Dream Team: Tom Savage – Gloucester lock

1. Richard Barrington – I played with Baz at Hartpury. He’s now at Saracens and has gone on to win the Premiership and Champions Cup last season. He loves a singsong and a remix, too!
2. Richard Hibbard – I have spent the last two seasons drinking coffee and playing with Hibbs. He’s done it all and I have a massive respect for the way he plays the game.
3. John Afoa – John really helped build Gloucester‘s game up front in the last couple of seasons. As a true All Black, he is the ultimate professional around training and puts in some big shifts week-in week-out.
4. Brad Thorn – Someone I have always enjoyed watching as a youngster and I was lucky enough to play against him a couple of years ago when he came to Leicester.
5. Alex Brown – He was awesome at the lineout but he wasn’t shy of a big hit, either. Great person to learn off as a youngster coming through the Gloucester set-up.
6. Samu Manoa – He was a very tough opponent when he was at Northampton and he always seemed to be a potent force in both attack and defence.
7. Tom Calladine – He is a good friend and he was my university housemate. He’s been going well in the Championship for the last few seasons at Rotherham. It wouldn’t surprise me if a Premiership club picked him up.
8. Akapusi Qera – The Flying Fijian is surely one of the biggest hitters in the game. He’s a very handy ball carrier, too.
9. Greig Laidlaw – The current Scotland and Gloucester captain. He leads from the front with consistent performances. Not bad off the tee, either!
10. Jonny Wilkinson – I played against him in a pre-season game against Toulon. It’s fair to say he ran the show. As he did for so many years.
11. Sinoti Sinoti – He’s been great for Newcastle for the last couple of seasons. I’m not sure how he does it but he seems to bust tackles with ease.
12. Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu – The former Gloucester and Samoan international had an unbelievable skill set and footwork for a big unit. He would terrorise defences on his day.
13. Henry Trinder – He’s well overdue some luck! I’m looking forward to seeing him back fit and firing on all cylinders once he overcomes his knee injury.
14. James Simpson-Daniel – This man could literally create something from nothing. He was a joy to watch and play with.
15. Matt Evans – The Canadian and Cornish Pirates full-back was one of my captains at Hartpury College. He always seems to perform on the big stage.