“Safe as houses; warm as toast” – Bill McLaren’s incredible commentary will never be forgotten

The beloved commentator sadly passed away in 2010 but his legacy will live on forever. 

Below we look at 30 of his most glorious quotes from down the years.

On Phil Bennett: "They say down at Stradey that if ever you catch him [Phil Bennett] you get to make a wish."

On Jonah Lomu: "I'm no hod carrier but I would be laying bricks if he [Jonah L] was running at me."

On Grant Batty: "He plays like a runaway bullet."

On Gavin Hastings clearance: "Safe as houses; warm as toast”

On Gerald Davies: "His sidestep was marvellous – like a shaft of lightning."

"It’s high enough, it’s long enough AND IT’S STRAIGHT ENOUGH."

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

On Scotland’s towering Doddie Weir running with the ball, “like a run-away giraffe.”

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

"That one was a bit inebriated – just like one of my golf shots."

"He kicked that ball like it were three pounds o’ haggis."

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

"My goodness, that wee ball’s gone so high there’ll be snow on it when it comes down.

“The balls as slippery as a wet trout”

“I tell ye, that ball’s like a bar of soap down there.” After a ball was knocked on.

"He’s as quick as a trout up a burn."

"Those props are as cunning as a bag o’ weasels."

"A day out of Hawick is a day wasted."

On RUCKING: "Burrowing like a giant mole”

*And it’s a try by Hika the hooker from Ngongotaha (Wales v New Zealand 1980).

"I look at Colin Meads and see a great big sheep farmer who carried the ball in his hands as though it was an orange pip."

"I’ve hardly ever had to pay to get in (the best thing in his view about 50 years of commentary at rugby matches)."