Dream Team: Andy Powell – Sale and Wales No.8

1. Adrian Garvey – The big South African just edges out Gethin Jenkins because he was tall and strong. His work-rate around the pitch was immense.
2. Keith Wood – I played against Keith a few times for Wales against Ireland and he was a top player, and a great leader.
3. Adam Jones – He’s the best tighthead because he’s so dominant and no-one can move him. That’s why he’s world class, and for me, he is the best in the world.
4. Alun Wyn Jones – Top player with a great work ethic in training. He’s also a great leader and helps people around the place and players who don’t have a clue around the lineouts – including myself!
5. Simon Raiwalui – Simon has to be in the second row. He’s just a big bloke of a Fijian. He’s a great leader and is always helping people around him. He’s a great choice.
6. Tim Rodber – For England he was so abrasive and a real tough nut. He was a great athlete, in a generation where they weren’t many. But he was a great leader and a top player.
7. Jason Forster – He was unlucky not to get more caps than he did, probably because he spoke his mind. That’s ok now – people are encouraged to speak their minds.
8. Gary Teichmann – I was at Newport for a bit with him. He was a great player and a great athlete. He was a skilful guy and had everything a No.8 should have out on the pitch, as you would expect from a former South Africa captain.
9. Mike Phillips – We played together at the Blues. He is such a powerful guy and he was like an extra forward for us.
10. Ronan O’Gara – He knows how to dictate a game, and I think if Ireland had started with him, they may have had a chance against England.
11. Salesi Finau – I’d go for him as he was such an abrasive runner at the Scarlets and so strong. He would always come in off the wing. Same as Scott Gibbs really – he always gets over the gain line and people were scared of him.
12. Jamie Roberts – This might not be the most balanced centre pairing, but I would have loved to have seen what Jamie and Gibbs could do together. Jamie is a great player so I’ll get him in there, just ahead of Brian O’Driscoll.
13. Scott Gibbs – I’ve already mentioned him twice so in goes Scott. He was such a powerful guy and it always took two or three people to take him down.
14. Jonah Lomu – When he came to Cardiff he was such a great guy, and for what he’s done in rugby as well. Everybody looks up to him and he takes a lot from that. It was pretty special to have him play for us.
15. Shane Howarth – He was so consistent and a great player. I learned a lot from him playing at No.8, getting my runs off him. He was a good quality player for Newport and Wales.