Dream Team: Tom Varndell – Wasps and former Leicester wing

1. Matt Mullan – One of the fittest players I've ever played with. The ultimate professional on and off the pitch leads by example in everything he does.
2. Dylan Hartley – Plays his game right on the edge. His set-piece is top draw and his work around the pitch is brilliant. Knows how to wind up the opposition.
3. Martin Castrogiovanni – Played alongside Castro for a few seasons at Leicester and he was regarded as the best tight-head in Europe, an extremely powerful scrummager and runner.
4. Martin Johnson – I was lucky enough to play alongside Martin in my first year as a professional at Leicester. An incredible leader and a true icon in English rugby.
5. Joe Launchbury – In such a short space of time, he has already achieved so much. Very quiet but has an incredible work rate. Definitely a future England captain.
6. James Haskell – Loves the sounds of his own voice but surprisingly talks a lot of sense. Leads by example. Playing at the top of his game right now.
7. Lewis Moody – Mad Dog always put his body on the line. Another player I was lucky to play with at Leicester.
8. Billy Vunipola – Typifies what the modern-day No.8 should be. Huge ball carrier and extremely powerful around the pitch with brilliant skills.
9. Joe Simpson – On his day, one of the best No.9s in England. Can change a game in an instant. No other scrum-half in world rugby can score tries like Joe.
10. Danny Cipriani – Can do things on a rugby pitch no other No.10 can. Loves to attack and plays what he sees, amazing speed and ability to make tries from nothing at all.
11. Lote Tuqiri – Played against him in my first tour for England. Definitely taught me a lesson or two on there. He was world class in attack and defence.
12. Manu Tuilagi – The strongest player I've ever came up against. First met him when he was 15 at Leicester. You could tell he was going to be a special player.
13. Wesley Fofana – The best outside centre in Europe. Always seems to do something with ball in hand which every winger wants from their outside centre. Brilliant footwork, and deceptively strong. Class!
14. Joe Rocokoko – As a kid he was a player I wanted to emulate. Played against him a few times in European games and still as dangerous playing for Bayonne as he was in the All Blacks shirt.
15. Mils Muliaina – Played against him on my second tour with England. Always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. 100 caps for the All Blacks speaks for itself.