Three decades post-rugby's professionalization, British and Irish Lions icon Willie John McBride has voiced his disillusionment with the evolution of the sport. Particularly provocative were his May comments on Andy Farrell’s selection of eight players of southern hemisphere origin for the Lions' tour in Australia, provocatively dubbing them the “British, Irish and Newly Qualified Lions.” Now at 85, the stalwart of the 1974 Lions’ South Africa tour has unleashed a scathing review in a Rugby World magazine interview.
McBride’s grievances stretch from the scrum to the lineout. "There is so much obstruction in the modern game, and the scrum has lost its significance,” he lamented, suggesting an overhaul of traditional roles, “You’d be far better picking three props for your front row." His criticism extends to the lineout, which he dismisses as "a farce", and he is baffled by the tactical quirks that have crept into the game like five-metre lineouts crowded with offside players.
"Too brutal..."
Despite his harsh critique, McBride’s love for rugby remains undiminished, reminiscing about legends like Mike Gibson and Gareth Edwards. However, he questions whether such talents could emerge in today’s overly physical game. Transitioning to the current Lions squad, McBride revisited his earlier critique of the eight southern hemisphere-born players selected by Farrell. "They are all good players," he conceded, acknowledging their skill but pointing out a deeper issue with the development pathways in British and Irish rugby.
"The thing that disappoints me, though, is that rugby has been professional for 30 years and we’re still not developing our own players. Surely there are enough fellas around that are equally as good and worthy of a Lions call-up?" he argued, reflecting a sentiment of lost potential in nurturing home-grown talent.
McBride's reflections paint a picture of a rugby purist, grappling with the modern iterations of a game he once dominated. His words not only challenge the current state of play but also echo a longing for the raw, unrefined rugby of years past—a game where legends were forged in the fires of fierce, but fair competition.