Dream Team: Tim Molenaar – Harlequins and former Gloucester and Nottingham centre

1. Greg Somerville – One of the greatest props and someone who can play as a tighthead or a loosehead. An immense player to have in your front row, he runs all day.
2. Scott Lawson – It is like having another back row in the team. He’s got all the skills you need to be a first-class player and he’s adaptable as well, so definitely one of the best hookers I’ve played with.
3. Dan Cole – I’ve played against him a few times and he is so imposing when it comes to rucks and scrums and then he makes good use of the ball as well.
4. Alex Brown – A brilliant lock, he was really aggressive in the lineout and did a great job for us at Gloucester. He was so hard in the tackle.
5. Jim Hamilton – Like me he recently moved from Gloucester but he’s another massive guy and he’s everything a lock needs to be, really effective in the lineout and equally effective at disrupting the play.
6. Jerome Kaino – A massive guy and a massive presence. An absolute monster when he’s running at you, you are better off just getting out of the way!
7. Jerry Collins – All Black legend who I played with at Wellington. His use of the ball was excellent and his tackling superb. He could play across the back row.
8. Gareth Evans – He’s the sort of boy who can go a long way. He may not be a big guy but he’s only 22 and has all the skills to be a great No.8. He’s got a massive future at Gloucester.
9. Jason Spice – Good team man who never lets anyone down. The fact he got a call-up to the All Blacks shows he was one of the best.
10. Nick Evans – A great all-round player who’s proven himself at international level. He’s got so many facets to his game, whether you want to play a kicking game or a running game.
11. Jonny May – He’s got freakish speed and you can always influence the play when you’ve got that in your locker.
12. Ma’a Nonu – An enormous presence and boy has he got some power on him. For me he’s up there with the best and his record for the All Blacks stands up for everyone to see.
13. Conrad Smith – A fantastic centre with a great attitude as well as great ability. He can twist and turn away from people and he is brutal in the tackle. He’s another one whose record just speaks for itself.
14. James Simpson-Daniel – He’s got freakish attributes. Very fast and strong and he is one of the most incisive wingers I’ve played with. He’s versatile as well and can also switch to a few places in the back line if needed.
15. Mike Brown – He’s a strong player. He’s pretty tough in the tackle, he gets tries and he’s very difficult to stop when he gets going forwards. He’s proving himself to be one of the best at international level.