Willie John McBride voted the Lion King

WILLIE JOHN McBride has been voted the greatest ever Lion by best-selling magazine Rugby World – though there is no place in the Top 50 for 2009 captain, Paul O’Connell.

McBride became a Lion veteran, making five tours in 1962, ‘66, ‘68, ‘71 and ‘74. The legendary Ireland lock first toured South Africa in ‘62 at the age of 22, though it took him nine years to taste success in a Test match.

The Ballymena man’s greatest moments came on the 1974 tour when he led the Lions to a Test series win over the Springboks on their 22-match tour across South Africa. On their return home they were feted as the ‘Invincibles’ and McBride the most invincible of all.

Alun Thomas, manager of the ‘74 Tourists, spoke glowingly of McBride’s strengths: “He was worshipped by the players, not only because of his own courage and strength and commitment, but because they saw in him all the things they would like to be. He shielded them, nurtured them and, above all, inspired them.”

Brian O’Driscoll and Keith Wood are the only other Irishmen to make the Top 10 in a survey of 1,200 readers.

O’Driscoll comes in seventh with Wood a place behind, but O’Connell’s omission is a glaring one considering some of the names selected ahead of him.

O’Connell’s Lions came agonisingly close to levelling the 2009 Series in Pretoria last weekend, though they still hope to salvage some pride and end a seven-Test losing streak in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The other Irish entries and placings include Syd Millar (50), Tony O’Reilly (42), Fergus Slattery (40), Mike Gibson (26) and Jack Kyle (25).

Only one member of Ireland’s modern day ‘golden generation’ – O’Driscoll – has made the Top 50, while there is no place for 1997 tourist, Paul Wallace, an integral member of the Lions front row in their Series win in South Africa 12 years ago.

Two-time Lions captain, Martin Johnson, was voted the second greatest Lion of all time while his 2003 World Cup winning team-mate, Lawrence Dallaglio, was selected in third place.

Dallaglio’s selection will surprise many especially as injury blighted his 2001 and 2005 Lions experiences. But according to Rugby World: “His fierce desire and competitiveness clearly struck a chord with readers.”

The magazine also published the Greatest Lions XV with four Ireland players selected. The team was compiled for a new book titled Once Were Lions, and was based on an anonymous poll conducted with players.

Gareth Edwards was declared the Lions’ best ever player while McBride was named the greatest ever Lion.

GREATEST LIONS POLL: 10. Jeremy Guscott (Eng); 9. Bill Beaumont (Eng); 8. Keith Wood (Ire); 7. Brian O’Driscoll (Ire); 6. Jonny Wilkinson (Eng); 5. JPR Williams (Wal); 4. Gareth Edwards (Wal); 3. Lawrence Dallaglio (Eng); 2. Martin Johnson (Eng); 1. Willie John McBride (Ire).

GREATEST LIONS XV: 15. JPR Williams (Wal), 14. Gerald Davies (Wal), 13 Jeff Butterfield (Eng), 12. Mike Gibson (Ire), 11. Tony O’Reilly (Ire), 10. Barry John (Wal), 9. Gareth Edwards (Wal); 1. Ian McLauchlan (Sco), 2. John Pullin (Eng), 3. Graham Price (Eng), 4. Martin Johnson (Eng), 5. Willie John McBride (Ire), 6. Fergus Slattery (Ire), 7. Peter Winterbottom (Eng), 8. Mervyn Davies (Wal).