Dream Team – Scott Sio

SCOTT SIO, THE EXETER CHIEFS AND FORMER AUSTRALIA AND BRUMBIES PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE’S PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…

Forwards

1. James Slipper – Australia’s most-capped player ever with 140 caps and counting. Has captained the Wallabies 15 times, too. What an achievement! Played many years with Slips and he will go down as one of the best.

2. Stephen Moore – I have played with a lot of great hookers in my time but Stephen always performed for the Brumbies and the Wallabies. I can’t recall him ever having a bad game. Another who’s in the century club and has led from the front.

3. Sekope Kepu – One of the pioneering tightheads who were able to lock it down at set piece and have a big impact around the park with his ball carrying and handling prowess.

4. Rob Simmons – Another player with a ridiculous amount of Test caps – 106. Even so, he is very underrated.

An unreal lineout operator who could also get you going at scrum time and had good skills around the park for a big man.

5. Sam Whitelock – I only played with him once with the Barbarians but I played many a game against him and it was an honour to be part of his last-ever game at Twickenham. Another of the all-time greats.

6. George Smith – He was one of the players I looked up to growing up, so having the opportunity to play with him for a season with the Brumbies in 2013 was a crazy experience. Insanely good.

7. Michael Hooper – A model of consistency for a number of years. He always gave everything for the team whenever he took to the field. Brings 125 caps more of experience to my pack.

8. David Pocock – An lute breakdown menace but I think his approach to the game on and off the field was something that always ays abso-stood out to me.

Backs

  9. Nic White – He could kick it a mile and has one of the best and most accurate passing games going round. Preceded me here at Exeter and had a very good spell.

10. Christian Leali’ifano – An unbelievable life story and one of the most skilful players that I’ve played with. A big inspiration to me on and off the field.

11. Marika Koroibete – He gets through a mountain of work at max effort every game. As strong as he is fast and knows his way to the try line.

12. Henry Slade – One of the smartest rugby players I’ve played with. The complete package at centre. Can glide with ball in hand, distribute superbly and kicks brilliantly out of hand and off the tee. He must be good to be the only non-Aussie in this team!

13. Tevita Kuridrani – A first-phase operator at set-piece. He made a living off getting the Brumbies and Wallabies on the front foot and he was very good at it. I pity anyone who has to stop him at full speed.

14. Henry Speight – He was a gamebreaker at Brumbies and could make something happen out of nothing. It’s great to have someone which such star dust on your side.

15. Israel Folau – One of the best athletes I’ve ever played with. Unbeatable in the air and had a wicked left foot step that sent defenders completely the wrong way.