Dream Team: Cooper Vuna – Worcester wing

1. Val Rapava-Ruskin – He’s the most mobile loosehead I know and he loves getting stuck in at the breakdown. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him break into the England squad soon.
2. Dane Coles – You can’t go away from this guy. He’s a winger playing at hooker. I thought there was a mismatch when I faced him but I was wrong. He had me covered!
3. Sekope Kepu – I have to have my Tongan friend in there. He was massive for the Waratahs when they won the Super Rugby in 2014. Good around the park, too.
4. Brodie Retallick – When you need forwards to play like backs, Brodie and his All Black partner Whitelock are at the pinnacle of it. Being a bit bigger he is the bruiser.
5. Sam Whitelock – Just as good ball in hand as Brodie but he’s a bit lighter which makes him a good lineout operator.
6. Jerry Collins – He was a player that you simply needed in your team. Always got over the gainline and turned an average game into a brilliant one in a split second.
7. George Smith – The player everyone wants to play with. Hard over the ball, carries and a playmaker, too. He never disappoints when on the field.
8. Jerome Kaino – Sione Lauaki in his prime would run him close but Jerome’s consistency over the years gets him the shirt. I played against him a few times and I felt it.
9. Piri Weepu – In his All Blacks days, before he piled on the pounds, he was just sensational. Will always be remembered for winning that semi-final against Australia at the 2011 World Cup.
10. Dan Carter – You can’t go away from this guy. He left New Zealand last year and he still won a trophy with Racing 92. He’d carve it up in any team.
11. Julian Savea – When he’s on he’s on and he can just score tries for fun. So powerful and quick for a big guy.
12. Richard Kahui – He’s probably the best centre in the world in terms of defence. There’s a reason he broke his shoulder so many times. His hits always made the highlights.
13. Wynand Olivier – He reads the game well and that’s what you need. Hard to beat on the outside and too strong in defence, too.
14. Charles Piutau – He’s a freak. He left me in the dust a few times. An awesome try-scorer who can pass and kick to create something out of nowhere.
15. Ben Smith – He’s great in attack and also has a good boot. But dealing with high balls is key in rugby these days and full-backs don’t come much safer than him. Hard to force a mistake from him.