Dream Team: Daniel Browne – London Welsh No.8

1. Soane Tonga’uiha – A great scrummager and the best ball-carrying prop around. Went to my school, I’m three years older but he was the same size at 13!
2. Schalk Brits – Always delivers in big games and one of the most dangerous broken field runners in the game. Someone forgot to tell him it’s a No.2 on his back!
3. Matt Stevens – Ticked all the boxes for a good tighthead. Add to that his carrying and off-loading out the back door and it was easy to see why he was the first name on the team sheet.
4. Marco Wentzel – Puts in a hell of a lot of work off the field in front of the computer analysing opposition lineouts, which shows on the field.
5. Jamie Cudmore – My old buddy from Grenoble who wouldn’t look out of place in a boxing ring. People look at his disciplinary record, but Cuddles is one of the hardest working locks I’ve played with.
6. Thierry Dusautoir – I remember playing against him for Bordeaux in 2003 and limping off after the game wondering who the hell he was! One of the most difficult back rowers I’ve ever played against.
7. Michael Lipman – The phrase “work hard, play hard” was made for Lippy. Reads the game better than any openside I’ve ever played with and tackled anything that came near him. A great leader and captains the team.
8. Imanol Harinordoquy – Super athletic No.8 who can do it all. A great reader of the game who always makes the right decision under pressure.
9. Jonathan Pelisse – My teammate from Grenoble. The quickest guy in the team with a fantastic pass, great running game and comfortable kicking off both feet.
10 Butch James – Probably the most influential guy I’ve played with. Was great to look up from the bottom of a ruck and see him flying out the line smashing anyone running down his channel!
11. Vincent Clerc – I played with Vincent in Grenoble and and it was clear he was someone special. Deceptively strong, unbelievably quick, and can sniff out a try a mile away.
12. Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu – One of the most naturally gifted players in the game. Eli does things  that you just can’t teach. It was like playing rugby with a Harlem Globetrotter!
13. Aurelien Rougerie – Big centre who can do it all. Such a well-balanced runner who can run around you or over the top of you and at a club like Clermont, still shines among a team of rugby rockstars.
14. Joe Maddock – For a vertically challenged man, what he lacked in height he more than made up for it in sheer ability and on his day is world class. Proven finisher who hits the line better than anyone I’ve seen.
15. Nick Abendanon – I’ve seen Bendy take some huge hits and wonder how he’s still walking let alone playing! Assured under the high ball and one of the best counter attacking threats.