Sir Ian McGeechan picks SEVEN Englishmen in his all-time Lions dream team

Saturday, 08 May 2021 at 14:37

byRugby Rucker

Sir Ian McGeechan is better qualified than most to give his opinion on the best players to don the famous British & Irish Lions 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.

BACK-THREE:

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.”
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,”

CENTRE:

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.”

HALFBACKS:

10. Gregor Townsend (Scotland) - “I’ve gone for the ball player. He was one of the most talented fly-halves I ever coached.”
9. Matt Dawson (England) - “I have always thought that he was the reason why Jonny Wilkinson played so well for England, simply because of the ball Daws gave him and when he gave it to him.”

FRONT-ROW:

1. David Sole (Scotland) - “I remember saying that he would be the prototype for the modern-day prop with his skills and mobility. That has definitely proved to be the case.”
2. Brian Moore (England) - “He was a ferocious competitor.”
3. Dai Young (Wales) - “He was a real tough nut and he was outstanding in Australia in 1989 when he was still so young.”

SECOND-ROW:

4. Martin Johnson (England) - “I put his name down and moved on. It was as simple as that.”
5. Paul O’Connell (Ireland) - “In that 2009 series you just saw how good he was; he was world-class.”

BACK-ROW:

6. Mike Teague (England) - ‘He simply had a huge impact in 1989.”
7. Richard Hill (England) - “He was incredible in 1997. He was a players’ player.”
8. Lawrence Dallaglio (England) - “He had the intellect in high pressure situations to do the right thing.”