Sir Ian McGeechan asked to pick his all-time XV – leaves out Wilkinson - Ruck

Sir Ian McGeechan asked to pick his all-time XV – leaves out Wilkinson

Sir Ian McGeechan has picked his all-time greatest XV, but there is no room in his selection for Paul O’Connell, David Campese or Jonny Wilkinson. 

The 74-year-old has picked six New Zealanders in his selection along with three Englishmen, two Welshman and one player each from France, Scotland and Ireland.

BACK-THREE

Fullback: JPR Williams (Wales) – “Not a staggeringly original choice, I’ll admit. But to my mind the only one. If I’m going to be picking a dream XV over the next few days then I want JPR at the back. No question.”


Left-wing: Jonah Lomu (New Zealand) – “Illness and injury ultimately slowed him down. But his performances at the 1995 World Cup, just as the game was turning professional, will never be forgotten. The game needed a superstar, and it got one in Lomu. He was brilliant for rugby.”


Right-wing: John Kirwan (New Zealand) – “He had an all round game; he could carry the ball through heavy traffic, he could offload, he was like an extra back-rower at times. Plus, he had natural effortless pace. He ended up scoring 35 tries for the All Blacks and was instrumental as they went through their unbeaten spell of games between 1987 and 1990.”


CENTRES

Outside-centre: Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland) – “His ability to get back on his feet after tackling to compete for the ball was extraordinary, and ensured he always had an impact on the game, whatever type of game it was. He was such a natural talent.”


Inside-centre: Philippe Sella (France) – “Sella and O’Driscoll were powerful men. They could stop a forward in his tracks. I think as a pair they would dominate any midfield and I like the thought of them together.”

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