Legendary commentator Bill McLaren has nominated controversial Australian winger David Campese as the greatest player he has ever seen.

It is a measure of McLaren's popularity within the game that 12 of his all-time XV flew into London to celebrate the Scot's 50th year in broadcasting.

With the joint backing of Six Nations sponsors Lloyds TSB and The Times newspaper, McLaren spent four months pouring over each position.

He finished with four Welshmen, three All Blacks, two each from England, Ireland and South Africa and a lone Scot in Andy Irvine.

But it was the solitary Wallaby Campese who stands out from the crowd for McLaren, who will bring down the curtain on his own illustrious career in Cardiff next month when Wales entertain Scotland.

"Every time David Campese got the ball people sat up and took notice, he took a risk and I love that," said McLaren.

"He was so adventurous. Sometimes it didn't work, but he was always willing to try. Andy Irvine was similar, but Campese was the one. He carried the commentary along with the play."

Campese was not at the lunchtime gathering in London's Royal Lancaster Hotel, but legendary All Blacks Sean Fitzpatrick and Colin Meads were, having jetted halfway across the world.

So too were the likes of Gareth Edwards, Gerald Davies and his namesake Mervyn, part of the golden era of the Welsh game.

Another legend of the valleys, fly-half Barry John was present too, as recognition of his selection in the Lloyds TSB XV voted for by Times readers.

"The one great joy of a day like this is that you see so many great players, it brings back so many great memories," said McLaren.

"When I see Gareth Edwards, I can still see the try he got against Scotland in the mud and rain. I look at Colin Meads and see a great big sheep farmer who carried the ball in his hands as though it was an orange pip.

"I have been lucky enough to see so many games over the last 50 years. It is more a case of me saying 'thank you' to them.

"Rugby commentary depends so much on what happens on the field and I am indebted to them for the quality they have produced on the field."

McLaren will bow out completely following the Melrose Sevens in his beloved Borders, after which he has a list of household chores to carry out and some rugby to watch on the television, particularly the running skills of England's cross-code winger Jason Robinson.

"You need a double-barrelled shotgun to stop him," smiled McLaren. "He is an amazing little fellow. I have never seen a player with quite the same dancing feet and change of pace, better even than Gerald Davies.

"I always said Gerald would be the player I'd least like to mark. Well you can put Robinson in there too."

Bill McLaren's all-time XV: A Irvine (Scotland); G Davies (Wales), D Gerber (South Africa), M Gibson (Ireland), D Campese (Australia); R Andrew (Newcastle), G Edwards (Wales); F Cotton (England), S Fitzpatrick (New Zealand), G Price (Wales), C Meads (New Zealand), F du Preez (South Africa), Z Brooke (New Zealand), F Slattery (Ireland), M Davies (Wales).

Replacements: J Leonard (England), K Wood (Ireland), J Eales (Australia), I Kirkpatrick (New Zealand), N Farr-Jones (Australia), M Lynagh (Australia), M Burke (Australia).

Lloyds TSB XV (voted by readers of The Times): JPR Williams (Wales); G Davies (Wales), P Sella (France), T Horan (Australia), D Campese (Australia); B John (Wales), G Edwards (Wales); W Whineray (New Zealand), S Fitzpatrick (New Zealand), G Price (Wales), C Meads (New Zealand), J Eales (Australia), L Rodriguez (France), M Jones (New Zealand), W Shelford (New Zealand).