Dream team: Andries Pretorius – Cardiff Blues No.8 and captain
2. Richardt Strauss – The most underrated hooker around. Acts like a ninja for Leinster, never see
him until he’s right on top of you.
3. Gethin Jenkins – Despite being such a moaner off the field, he is without doubt one of the most intelligent guys on it. Outstanding for the Blues, Wales and now Toulon.
4. Johann Muller – When I was at the Sharks academy he was one of the senior players and now he is at Ulster I realise just what a good player he is. Definitely the brains and leader of their pack.
5. Bradley Davies – It was very difficult to leave Paul Tito out but Bradley’s sheer size, strength and work-rate would get him into any team in the world and he is only going to get better.
6. Akapusi Qera – Watched his every move when I was at the Gloucester Academy to try and learn from him. He leads the Gloucester pack and stops sides dead in their tracks by himself.
7. Sam Warburton – A really nice bloke off the field but extremely hard on it. I have never met a more professional player than Sam, although his banter is awful!
8. Xavier Rush – David Denton at Edinburgh comes close, but in his day Xavier was up there with the best No.8s in world rugby. He simply refuses to take a backwards step…ever!
9. Ruan Pienaar – Very few players have the ability to read and manage the game like Ruan does. His expert kicking game is a forwards dream when you are playing with him – a nightmare to play against.
10. Carlos Spencer – Simply one of the all-time greats. He was a wizard on the pitch, magically creating gaps and constantly creating things in attack.
11. Tim Visser – The Edinburgh flyer combines his strength and size with a surprise turn of speed. It is not a fluke he always finishes as top try scorer in the PRO12.
12. Henry Trinder – Watch this space, Trinds is going to become a great. In my opinion, if it wasn’t for the injuries he suffered last year he would be starting for England by now.
13. Casey Laulala – The first name on the team-sheet. I have never seen a player with so much skill – it’s unfair. I have fallen for his wicked step on a quite few occasions in training.
14. George North – Similar sort of player to Tim Visser. It’s remarkable to think he is still eligible to play for the Wales Under 20s. Every player wishes he has his physical ability and at the age of just 20 is ridiculous.
15. Leigh Halfpenny – Hard on Ben Blair who has been great for the Blues, but ‘Penns’ deserves his place in the team. He works tremendously hard off the field to make it look easy on it.
