The toughest call... Lions legend Sir Ian selects his ultimate dream team

HE’S coached some of the biggest names in world rugby whilst carving out legendary status for the Lions.

So to make Sir Ian McGeechan’s Lions dream team from his record four spells at the coaching helm (1989, ‘93, ‘97 and 2009) would be feather in the cap for the chosen few.

And former Scotland outside-half Geech, who made eight appearances for the Lions on the 1974 and ‘77 tours, has burned the midnight oil to make probably his toughest Lions selection of the lot in a new book entitled ‘The Lions, When the Going Gets Tough; Behind the Scenes by Ian McGeechan’.

If Warren Gatland reckons he’s got it tough picking his starting XV for the first Test against New Zealand, imagine this challenge for McGeechan. It really is the elite of the elite from the past 28 years.

However, he explains the reasoning behind his Lions selections and in doing so gives a fascinating account why he chose three Welshmen in his XV and why some other stellar names from these shores just missed out. Here is McGeechan’s dream team from his four spells as Lions coach... 15: Gavin Hastings (Scotland) ‘He played in two Lions Test series in 1989 and 1993. He was a series winner in the first and captained the other, so he does have some rather decent pedigree.

‘He was actually very similar to JPR Williams. On the 1974 tour that was the first tine I came across a real Test-match animal, and JPR was an animal at times.

‘His competitiveness, his bravery and the fact that he could counter-attack as well stood him apart from other players I had seen and played against.’ 14: Ieuan Evans (Wales) ‘A favourite of mine who went on three Lions tours in ‘89, ‘93 and ‘97.

‘Like all the Welsh wingers and most especially Gerald Davies, whom sadly I never toured with as a Lions player, Ieuan had a very good sidestep which he could also combine with searing acceleration. He was a lethal finisher, especially in tight situations.’ 13: Jeremy Guscott (England) ‘He was a runner but he had a toughness too, and his combination with Scott Gibbs worked well.

‘Gibbs would make Jerry work hard in defence, which made him a more complete player.

‘Wales’ Jamie Roberts and Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll were magnificent for me in 2009 and they were certainly close to Gibbs and Guscott as a partnership they were that good.

‘I would have loved to have seen O’Driscoll play alongside Gibbs though.’ 12: Scott Gibbs (Wales) ‘He made a huge impact on opponents and indeed on his own side when he was marshalling the defence, always screaming at people to get into position. He knew what made others tick and when to say something that would make a difference,

‘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) ‘I originally put England’s Rory Underwood here and I did consider putting Guscott here to accommodate O’Driscoll in the centre, but I was so impressed by Bowe in 2009 that I just had to select him.

‘His influence on the games in 2009 was massive.’ 10: Gregor Townsend (Scotland) ‘Gregor thrived on the 1997 tour when he had so many good players around him.

‘Wales’ Stephen Jones was very good in 2009. He was a great sounding board for me as coach, too; I always liked talking to him tactically after games.

‘Like Gregor, it was little surprise to me when he became a coach after finishing playing.

‘You could see that thinking was there in both of them.’ 9: Matt Dawson (England) ‘I changed my mind at the last moment here; I had originally gone with Wales’ Mike Phillips.

‘I knew I could trust Daws in 1997. He was such a competitor but he was also so clever. And Daws was such a natural breaker, as he showed with that wonder try in the first Test.’ 1: David Sole (Scotland) ‘This was another hard decision. I had three names written down at the start: Sole, his compatriot Tom Smith and Wales’ Gethin Jenkins. I went for Sole because he is a natural leader as well and quite a strong personality.’ 2: Brian Moore (England) ‘For me it was a straight choice between him and Ireland’s Keith Wood. Both of them had two Lions series.

‘There is little to choose between them, but I went for Brian because of his huge competitiveness and the fact that his throwing was so accurate.’ 3: Dai Young (Wales) ‘Again this was a close call, this time between Young and his compatriot Adam Jones, who really surprised me in South Africa in 2009 by how good he was.

‘His scrummaging was superb and, like Dai, he was a good ball handler too. But Dai was a real tough nut and he was outstanding in Australia in 1989 when he was still so young.’ 4: Martin Johnson (England, captain) ‘I am not sure that I need to say any more than I have already said about Johnno. I just put his name down and moved on.’ 5: Paul O’Connell (Ireland) ‘I was very torn here between O’Connell and England’s Simon Shaw. Those two performances from Shaw in South Africa in 2009 were so good, when he came in and just nullified Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha. But I have gone for O’Connell because of his leadership.’ 6: Mike Teague (England) ‘He simply had a huge impact in 1989. He only played two Tests on that tour but he ended up being man of the series, so that just shows what he did and what an effect he had.’ 7: Richard Hill (England) ‘He was just incredible in 1997. Yes, you could say that he was not an out-andout seven, but he was so competitive and such a good reader of the game that he was always there near the ball.’ 8: Lawrence Dallaglio (England) ‘I was considering him at six but could not leave Teague out, so have gone with Lawrence at No.8, where he did play in the final Test in 1997. He could genuinely play at six, seven or eight, which made him so valuable especially on a Lions tour.’ © Ian McGeechan. Copy extracted from The Lions: When the Going Gets Tough by Ian McGeechan, published by Hodder & Stoughton £20