Ian McLauchlan

Published on Thursday 2 May 2002 01:00

‘Mighty Mouse’ was a relative late arrival on the international scene but after making his debut against England in 1969 he became a fixture in the national side for the next ten years, eventually becoming the oldest player ever to represent Scotland.

An inspiring leader, McLauchlan’s courage and tenacity were legendary – more so after he played in the 1973 Calcutta Cup match despite having broken a bone in his leg only two weeks earlier against Ireland.

It was as a scrummager that McLaughlan’s greatest talent lay – Gordon Brown considered him the best prop that he played behind, in part because he transmitted the lock’s drive the most effectively by burrowing himself under his opponent – but he was also a fantastic player in open play. Whether blocking in the line-out, on the charge from a short penalty or after a breakdown in play, McLauchlin’s tenacity and ferocious drive were legendary. It was these characteristics that made him such an inspiring captain – a fire-and-brimstone forward who led by example.

Remarkably, McLauchlin played in eight Tests for the British Lions - in New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa in 1974 – and only once finished on a losing side. Originally taken as a replacement to face the All Blacks, he made the loose-head position his own after Sandy Carmichael, another great Scottish prop, was punched out of the tour in Canterbury. By 1974 he had become a key player in the only Lions side to come home unbeaten – perhaps the best-ever combined British side.