Bill McLaren - RIP

[philipbh]

From Simon Mayo R2 last night

<BM talking about Jonah Lomu>

" I'm no hod carrier, but I'd be laying bricks if he was running at me"

 

[Watt-O]

Bill, was "one from the top drawer", alright.

 

[ChrisKH]

....... and he's just run into Dean Richards, not the best of career moves......

Along with Eddie Waring, the voice that accompanied much of TV rugby viewing in my formative years. RIP.

Who can remember having to wait all week for Rugby Special on Sundays (bar the internationals)?

 

[bauldbairn]

From Simon Mayo R2 last night

<BM talking about Jonah Lomu>

" I'm no hod carrier, but I'd be laying bricks if he was running at me"

Other classics from Mr McLaren include(in today's Daily Record);

"That ball's gone so high there'll be snow on it when it comes down."

"He's like a raging bull with a bad head."

"Those probs are as cunning as a bag o' weasels."

"They say that if you ever catch Phil Bennet(Welsh half-back), you get to make a wish."

"It's high enough, it's long enough, it's straight enough."

"He's like a demented ferret up a wee drainpipe."

"He's as quick as a trout up a burn(small Scottish stream)."

"I look at (Sir)Colin Meads (the greatest All Black of all time) and see a great big sheep farmer who carried the ball in his hands as though it was an orange pip."

"The All Blacks that day looked like the great prophets of doom."


Often copied but never equalled - Bill McLaren RIP.

 

[BrumJim]

I would like to dedicate my last 24 years of rugby watching to Bill McLaren. This includes too many trips to count down to Welford Road to watch the mighty Leicester Tigers. It also includes trips to Scotland, France, Wales and Ireland to watch them play, one full international (England Vs Italy), one SA Vs World XV. I would also like to dedicate all the Moseley games I have been to watch since I came to Birmingham in 1989, and a special memory watching Bath Vs Leinster at The Rec. This is in addition to the thousands of hours I have spent at home watching 6-nations, Autumn internationals, World Cup, Lions tours and Rugby Special.

It all started as a young boy, must be 5 or 6, watching the 5-nations with my Dad in the lounge at home. Before my Mum decided I was old enough, I was waiting with eager anticipation for the opportunity to go and watch my first match live. And who did the most to fuel this desire?

Just two words are needed to re-capture that Borders lilt and un-partisan enthusiasm for the game, a man great enough to know that the real stars were on the pitch getting muddy.

Those two words?

"Brilliant Try".