Loosehead Prop

3.  Tom Smith 

 

Tom Smith made his name on the winning 1997 Lions tour of South Africa.  Picked to start all three test matches alongside Paul Wallace and Keith Wood his strong scrummaging and good hands ensured that their much more highly fancied hosts were defeated 2-1.

 

Smith had only played three tests before the tour for Scotland but his impact saw Ian McGeechan select him and he later went on to become the only Scot to play the six consecutive Lions' tests matches of 1997 and 2001 when he played against Australia.

 

Smith had made his Scotland debut in 1997 in the Calcutta Cup match and was a first choice for his country for eight years, winning the Five Nations in 1999 and leading them throughout the 2001 Autumn Internationals. Smith was also Scotland's Player of the Season in 2000/2001. After an international career that included two World Cups, Smith's final match in the blue jersey came, appropriately enough, against England in the 2005 Six Nations clash at Twickenham.

 

After a club career in Scotland, Smith made his Northampton debut on September 1, 2001. Over the subsequent eight seasons his appetite for the action has not diminished; neither did his popularity with the Saints' fans. At Saints two Powergen Cup finals, a Heineken Cup semi-final and three Heineken Cup quarter finals was achieved.  He retired at the end of the 2008-09 season.  If he had played international rugby for a stronger team he would have got the iconic reputation he deserved.