“He really was the complete player" - Sir Ian McGeechan Ranks His Top 5 Rugby Players Of All-Time

McGeechan said: "Illness and injury ultimately slowed him down. But his performances at the 1995 World Cup, just as the game was turning professional, will never be forgotten. The game needed a superstar, and it got one in Lomu. He was brilliant for rugby."

McGeechan said: "His ability to get back on his feet after tackling to compete for the ball was extraordinary, and ensured he always had an impact on the game, whatever type of game it was. He was such a natural talent."

McGeechan said: " I think he defined an era, both for forward play and for the performances of the teams he represented."

Did you know? Johnson briefly played American football for the Leicester Panthers as a tight end or defensive end

McGeechan said: “He really was the complete 10. His defence was immaculate, he could break himself, he could bring others in to play, his kicking from hand and from tee was incredibly accurate.

"He also changed the way the game was played with his kicking from his own 22m and his kicking to compete. The greatest of the modern era in my opinion.’’

McGeechan said: "My favourite scrum-half of all time happens to be my favourite player of all time. Gareth Edwards was and always will be the master. The Greatest.’

"As a young player I looked up to him immensely. To play alongside him, as I did in on the 1974 Lions tour to South Africa, was one of the great privileges of my career. 

" Not only did he possess a wonderful pass, he was such a powerful runner - very strong from the waist up - and he always made the most of quick ball, running at defenders and either getting across the gain-line himself or keeping defenders occupied so that you had an extra second. "

"It was an amateur game back then but Gareth would have been at home in any era."

Did you know? He was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2015, for services to sport and for charitable service