Some of Bill McLaren’s best
by Paki's Corner | 23 January 2010 (09:45)
“Bill McLaren, the distinctive Scottish commentator who became known as the ‘voice of rugby’ in over 50 years with the BBC, died this morning aged 86.”
This very sad news made its way to us this week, with rugby losing one of the legends of the game. Being called ‘The Voice of Rugby’ says it all. Bill McLaren as many people have paid tribute this week was the sport’s finest advert - a man of infinite humour, compassion, enviable professionalism, fairness and a true love for the game.
In one article about McLaren I read:
For 19 agonizing months (around the late 1940s) he fought the killer disease (tuberculosis), in the Fortune Sanatorium in Edinburgh and admitted that but for the love and support of Bette, his wife to be, he would have ended the torment himself.
“At one stage I told her not to bother with me anymore and to find herself a proper man, though I cried for a week after that until her next visit,” recalled McLaren.
“She just ignored me – bit of a trend that, by the way – and just kept coming back, week after week to breathe life into me.”
Here are some of his most memorable one-liners:
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 Lomu] was running at me."
On Grant Batty: "He plays like a runaway bullet."
On Gerald Davies: "His sidestep was marvelous – like a shaft of lightning."
And some others:
"It’s high enough, it’s long enough AND IT’S STRAIGHT ENOUGH."
"He’s like a demented ferret up a wee drainpipe."
"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.
"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."
“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).
During Bill McLaren’s final match in the commentary box (Wales vs. Scotland, 2002) a Welsh support displayed the banner “Bill McLaren is Welsh”.
Rugby will sorely miss his voice.
Rest in Peace
Dallen
Dallen Stanford played 54 matches for the USA 7s team throughout his career spanning from 2006 to 2009, including 13 IRB 7s tournament appearances. To read other articles by the South African visit www.ur7s.com and www.pakiscorner.com.
