Miles Harrison
Rugby Union Commentator
Miles Harrison's Rugby Fantasy Land: No 5 - Willie John McBride vs Leone Nakarawa
Last Updated: 23/04/20 7:23pm
Tune in for the 10th instalment of Miles Harrison's Rugby Fantasy Land XVs as he picks his second pre-1994 Golden Oldie lock to take on a 'Young One'.
- Miles Harrison's Rugby Fantasy Land: The 10s
- Miles Harrison's Rugby Fantasy Land: No 8
- Miles Harrison's Rugby Fantasy Land: Full-backs
- Miles Harrison's Rugby Fantasy Land: No 4
- Miles Harrison's Rugby Fantasy Land: Scrum-half
- Miles Harrison's Rugby Fantasy Land: Loosehead
- Miles Harrison's Rugby Fantasy Land: No 13
- Miles Harrison's Rugby Fantasy Land: No 7
- Miles Harrison's Rugby Fantasy Land: No 11
These are teams with players who raise the spirits, ones that get you out of your seat. This could be down to their flair, skills and speed or because of their power, strength and physical presence.
These fantasy teams are not claiming to have the very greatest players in their positions although in all cases they are inevitably truly great players, the selection is about making sure that these teams would play the most amazingly entertaining rugby that the selector could possibly dream of.
Next up, it's the second lock spot. Willie John McBride. He picked up 63 Ireland caps between 1962 and 1975, captaining them to the 1974 Five Nations title and the shared 1973 title, while he toured with the Lions on five different tours and registered an incredible 17 Lions Test caps - a record which is almost certain never to be broken.
And opposite him is Fiji's Leone Nakarawa. Has there been a more remarkable offloader in the sport than the giant Fijian? An Olympic Gold medal winner in 2016, he has earned 57 caps for Fiji since 2009 and has taken Europe by storm at Glasgow Warriors and Racing 92 with his sensational brand of rugby.
I hope you have a great trip to Fantasy Land and that, at least for a moment or two, it takes your mind off what's happening in the world at this time. Stay safe and healthy, Miles.
The Golden Oldie: Willie John McBride
5. McBride - I've gone for two powerful characters in the second-row. Again, not that Willie John couldn't play the game, he was, after all, in the 1973 Barbarians game, but clearly it was his leadership qualities that made him stand out above those other greats around him.
And, when your first real Lions tour memories, in that way when you recall even all the minor detail, are of 1974, then this man is always going to hold a very special place in your heart.
Every team needs a leader and this side has many captaincy options but I'm going for the big man from Ulster.
The Young One: Leone Nakarawa
5. Nakarawa - When this guy is running hot he is one of the great sights in the modern game. Size and power to be used when required but an array of ball-handling skills and passing ability that makes him almost too good to be true.
Like all top professionals, there will be an awful lot of work that he has put in behind the scenes to become this good but, with Leone, there is also a mass of natural talent that he has been blessed with.
It has been such a privilege to watch his talent grow into the force it is today.
Selection is by its very nature a very personal choice and, coupled with that thought, is the fact that you can't look back over all the years and not miss a few. This is where you come in. I want your selections and for you to tell me who I might have missed and exactly why you have made your choices? @skysportsmiles
Tell me the stories that make your picks so special to you. The possibilities are endless so let your imagination run riot. But, remember, when making your selections for this match, the players selected must make your heart sing.
Once both teams are selected, including the 'super-sub', we will select the head coaches. Then, we'll select the venue, the referee and a memorable kit for the teams to 'run out' in.
