Sir Ian McGeechan names his 10 best young players in the world

Lions Legend Sir Ian McGeechan has picked two young English fly-halves and an 18-year-old Scot in his list of the 10 best youngsters in world for his latest column for the Telegraph.

England dominates McGeechan's list with Harlequins' playmaker Marcus Smith joined on the list by Exeter Chiefs' pivot Joe Simmonds, Bath youngster Cameron Redpath and Northampton's James Grayson.

McGeechan holds Grayson and Redpath in high regard as he knows both players' fathers. Refering to Redpath, McGeechan wrote: "Obviously, I know his father well, so I have followed Cameron’s career fairly closely. I like what I see. Tall, rangy, more of a centre than a 10. He was part of the West Brom football academy for two years, which means he has a top-quality skill set and vision off the ball."

On Grayson he wrote: "Another chip off the old block. Paul Grayson, his father, was one of my favourite players to coach – just a very clever, tactical player."

While holding the other English players in high regard, McGeechan did write that he felt Joe Simmonds was 'probably the closest of the English players on this list to an international call-up. Simmonds has quietly become an excellent fly-half with consistently good decision making and plays well under pressure.'

Outside of England, McGeechan picked one Australian, one Welshman, one Scot, a Frenchman, an Irishman and an All Black.

From France he picked the excellent Jordan Joseph while Luke Jacobson cracked the nod from new Zealand, Jordan Peteaia from Australia, Louis Rees-Zammit from Wales, Jamie Dobie from Scotland and finally Caelon Doris from Ireland.

Sir Ian McGeechan's 10 best young players in the world:

Marcus Smith, 21, England

Jordan Joseph, 19, France

Caelan Doris, 22, Ireland

Joe Simmonds, 23, England

Louis Rees-Zammit, 19, Wales

Cameron Redpath, 20, England/Scotland

Jamie Dobie, 18, Scotland

James Grayson, 21, England

Luke Jacobson, 23, New Zealand

Jordan Petaia, 20, Australia