Writing in the Telegraph, Sir Ian McGeechan has issued a ten-point plan to save rugby – and we have to say it’s quite brilliant.
1. Put the players first
2. Create a nine-month season with three ‘breaks’
3. Align the global rugby calendar
4. Hold a Tier Two World Cup at same time as World Cup
5. Standardise 14-club leagues
6. World Club Challenge and streamlined European tournament
7. Get Tier One playing against Tier Two nations on a regular basis
8. Give Tier Two countries the chance to field their best players
9. Give Tier Two nations better support at every level
10. Create a World Rugby financial controller
Sir Ian McGeechan selects his all-time Lions dream team
As someone who coached the Lions on four separate tours (and played on two others), Sir Ian McGeechan is better qualified than most to give his opinion on the best players to don the famous red shirt.
The former Scotland international was in charge of the Lions in 1989, 1993, 1997 and 2009 (as well as coaching the midweek games upon Clive Woodward’s invitation in 2005) to varying degrees of success, so has a large pool to choose from when it comes to selecting his all-time XV from the squads that he has coached.
Read his full article for the Telegraph here.
Here’s who he selected:
15. Gavin Hastings (Scotland)
“He was strong under the high ball, could kick the ball a mile and was really strong in the contract, where you could play off him.”
14. Ieuan Evans (Wales)
“A favourite of mine who went on three Lions tours in 1989, 1993 and 1997. He was a lethal finisher.”
13. Jeremy Guscott (England)
“He was the runner but had the toughness too,”
12. Scott Gibbs (Wales)
“There are not too many backs who have total respect from the forwards, but Gibbsy was one of them. His physical work was huge.”
11. Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
“His influence on the games in 2009 was massive. He has speed and power, and of all the wingers I have seen he cuts the best lines and he does it so late, too,”