Ian McGeechan names ‘ultimate Test-match animal’ in ‘Greatest I Coached’ Lions team consisting of 10 English, 3 Welsh, 2 Scots and 0 Irish
Ian McGeechan during the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa
Sir Ian McGeechan has named his greatest British and Irish Lions team from the players that he coached – and it’s memorable for not including a single Ireland player in the starting XV.
Four Irish did make McGeechan’s bench, but that won’t make up for his preference of an English-dominated starting side that included seven forwards.
A player in 1974 and 1977, McGeechan led the Lions as head coach on their respective 1989, 1993, 1997 and 2009 tours to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa (twice). He was also an assistant on the 2005 tour to New Zealand led by Clive Woodward.
Aside from McGeechan’s lack of Irish players in his ‘Greatest I Coached XV’, another notable aspect was that just one 2009 player – England’s Simon Shaw – was worthy of inclusion from that year’s tour to South Africa.
“Changed my mind on one position overnight…”
Revealing his best-ever picks in his latest Telegraph column, McGeechan claimed: “I found picking my all-time best Lions 23 – from the players I have coached on tour – an extremely difficult task, even after writing down the most influential performers.
“The exercise made me reflect on how privileged I have been and what makes a winning combination, because, as we keep saying, the British and Irish Lions do not win as often as they lose… Putting together this line-up was almost impossible, I must admit. I changed my mind on one position overnight.”
Sifting through McGeechan’s back three, he lauded Neil Jenkins for “delivering under the most severe pressure”, praised Ieuan Evans for being “very alert and quick”, and Rory Underwood for giving “real speed out wide”.
Switching to midfield, he named Jerry Guscott “because of his series-winning moments” and paired him with Scott Gibbs for being “exceptional in his own way”.
At half-back, Gregor Townsend was saluted for “doing things that you are not necessarily renowned for” and Matt Dawson for his “unbelievable impact”.
Moving to the pack, where Scotland’s Tom Smith was his only non-English pick, McGeechan said: “Tom was ahead of his time.”
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Reflecting on his seven England forwards, the coach began by claiming it was a “coin-toss” at hooker where he named Brian Moore ahead of Keith Wood.
Jason Leonard got the not at tighthead for his “immensely influential” personality, Martin Johnson was described as “the ultimate Test-match animal” and Shaw as “brilliant” when his opportunity finally arrived in 2009.
About the back-row, McGeechan wrote that Lawrence Dallaglio was “the ultimate driver of emotion”, that Richard Hill “was the first name on my teamsheet”, and that Dean Richards was the “powerful figurehead of any side”.
Ian McGeechan’s ‘Greatest I Coached’ Lions team
McGeechan’s XV: 15. Neil Jenkins (Wales), 14. Ieuan Evans (Wales), 13. Jerry Guscott (England), 12. Scott Gibbs (Wales), 11. Rory Underwood (England), 10. Gregor Townsend (Scotland), 9. Matt Dawson (England), 8. Dean Richards (England), 7. Richard Hill (England), 6. Lawrence Dallaglio (England), 5. Simon Shaw (England), 4. Martin Johnson (captain, England), 3. Jason Leonard (England), 2. Brian Moore (England), 1. Tom Smith (Scotland)
Replacements: 16. Keith Wood (Ireland), 17. David Sole (Scotland), 18. Paul Wallace (Ireland), 19. Paul O’Connell (Ireland), 20. Mike Teague (England), 21. Mike Phillips (Wales), 22. Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), 23. Gavin Hastings (Scotland)