Best Ever: British & Irish Lions Fans Name Their Greatest Ever XV - Page 4 of 5 - Ruck

Best Ever: British & Irish Lions Fans Name Their Greatest Ever XV

Tighthead-prop: Fran Cotton (England) – 24%

Runner-up: Graham Price (Wales) – 7%

Cotton was up front on the 1977 tour tests. It’s never an easy task to make an All Blacks scrum creak but he did just that. Also a tourist in 1974 and 1980 in South Africa, he always gave a great display in the art of the scrum.


Lock: Martin Johnson (England) – 40%

Runner-up: Paul O’Connell (Ireland) – 9%

For some a controversial character, but for all one of the greats. His leadership earned him the captaincy in both 1997 and 2001. Johnson also toured in 1993’s narrow series loss to New Zealand. His work in the loose and the lineout set him apart as a player.


Lock: Willie John McBride (Ireland) – 43%

Runner-up: Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) – 3%

A record 17 test across five tours for what many regard as the greatest lock ever produced by the home nations. Additionally, he was the captain of the great ’74 team and always proved himself and inspirational figure on the pitch.

CONTINUES ON PAGE FIVE