Dream Team: Scott Hamilton – Leicester and ex-Crusaders and All Blacks wing

1. Cian Healy – I’ve only played against him a couple of times but his skill-set is absolutely top drawer for a prop. He has great balance and is a great runner off the ball.
2. Schalk Brits – Not many forwards get a license to hang back to return kicks but this guy isn’t your average forward. He’s got an amazing step and is a real game-breaker.
3. Dan Cole – The Polar Bear has a real passion for scrummaging and he is also one of the best props at the breakdown.
4. Geoff Parling – Geoff turned up at Leicester as skinny as a rake and I wondered how long he would last at forwards training sessions. But he put on few pounds and appears to have done ok since then!
5. Big Bad Brad Thorn – An absolute man mountain, and good bloke who just commands respect. And he tends to find himself in winning teams!
6. Craig Newby – Better put me ol’ mate in there. He could play anywhere in the back row, (even at 12 in a H Cup game).
7. Richie McCaw – I started playing with him at U19 level for Canterbury. He was also playing for Canterbury senior team. If he played for us we won, if he didn’t we lost.
8. Henry Tuilagi – He was massive. You didn’t want him to run at you and you certainly didn’t want to run at him. He put in some of the biggest hits I have seen.
9. George Gregan – Lippy, arrogant, annoying, intelligent and very good – all keys to a great No.9. He was a major contributor to Aussie success and had a real knack of getting the referee to see things his way.
10. Andrew Mehrtens – Dan Carter is unlucky to miss out here as he is the best all-round 10 I have played with but Mehrts gets the nod because of his world class passing game. No-one saw space like him and as a winger you knew you were going to get lots of quality ball.
11. Sitiveni Sivivatu – By far the hardest man I have had to mark. He can beat you in so many ways, he’s big, strong, with a great step and phenomenally quick.
12. Hamish Loe – Hard as nails, never went backwards, great guy, helped the young players and worked at a brewery!
13. Stirling Mortlock – Defensively the best 13 I have played against. Always seemed to make the right decisions and hit hard as well. A rock for the Brumbies and Aussies.
14. Scott Hamilton – I would prefer to play 15 but I end up on the wing. Beggars can’t be choosers.
15. Geordan Murphy – He edges Leon MacDonald. Similar players: classy, fearless, humble and genuine. Geordie wins because I have never seen a skinny guy throw as many cheap shots and never get filled in.