OK,
Imagine you had a time machine capable of going back to 1960 (any earlier and I think we'll struggle to judge) abd can cobble together a fantasy Lions team.
Who makes the cut for the first XV?
Willie John McBride and Martin Johnson in the second row?
JJ and JPR in the three quarters?
Jerry Guscott & Brian O'Driscoll in the centres ?
Gareth Chilcott, Andy Powell & Nick Popplewell in the bar????
Here's my selection:
Fullback: JPR Williams (Wales)
An extraordinary fullback with the balance of a ballet dancer and the grit of a boxer, his skills as a surgeeon would be useful to whoever faced this side - poor sods
Wingers: JJ Williams, Shane Williams (Wales)
The former is a personal favourite - the haircut of Leo Sayer and the athleticism and humour of Jackie Chan, the latter with his quick turns and footspeed makes him one of the few modern day players to make the cut
Centres: Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland) Jeremy Guscott (England)
A never say die attitude from both, the former probably the greatest Irishman to ever play the came - he didnt need to be arrogant, his trophy cabinet has its own postcode, and hes still going. The latter deft in attack, powerful in defence, great with the boot too an dwith the belief to make his side unbeatable
Fly Half: Jonny Wilkinson (England)
A points machine, great in both attack and defence and perfect with the cool head for any conversion, loved by England, feared by everyone else
Scrum Half: Gareth Edwards (Wales)
The turbo-charger for the great Welsh side of the 70s, a scrum half who was a cross between a number 8 and a fullback
Number 8: Lawrence Dallaglio (England)
A beast of a man, ate scrum halves and fly halves for breakfast
Flankers: Richard Hill (England) Fergus Slattery (Ireland)
Both essentially did the hard work and didnt garner the praise they deserved, but you noticed when they were out, usually by the opposition declaring a bank holiday
Second Row: Martin Johnson (England) Willie John McBride (Ireland)
Possibly the two greatest leaders the game has ever seen - nuff said!
Props: Jason Leonard (England) Tom Smith (Scotland)
Both successfully spanned the amateur and professional era, which was no mean feat considering the average scrummager became 10% heavier and had 10% less fat in that time
Hooker: Keith Wood (Ireland)
Like a lab experiment to cross Usain Bolt with a rhino, the first superstar scrummager of the professional era
Fantasy Lions team
posted on 6/4/12
Tony Ward
Moss Keane
===============
who ?
posted on 6/4/12
Before your time JPB?
posted on 6/4/12
I think so Taras.
Was Mr Keane really better than Martin Johnson ???????
Nice article btw .
posted on 6/4/12
1- Os Du Randt
2- Fizz
3- Phil Vickery
4- Martin Johnson
5- John Eales
6- Michael Jones
7- LBN Dallaglio
8- Zinzan Brooke
9- George Gregan
10- Michael Lynagh
11- Gerald Davies
12- Philippe Sella
13- BOD
14- David Campese
15- JPR / Blanco
posted on 6/4/12
I'm not sure I'm entirely happy with that, but I have only spent the last week deliberating. May well change once I remember someone else, or my opinion changes.
posted on 6/4/12
looks like a pretty handy team mondieu.
posted on 6/4/12
Was Moss Keane better than Martin Johnson?
Probably not but, one of my favourite players and tough as old hobnails.
I remember one game against France which was not for the squeamish. Pierre Dospital, a real thug of a prop in the best French tradition, had been up to no good throughout. A large messy ruck developed, Moss dived onto the top of it and came out clutching Dospital's ear which was still attatched to his head, but only just.
posted on 6/4/12
Interesting idea MonDieu but not sure many of them qualify to represent The Lions...
posted on 6/4/12
i think he's put it on the wrong thread.
there's another one which is supposed to be best of the last 10 years, but which has also got a couple of all time teams on.
posted on 6/4/12
...crap