Part 3 of 4
Bill McLaren was simply known as the ‘voice of rugby’. He believed in sportsmanship values and somehow painted pictures with words that were admired and loved by so many. So here’s part 3 of 4 of our collection of his great quotes. Part 1 includes quotes about Celebrations; Fisticuffs; Tough Guys; Big Boys and also a beautiful piece written by Bill’s daughter, Linda, specifically for us. Part 2 continued with Big Boys and Running; Part 3 continues with Running (jinkers); Passing; Kicking and Lineout Jumping.
Running (continued)
On Phil Bennett: “They say down at Stradey that if ever you catch him you get to make a wish.”
On Gerald Davies: “His sidestep was marvellous – like a shaft of lightning.”
On England’s twinkle toes Jason Robinson “Billy Whizz”
Passing
On Jonathan Davies & Robert Jones (describing the positioning between Robert Jones & Jonathan Davies v Scotland 1988): “You’ll notice Davies is standing very deep & that’s because Jones can pass off either hand, just watch this ’Whooosh!!’ “
Kicking
“It’s high enough, it’s long enough, it’s straight enough.”
“He kicked that ball like it were three pounds o’ haggis.”
“My goodness, that wee ball’s gone so high there’ll be snow on it when it comes down.”
“That’s a real howitzer of a Garyowen”
“Oh, he’s given that an almighty thump”
On Gavin Hastings as he prepared to kick at goal “He hoists his breeks, does a little shammy shammy…”
On the goal kicking style of the Scottish captain Peter Brown: “it’s similar to a coo kicking over a milk pail.”
On missing a kick: “That one was a bit inebriated – just like one of my golf shots.”
On missing a kick that fell short: “He’s kicked that like a bag o’ rice.”
After Scotland’s Renwick missed a kick and clearly mouthed “Effing Hell’ Bill chirped: “I think he’s muttering a few naughty Hawick words”. [Note “words” was pronounced “wurr-eds”.]
“A twitter of a puck” (on Peter Dodds conversion attempt)
On the difficulty of kicking in poor conditions “gaining purrrrchase on the slippery turrrrf” Graham
“He strikes the ball with clinical precision as you would expect from a member of the Royal College of Surgeons.”
Lineout Jumping
On Mark Andrews and Doddy Weir contesting a lineout “They both go up like 2 pieces of white bread in a pop up toaster ”
And Hennie Bekker as “South Africa’s roving lighthouse.”
Bill Mclaren Quotes Part 1 includes quotes about Celebrations; Fisticuffs; Tough Guys; Big Guys and also a beautiful piece written by Bill’s daughter, Linda, specifically for us.
Bill Mclaren Quotes Part 2 about Big Guys and Runners (15 x Quotes)
Bill Mclaren Quotes Part 4 Line-Out jumping (continued), Weather Conditions, Classic Mclaren, Looking Back (15 x Quotes)
Bill McLaren’s spirit lives on – here in this blog and in The Bill McLaren Foundation.
Please
(a) Send us any Bill McLaren quotes you recall (add them below in the ‘Leave a Reply’ box at the very end of other comments) and/or
(b) Tell us what Bill’s commentaries meant to you (add them below in the ‘Leave a Reply’ box at the very end of other comments) and/or
(c) Find someone who loves rugby and send this link as a surprise gift (birthday, Christmas or any time just because you love them). It doesn’t have to be someone who actually heard Bill. Younger rugby lovers marvel at Bill’s turn of phrase, his sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie and if you listen to Bill’s actual voice in the audio clip in the first post, they get a feel for the sheer excitement created when you hear his unique voice – ‘the voice of rugby’.
When Scotland were about to win, will be never forget Bill saying “they’ll be jigging in the rigging”
Mrs Deighton
“they’ll be jigging in the rigging” – absolutely wonderful. Today’s commentators just don’t have any magic whatsoever. We were so lucky to have the late great Bill McLaren with his ‘jiggign in the rigging’!! Thank you Mrs Deighton for adding a real Mclaren gem. Come to think of it, I have no idea what it means but I still love it – is it assonance, rhythm or just Bill’s magical tone? I get the ‘jigging’ (dancing jigs?) in the rigging – sailors, and fishermen doing jigs whilst sailing?? BTW many congrats on yesterday’s stunning performance v England – but why oh why kick the ball away twice with two mins to go – are you Scots trying to cause other Celts to have heart attacks? Thanks again for your gem. Very much appreciated – I will weave it into one of the 4 post about Bill McLaren in the weeks to come.
Hello Linda (nee McClaren ?)
I never tire of references or listening to, that Mr Bill McClaren your late Father quoted during his commentaries. I visited a Festival of Education school in Auckland New Zealand on a visit and there was a wall which offered anyone to leave a comment on who had left a lasting memory as a teacher in uk their life.
This one caught my eye, from Keith Quinn sports commentator in NZ.
Quote can be seen on
inspiredbyu.org.nz
It basically tells how Keith Quinn was inspired by listening to Bill Mclaren’s style of commentary, his honesty and values which he said “he unashamedly tried to mould his own style of broadcasting.”
Reading this some thirteen thousand miles from home in Tarbert on the west coast of Scotland moved me.
I took a photograph of the post card, if the quote is not there on this site and you want a copy please email me and I will send it.
Thanks for what you are doing, your Father would be humbled and immensely proud of your efforts, just as I am.
Best Regards
David Watling
Tarbert Argyll West Coast of Scotland
Thank you David for your beautiful story. Paul Smith here, author and founder of The Great Sportsmanship Programme. I moderate this blog and am delighted to receive your letter. I first contacted, Bill’s daughter, Linda, when I started writing this particular post many years ago and Linda was kind enough to write a lovely piece for us. I will attempt to contact Linda and send her your letter.
Please, David, can you send the quotation as the link did not work for me. We wil then publish it in the blog and hopefully I will have contacted Linda by then.
With very best wishes from a Dubliner in London to you in Tarbert Argyll, having seen something powerful in a Festival of Education in Auckland New Zealand about a man who inspired and entertained us all, the Late Great Bill McLaren.
PS Update: David I have contacted the http://www.billmclarenfoundation.co.uk/ asking if they have an email address so that I can email your letter onto them to pass onto Linda. Meanwhile – please do send the photo or post card or quotation so we can share it and also pass it onto the foundation and hopefully Linda. please feel free to make direct contact with them if you prefer – but please do complete the story – send us the post card/photo of the quotation and we’ll add it to our list of Bill”s great quotes.