Dream Team: Gordon Ross – London Welsh and former Edinburgh and Scotland fly-half

1. Tom Smith – He wasn’t the biggest in the world but he was hugely talented. He was a terrific ball-player and could more than hold his own in the scrum and was massive for the Lions in ’97.
2. Mark Regan – Ronnie loved the sound of his own voice but he was a very effective hooker, especially in the set-piece. Definitely someone you would want on your side.
3. Census Johnston – Very powerful scrummager and for a huge man, extremely dangerous with ball in hand.
4. Jon Mills – My captain at London Welsh and someone who has been massive for us this season. He’s a great leader and has really stepped up for us in the big games.
5. Victor Matfield – The king of the lineout, you’d be confident of winning all your own ball and most of the opposition’s with him in the team. A Bok legend.
6. Jason White – Another huge, physical guy who loved making massive tackles. He got me a couple of times in training despite my best efforts to avoid him.
 7. Richard Hill – It was only really when you played with him that you saw how much work he got through and what a great player he really was. An absolute rock for Saracens and no surprise that he was pretty much the first name on the teamsheet for England in 2003.
8. Simon Taylor – Injuries have slowed him down a bit later in his career but when Simon first broke on to the scene he was incredible. A great athlete who was capable of making big breaks and changing games.
9. Mike Blair – Mike had the ability to take the game to the opposition and really control his pack. He was a great servant for Scotland for a long time and a very good scrum-half.
10. Stephen Larkham – He could do anything and I used to love watching him for the Wallabies. Playing against him was more difficult, his passing was brilliant and he just glided through gaps.
11. Tom Biggs – He scored the try at Leeds that kept us up in 2005 against Leicester and just for that he deserves a spot. A powerful runner and a great finisher.
12. Hudson Tonga’uiha – Another of my teammates at London Welsh and probably the hardest-hitting player I’ve played with. He always gets over the gain line and has been great for us this year.
13. Marcus Di Rollo – A tremendously gifted ball player, Marcus had a lovely outside break on him as well. It didn’t quite work out for him in France but he was very good for Edinburgh and Scotland.
14. Kameli Ratuvou – One of my old teammates at Saracens, Kameli is an outstanding carrier in broken field. He was such an elusive runnner and a real weapon to have out wide.
15. Derrick Lee – One of the worst moaners in rugby but a very good player with me for Scotland. Always prepared to give it a go and a good teammate to have alongside you.