“He’d talk the talk, then walk the walk." - Warren Gatland ranks his top five all-time Lions
Rugby NewsWednesday, 16 June 2021 at 15:41
magazine, Edwards was declared the greatest player of all time.
Lions head coach Warren Gatland is unbeaten in two consecutive Tours to Australia and New Zealand, and is only the second person to lead a third tour after Sir Ian McGeechan.
Gatland was also part of the last British & Irish Lions touring party to South Africa in 2009 as McGeechan’s forwards coach in the 2-1 series defeat to the Springboks. S
Should Gatland avoid defeat this summer, he would create Lions history by becoming the first person to lead tours to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and remain unbeaten.
Below, the boss ranks his top five Lions of all-time with a certain Brian O'Driscoll included in his rankings.
DID YOU KNOW? During his playing career Gatland became the record-holder of the most games for Waikato, finishing his career there with 140 games in total.
#5. Lawrence Dallaglio (England)
- Major teams British and Irish Lions, Emerging England, England Under-21s, Wasps, England
- Position No. 8
- Lions caps 3
- Tours 1997 (South Africa)
In 1997 Dallaglio made his first appearance in a Lions shirt during the tour to South Africa, playing in all three Tests of the successful series.
He would go on to be selected for two further Lions squads in 2001 and 2005, but on both occasions had his tour ended early by injury, forcing him out of the reckoning for a Test place.
“The best captain that I’ve ever been involved with was Lawrence Dallaglio. He had that unbelievable ability to motivate players in a way that I’ve never seen anyone else able to do. Particularly in the changing rooms,
“He’d talk the talk and then walk the walk. I’ve so much admiration for his leadership and honesty in that role.”
DID YOU KNOW? He is one of a very small number of players to have won both the Rugby World Cup and Sevens World Cup
#4. Martin Johnson (England)
- Major teams British and Irish Lions, Leicester Tigers, England, England XV
- Position Lock
- Lions caps 8
- Tours 1993 (New Zealand), 1997 (South Africa), 2001 (Australia)
For some a controversial character, but for all one of the greats. His leadership earned him the captaincy in both 1997 and 2001.
Johnson also toured in 1993’s narrow series loss to New Zealand. His work in the loose and the lineout set him apart as a player.
GATLAND SAID: "An unbelievable leader. Probably the most competitive player I've ever come across. Very tough and loved a challenge."
DID YOU KNOW? Martin Johnson comes from a sporting family. His great-grandfather was a wrestler
#3. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
- Major teams British and Irish Lions, Edinburgh, Leinster, Ireland
- Position Centre
- Lions caps 8
- Tours 2001 (Australia), 2005 (New Zealand), 2009 (South Africa), 2013 (Australia)
Probably the best player ever produced by Ireland, O’Driscoll was Lions captain on the ill-fated 2005 series that saw his tour cut short in a controversial manner.
One of the most feared players in the game, his cutting runs in Australia four years previous were instrumental in getting the series win.
He toured again in 2009 and 2013. This made him only the third player in 125 years of Lions history to go on tour four times.
GATLAND SAID: "In his prime, he was absolutely outstanding in terms of his rugby knowledge and leadership. He was always able to make players around him look better than they were."
DID YOU KNOW? He is the 8th-highest try scorer in international rugby union history, and the highest scoring centre of all time
#2. JPR Williams (Wales)
- Major teams British and Irish Lions, World XV, Wales, Wales XV
- Position Fullback
- Lions caps 8
- Tours 1971 (New Zealand), 1974 (South Africa)
He went on only two Lions tours, in 1971 and 1974, and the mark he left on both is still remembered fondly to this day. A
s a result he has one of the most impressive Test records with the Lions of any player, winning five Tests, drawing two and losing just once.
To come away as a winner from two different series is a remarkable feat.
GATLAND SAID: "He was incredibly tough, even though he was a fullback he probably could have played in the forwards. He definitely put his body on the line."
DID YOU KNOW? An orthopaedic surgeon by profession, Williams has continued to be involved in rugby since retirement
#1. Gareth Edwards (Wales)
- Major teams British and Irish Lions, Presidents XV, World XV, Wales, Wales XV
- Position Scrum-half
- Lions caps 10
- Tours 1968 (South Africa), 1971 (New Zealand), 1974 (South Africa)
If you put on the field the 15 best players to have played in the distinctive Lions red, the No 9 shirt would automatically be handed to Gareth Owen Edwards.
It was his partnership with Barry John in the half back line that was key to the Lions’ only tour series victory in New Zealand in ’71.
His work rate in ’74 was the cornerstone on which the tourists won 21 and drew one of their 22 games.
GATLAND SAID: "To me, he is probably the greatest halfback we've seen in the game. He was quick, intelligent and scored a lot of tries."
DID YOU KNOW? In 2003, in a poll of international rugby players conducted by Rugby World
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