The four contenders for the title of rugby's greatest props

If you played as a back in rugby union, the dark arts of prop forward play were maybe a mystery to you. Even knowing the distinct roles of a tighthead prop versus a loosehead one were obscure. If the scrum was solid and unobstructed ball was delivered to the backs, so they could score brilliant tries, that was their priority.

The selection of props is best left to those who have played the position primarily, with the inexperienced looking for prop glory moments. I imagine selecting the right prop you ideally would watch that individual for the entirety of the match. Was he scrummaging well? Mobile in the loose? A good defender? Et cetera. If a scrum was buckling, driven back or hinged, you look for those who could have caused such mayhem.

I have gone on reputation and researched the best props since 1970 from countries other than Australia or New Zealand, to select two props for my favourites team. The names that kept popping up were Os du Randt, Jason Leonard, Fran Cotton, Ian “Mighty Mouse” McLauchlan, Graham Price, Robert Paparemborde and Phil Vickery.

To whittle these names down to just two was not easy, therefore I have selected four props to oppose each other and will let The Roar readers decide from there as to who joins the Favourites.

They will then join a team so far comprising JPR Williams, David Duckham, Gerald Davies, Philippe Sella, Danie Gerber, Barry John, Joost van der Westhuizen, Mervyn Davies, Jean-Pierre Rives, Francois Pienaar, Willie John McBride and Martin Johnson.

As a matter of interest, the props selected for the New Zealand team were Carl Hayman and Steve McDowall, the Australian props were Topo Rodriguez and I could not split Tony Daly/Ewen McKenzie.

Os du Randt. (William West/AFP/Getty Images)

The four props chosen were Os du Randt, Fran Cotton, Ian “Mighty Mouse” McLauchlan and Graham Price. I have teamed Cotton a tighthead and McLauchlan the loosehead together as they formed a mighty partnership for the British and Irish Lions. This is my preferred propping partnership but I would be interested to hear the thoughts of Roar readers.

To help in your summation I have compiled the following information:

Os du Randt

Jacobus Petrus “Os” du Randt, the Springbok loosehead prop made 80 appearances for South Africa between 1994 and 2007. He fully deserved his nickname Os meaning Ox for his immense size and strength. Du Randt played a significant role in the Springbok 1995 Rugby World Cup victory and remarkably returned from injury to lift the trophy again in 2007. He was popular amongst his peers and was also inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2019.

Fran Cotton

Francis Edward Cotton, born in Wigan England played 31 times for England and made 7 caps for the Lions. He could scrummage strongly and played a key role on the Lions tour of South Africa in 1974. Cotton also toured New Zealand in 1977 and South Africa in 1980. He captained England 3 times and is well known for the iconic image of him caked in mud in a match on the NZ tour, which became known as “Mudman” taken by Colin Elsey.

Ian “Mighty Mouse” McLauchlan

John McLauchlan, known as Ian, was born in 1942 and played 43 matches for Scotland from 1969 to 1979. He also made 8 appearances for the Lions from 1971-74. McLauchlan only stood 5ft 9”, weighed a lightweight 92kg and was deemed too small to perform in international rugby. Named after the cartoon character he proved his critics wrong and became a specialist in his position. Ian and Fran Cotton formed one of the great propping combinations on the ’74 tour of South Africa.

Graham Price

Graham Price was born in Moascar, Egypt and was capped 41 times for Wales between 1975-1983 and the Lions in 12 Tests between 1977-1983. Price was the cornerstone and legend of the great Welsh pack of the 1970s and 80s, excelling in scrummaging and his mobility around the field. He scored an exceptional try for Wales vs France in 1975, sprinting almost the length of the field in support of JJ Williams. Price made a remarkable 12 successive starts for the Lions, going on 3 Lions tours.

When I read those profiles there is truly little between all four, different characters with different strengths but all legends of rugby union.

Which two will make it into the Favourites team from overseas to meet up with the other icons of the game? Any one of these would be worthy.