15 of the best quotes from the 'Voice of Rugby' Bill McLaren
Not just a Scottish rugby legend, Bill McLaren is widely regarded as one of the greatest sports broadcasters of all time.
The beloved commentator sadly passed away in 2010 but his legacy will live on forever.
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Hide AdRugby fans continue to recite his most famous remarks and it's sure to remain that way for years to come, as the many McLaren-isms are passed down the generations.
Here is just a small sample of his brilliance.
McLaren's most easily quotable remark...
“They will be dancing in the streets tonight.”
On Bill Beaumont, the English captain...
“And there’s Beaumont in that English scrum, looking like a man who enjoys his food …”
On the difficulty trying to stop New Zealand destroyer Jonah Lomu...
“It’s like trying to tackle a snooker table!”
Handling the most difficult of tongue-twisters...
"And it’s a try by Hika the hooker from Ngongotaha."
On the abilities of a jinking runner...
“He could sidestep three men in a telephone box”
On Simon Geoghegan, Irish winger ...
“He’s like Bambi on speed.”
On New Zealand's star of the 1960s Colin Meads...
“I see a great big sheep farmer who carried the ball in his hands as though it was an orange pip.”
As Welsh brothers Scott and Craig waited to join the fray...
“There’s the Quinnell brothers, two well nourished individuals”
Describing the weakness of Scottish flanker Finlay Calder
“[He's got] hands like dinner plates!”
On Phil Bennett:
“They say down at Stradey that if ever you catch him you get to make a wish.”
His take on a particularly high punt...
“My goodness, that wee ball’s gone so high there’ll be snow on it when it comes down.”
On Lomu (again)...
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Hide Ad“Now I’m not a hod man, but if I saw Jonah Lomu running at me I’d be putting down bricks, I’ll tell you.”
On the goal kicking style of the Scots captain Peter Brown...
“It’s similar to a coo kicking over a milk pail.”
On former a certain former Scottish international...
“Doddie Weir, as much help as a lighthouse in the desert”
Describing the build of a particularly slight player...
“I’ve seen bigger legs hanging out of a crow’s nest”
His own take on life...
“A day out of Hawick is a day wasted.”