My favourite five

By the BBC's 'Voice of Rugby' Bill McLaren

There have been so many matches and so many memories but here are my top five rugby moments. You'll disagree, no doubt, but that's the beauty of the game.

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Scotland v England, 1990 Murrayfield.

I think the most thrilling game was the 1990 Grand Slam decider. Although it wasn't unique it was unusual for the two countries to be going for the Grand Slam.

Certainly when I saw England practising the day before they looked awesome. Indeed, I had grave doubts whether Scotland could even think about beating them.

Scotland produced an unbelievable result

But they did and not only that - the crucial try was scored by Tony Stanger who was a former pupil of mine here in Hawick. He learned his rugby here with me as a 10-year-old, so that was a particular thrill.

The victory was so unexpected and the crowd sang like never before. I remember Rob Andrew saying to me that it was louder than being in Cardiff. And it lifted the Scottish team to heights of endeavour that some people didn't think they could achieve.

Captain David Sole made them walk onto the pitch which was unusual but not unique. I remember that happening way back in 1935 here in Hawick when the south of Scotland played New Zealand.

The All Blacks on that day looked like great prophets of doom, so I thought. They frightened the living daylights out of me because I was 12 at the time.

real 56k Click Here to watch Stanger's try

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Wales v New Zealand, 1980, Cardiff Arms Park

I was very happy to commentate on a game played between Wales and a touring Kiwi side in 1980 for the Welsh centenary, when the New Zealand hooker, Hika Reid, scored.

Hika the hooker came from a place called Ngongotaha and I'd been dying to say "a try by Hika the hooker from Ngongotaha", I don't know quite why.

As it turns out they won a line-out on their own 22 and eventually Reid got hold of the ball. He did a magnificent bit of running over 80 metres and charged over to score his try.

So at last I was able to say: "That try was by Hika the hooker from Ngongotaha". It's kind of daft in a way but I enjoyed that.

real 56k Click Here to watch Hika the hooker

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Scotland v England, 1976, Murrayfield

I will always remember Alan Lawson's try against England.

Actually, Alan's our son-in-law and on that occasion he scored two tries, but the first was a magnificent counter attack - one of the best that's ever been scored at Murrayfield.

I almost fell out of my commentary box

Bill McLaren

England were attacking and kicked ahead. David Shedden caught it and instead of kicking to touch, ran. Three or four of the forwards handled, I think Ian McCloughlan was involved.

Anyway, Alan got the ball 25-yards out on the England 22 and ran the last 25 to score a brilliant try.

It wasn't only the fact that he was our son-in-law, it was the quality of the score that made me so excited - I almost fell out of my commentary box.

real 56k Click Here to watch Alan Lawson's effort

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South Africa v New Zealand, 1995, Johannesburg

Another great moment was at the World Cup final in 1995 in South Africa when the Springboks beat New Zealand thanks to a drop goal by Joel Stransky.

The thing about it I remember was that Nelson Mandela turned up in a South Africa jersey - and that really suggested a unity in South African affairs that had been missing for so long.

It was lovely to see Mandela use that great occasion - that great World Cup final - to signify, perhaps, a unity of purpose in South African affairs.

It was very encouraging and I will remember that as long as I live.

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Barbarians v Australia, 1988, Cardiff

I think my favourite rugby moment was when David Campese scored a try against the Barbarians. It was a magnificent try - typical Campese.

He took the ball, started to run it and left three or four opponents sitting on their backside. It was a quite amazing bit of deceptive running.

Campese received a standing ovation from the crowd

And I don't think I've ever heard the Cardiff crowd give such an ovation to an overseas player as on that occasion.

The Cardiff crowd generally is a very generous one, but on that occasion they simply rose on their feet to record a truly remarkable try by one of the great players.

Campese and Andy Irvine of Scotland were my favourite players as a commentator. Whenever they got the ball something startling would happen.

There might be a mistake that would lead to an opposition try, but that was all part and parcel of it and it was well worth having to get all the other wonderful bits of rugby that they played.

Rugby commentary depends an awful lot on what happens on the field.

And one of the great beauties when Irvine or Campese were playing was that something always happened.

They were explosive, they were inventive, attacking and dangerous and I love that kind of player, because that kind of player certainly helps commentary.