Not for nothing are the two ‘locks’ known as the engine room – it is they who provide the power in the scrum. The No 4 is typically shorter and bulkier, and pushes behind the tighthead; you will jump at the front of the line out and must be dynamic to react to a fast throw. In contrast, the No 5 will be a middle-of-the-lineout skyscraper able to win a stream of ball – and the same is required at restarts. Far from just being a big lump, a second-row should be a clever clogs able to read the opposition or deceive them. And vertigo sufferers need not apply because you can be 13 feet off the ground when gathering in those lineout throws!

Willie John McBride playing for the Lions

Major teams: Ballymena Country: Ireland Test span: 1962-75 Ireland caps: 63 (63 starts) Lions caps: 17 (17 starts) Test points: 7 (2T) Rugby’s Greatest: Willie John McBride Not the least…

John Eales, 2001

John Eales's influence on rugby was so profound in his ten-year Test career that the second-row is widely regarded as Australia's greatest player

Scotland's Gordon Brown

Major teams: West of Scotland     Country: Scotland Test span: 1969-77 Scotland caps: 30 (28 starts) Lions caps: 8 (8 starts) Test points: 8 (2T) And there were few personalities…