing defences, like some waif possessed hypnotic powers and skill - that surely is an apt description of the subtle modes of deception and wizardry that made John such an extraordinary talent, not to mention his mastery of flight and distance in the placement of his punts."

McLaren said: "Had the build of a water buffalo. There was, of course, much more to Cotton than just size. That he was no slouch when he stepped in the accelerator and also possessed high grade handling skills that were underlined at the first ever World Sevens tournament in 1973."

McLaren said: "He was the complete competitor whose calm assurance and unwavering confidence were vital ingredients in the test successes for the Lions against New Zealand in 1971 and in South Africa three years later."

McLaren said: "He was immensely strong, especially in the upper body, possessing the barrel-chest of a shot putter as well as powerful legs, arms and wrists. He was in the highest possible echelon throughout his career,"