Lions greatest XV: Willie John Mcbride (1974) and Martin Johnson (1997) – locks
It is no accident that the captains of two of the most significant Lions series victories of the modern era, Willie John McBride in 1974 and Martin Johnson in 1997, are locks who bestrode the sport and have become living legends.
Nick Cain, The Rugby Paper’s chief writer says: “If you are looking for a register of the psychological impact a great second row forward can have then the uncompromising pipe-smoking Ulsterman, McBride, and Johnson, the glowering giant from the English Midlands, encapsulate it.
“They led from the front, and through their example, and unbending will to win, they were truly inspirational.
“McBride’s ‘take no prisoners’ approach, which was as central to beating the All Blacks in 1971, when he was pack leader, as it was whitewashing the Springboks in 1974, was borne of his frustration on being on earlier Tours where The Lions had been mugged.
“The Irish strongman was determined it would not happen on his watch as a senior Lion – and with the help of the athletic, firebrand Scottish lock, Gordon Brown (‘Broon frae Troon’ played two Tests 1971, three in 1974 and three in 1977), he made sure the tourists were on the front foot in every respect.
“Ian McGeechan was determined to strike an early blow in 1997 by forcing the physique-conscious Springboks to look up at The Lions captain, and the towering Johnson fitted the bill. He proved to be a colossus on the pitch too, ferociously competitive at the lineout and in the loose, as The Lions took an unassailable 2-0 series lead, with his second row partner, the Irish lock Jeremy Davidson, also playing out of his skin.
“Other locks to have written their names large were Paul Ackford and Wade Dooley, the English coppers who, by helping to outmuscle the Wallaby forwards, were central to The Lions comeback against Australia in 1989.
“Bill Beaumont, who forced his way into the 1977 Test side before captaining the 1980 Tour to South Africa, was also well respected, as was Martin Bayfield for his lineout prowess in 1993. Last but not least, Simon Shaw may have waited a long time to get his first Lions cap, but played superbly in the last two Tests against South Africa in 2009.”
McBride himself says: “My favourite partner would be Gordon Brown for the simple reason that we never lost a game when we played together. Teamwork is really about units and we seemed to work very well together. He was obviously a better lineout forward than me, too.”
At 6ft 5in and just under 17 stone, fitness was often an issue for Brown, but Willie John says that by 1974 he was in peak condition.
“Most people who knew Gordon would acknowledge he was a lazy trainer. But we got him fit in 1971 and he got into the team and we won that series. So, by 1974 he had the taste for it and he trained really hard and played the best rugby of his life.”
As for modern day greats of the engine room, Willie John has no hesitation in nominating Martin Johnson. “I thought he was a tremendous forward. For me Martin Johnson won the World Cup for England, just him and no one else.”
Also mentioned: Bill Beaumont, Simon Shaw, Gordon Brown
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