DREAMTEAM
1. Soane Tonga’uiha – In my time at Northampton he was outstanding. Dominant in the scrum and an excellent rugby player in terms of ball carries and athleticism.
2. Rob Rawlinson – Legend! The No.1 rugby person I’ve come across in 20 years. Ultimate team player and always a positive presence at Leeds. Top, top bloke.
3. Census Johnston – Similar to Soane, I do like my rugby playing props! Arrived at Saracens from Biarritz and was a decent scrummager while offering that ball-carrying option.
4. Courtney Lawes – Just breaking through as I got to Northampton and has gone on to be a world-class player. Amazing athleticism and has just grown throughout his career and got more and more professional.
5. Chris Murphy – Could have gone for Simon Raiwalui or Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe but ‘Murph’ was excellent for Leeds. Big man but wasn’t just the ‘smash them’ type, he could play as well.
6. Pete Anglesea – Played No.8 as well and a really good rugby player – great feet, good hands and good brain. Looked after me in my first year as a pro at Sale and was very unfortunate to be around at the same time as so many England back row legends.
7. Dan Hyde – Excellent in my first couple of years at Leeds. Fancied himself as a Fijian, such were his ball skills, and was good over the ball as well.
8. Zak Feau’nati – Helped Leeds finish 5th in 2002/3 and he and George Harder won us the gain-line that season. Zak gave us brilliant go-forward, then went to Bath and did the same there.
9. Neil de Kock
– His arrival curtailed my game time at Sarries, but he was excellent and one of the best foreign signings ever.
10. Charlie Hodgson – Probably the best player I’ve played with and by far the best attacking player I’ve played with – wings like Mark Cueto, Steve Hanley and Chris Ashton scored so many tries when he was their 10. Deserved way more England caps.
11. George Harder – We used to joke that there’s none harder than George Harder at Leeds because his ball-carrying ability was unbelievable. Could play wing or 13, a phenomenal player.
12. James Downey – First time I played with him at Saints, I thought ‘bloody hell, who’s this bloke?’ Big man who flew around choptackling people and got us on the front foot as well.
13. Jos Baxendell – Quality player who achieved so much with Sale and put me up when I first turned pro. A real footballing centre who worked brilliantly with Charlie Hodgson.
14. Diego Albanese – Top team man and outstanding stepper who complements the more abrasive and direct Harder. Now a top pundit back in Argentina.
15. Jason Robinson – Outstanding player who could beat anyone one-on-one. A level above everyone else.