Alun Wyn looks set to eclipse Willie John

Willie John McBride has been sitting all alone at the top of a mountainous pile since belatedly calling it a day almost half a century ago.

- PETER JACKSON

The Ulsterman’s record for a Lions’ lock of 14 consecutive seasons in the world’s oldest annual international tournament has stood since his last match 46 years ago. No British or Irish forward has quite lasted long enough to knock him off his perch, a list distinguished in name and number, including three of his successors as captain of the Lions.

Sir Bill Beaumont was forced into early retirement, Martin Johnson called it quits after conquering the supreme global peak in Sydney and Paul O’Connell had climbed to within shouting distance of McBride when injury hit him like an avalanche during the pool stage of the 2015 World Cup.

O’Connell’s successor, Rory Best, matched McBride’s Five-Six Nations longevity without surpassing it. The only Lions who took it to a higher altitude were both backs, Mike Gibson and Brian O’Driscoll whose careers spanned 16 and 15 championships respectively.