Despite being a Lions teammate in 1974, Ian McGeechan (left) had to play his usual thankless role opponent J. P. R. Williams (center) in the 1977 Silver Jubilee match. Photo: Colorsport/Shutterstock
Whenever I spoke to the players I coached about teamwork and legacy, I always reminded them that never
it doesn't matter who plays. next to you, but the way those teammates made you feel is what you will remember. And when I heard the tragic news of J.P.R. Williams' death, that's exactly what I felt. That feeling when you're on the field with JPR.
We were teammates on the Invincibles tour, the Lions' visit to South Africa in 1974, where we went 22 matches unbeaten. We started all four Tests together and his style of play and behavior on that tour played a major role in how I would approach the sport as my career progressed.
The Welshman was the best defender the game has ever seen. . Full stop. There have been some fantastic fullbacks in rugby but for me he is still my number one. If I had to pick one person to play with again, it would be him every day of the week. It was a pleasure to play next to him; what I felt for him was more than respect.
JPR was an incredibly strong character — tough as teak — and such a good, natural teammate. He led by example, but also encouraged. He was such a tough man. Everyone who played against him knew this. It's not easy for you to win a game if JPR was against you. I know this because most of our encounters were against opposing teams, against Wales and Scotland. But when you played with him, you couldn't have had more support and a feeling of strength. He never took a step back, as evidenced by those 99 calls when he ran from a defender to get into an altercation with the attackers.
JPR was tough as teak and unbreakable during the Lions' brutal 1974 tour of South Africa. Photo: Colorsport
In 1974, Dick Milliken and I were in the centers of the Lions. It was after the second Test in Pretoria, a 28-9 win, where he told us both: “I really enjoy playing behind you two. I know I don't have to cover for you.
It was a line he probably didn't even remember saying, but Dick and I never forgot it. This is exactly the influence he had on the players. In these four Tests, no one has made it through midfield. We didn't want to let him down. We wanted to justify this respect. These were the days of four-month tours, more than 20 matches.
You wouldn't want to play with anyone else. It wasn't just the caliber of the player, but the caliber of the person.
On the field he was so powerful and solid. He was not just the last line of defense, he stopped the attack; pulse limiter. That famous tackle against Jean-Francois Gourdon in a Grand Slam match for Wales in 1976 at Cardiff Arms Park will forever be remembered. The Frenchman almost crashed into the stands when he dived for a corner. An outstanding presence on one of the greatest teams in sports history.
He was also an outstanding defender. He made a big impact in this regard, combining impeccable ball skills and granite defense. Rugby has never seen a defender like him. In Scotland we had Andy Irvine — another of the game's greatest runners — but on the 1974 tour he was moved to the wing to accommodate JPR's stubbornness.
He read the game so well and had such an instinctive feel for not just rugby but all sports — he won the British Junior Tennis Championships on the clay courts of Wimbledon, beating David Lloyd in two sets in a row. 1966. How about building on the Lions' 1971 series win in New Zealand? He was a force on the field.
Off the field he enjoyed a beer and a good laugh. He could have a beer too! He sent several people under the table in South Africa.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of that wonderful tour. A big reunion is planned for Belfast in June, but now there will be one less legend. JPR was one of the greatest rugby players of all time. He will be greatly missed.
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