British critic’s dream team

Welshman Jones in his team in The Times.

That included hooker Mario Ledesma edging legendary All Blacks skipper Sean Fitzpatrick and Australian Phil Kearns to anchor the front row.

Kieran Read got consideration at No 8 but lost out to Italy’s ‘‘brilliant force of nature’’ Sergio Parisse and Australian Chris Latham won the fullback jersey from a list that included Christian Cullen.

Here’s what Jones had to say about the two 1990s All Blacks he did honour with their presence in his team.

On Bunce: ‘‘Bunce played for both Samoa and New Zealand, and in his 55 caps for the All Blacks was the strong man of the midfield in world rugby. He had footballing gifts to be sure but he was also a fixer, a powerful man, and formed an outstanding partnership as a foil to Walter Little outside him. Uncompromising was hardly the word for him.’’

On Brown: ‘‘Far too many great players of all nations agree with the selection of Brown, for there to be any other choice. Fran Cotton and Graham Price from a past era would have their supporters, so too the lesserknown Phil Blakeway, at least three Argentinian giants, plus Carl Hayman of New Zealand,’’ Jones said.

‘‘But Brown, part of the New Zealand team which reached a peak in the 1990s, edges them all out for the authority of his play, and the paucity of fuss and frippery and bother whenever he was going about his work.’’

At a glance Stephen Jones’ best XV: 15: Chris Latham (Australia), 14 Gerald Davies (Wales), 13 Jeremy Guscott (England), 12 Frank Bunce (New Zealand), 11 David Campese (Australia), 10 Juan Martin Hernandez, 9 Gareth Edwards, 8 Sergio Parisse (Italy), 7 Sam Warburton (Wales), 6 Dan Lydiate (Wales), 5 Patricio Albacete (Argentina), 4 Simon Shaw (England), 3 Olo Brown (New Zealand), 2 Mario Ledesma (Argentina), 1 Garry Pagel (South Africa).