JAMIE ELLIOTT, THE BEDFORD BLUES AND FORMER NORTHAMPTON AND ZEBRE CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…
1. Mako Vunipola –Very powerful, has great hands, a very good rugby brain, plus he is a funny guy. Played England U20s with him.
2. Schalk Brits – One of the most skilful players to ever play hooker. Almost like an extra back. With his footwork, could beat anyone.
3. Ben Tameifuna – The Bulldozer. Once he drops that shoulder and gets going you can’t stop him. If he doesn’t bulldoze you out of the way he also has the ability to offload in contact. Can do a scrummaging job as well. I played against him in Europe against Racing 92.
4. Leone Nakarawa – He must be made of elastic with the way he gets his arms free in the tackle to pull off those outrageous offloads, A very dangerous player as we found out when playing Glasgow.
5. Paul O’Connell – A brilliant leader for Munster, Ireland and the Lions. Would be a good foil in the row for Nakarawa, too.
6. Jacques Burger – Put his face in the spokes at Saracens and had no regard for his own well-being no matter what the game was. I think you have to be a tapped in the head to play in that position! Now enjoying a very deserved retirement.
7. Levani Botia – There is a theme here – players who can play forwards and in the backs at the same time. On the front foot, back foot …whatever foot, come rain or shine, he will always get you going forward.
8. Chris Masoe – Such a skilful All Black. I remember seeing him in the back line playing against Castres, and he made an outside break in his own 22, dropped the ball on his foot and put a little grubber through for his winger who scored in the corner. I was like, ‘if that’s not danger, I don’t know what is!’
9. Rory Kockott – Brilliant game-controller and smooth operator. Plus he’s got the biggest forearms I have ever seen.
10. Dan Carter – I’d have loved to have picked Finn Russell or Ronan O’Gara but Carter is the GOAT. I don’t have to say any more.
11. Joe Rokocoko – The magic man who makes something out of nothing. Simply electric with ball in hand. Nemani Nadolo is unlucky to miss out.
12. Owen Farrell – Another of my old U20s mates. Does everything at 100 per cent and reads the game so well. His technical ability is outstanding – I can’t think of a weakness. He can hit it up or put others through holes.
13. Brian O’Driscoll – Another who could create something out of nothing and was the complete package. Also gets in because of the gloves!
14. Duhan van der Merwe – Could easily play in the forwards with his size and power. With the size he is, he shouldn’t be that quick. Such a supreme athlete and a prolific scorer of tries for Scotland. Has got plenty left in the tank.
15. Carlos Spencer – I played with him just as he was about to leave Northampton. It was a Wanderers (2nd XV) game v Cambridge University and he started and I was on the bench, aged 16. I couldn’t believe I was on the same pitch as him. No one could touch him when he wanted to turn it on.
