BERNARD JACKMAN, THE FORMER IRELAND, SALE, CONNACHT AND LEINSTER HOOKER, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST
1. Andrew Sheridan – Such a powerful scrummager and ball carrier and probably as strong a man as I played against, both at Sale and Toulon.
2. Keith Wood – A different level of skill-set to most hookers and had a really aggressive mindset. Played far bigger than his body warranted, possibly why he suffered so many injuries.
3. Stan Wright – Brilliant player and character at Leinster. Hard as nails and could move really well for a big man. My toughest tighthead opponent was Julian White. He loved boring in on the hooker and was a nuisance.
4. Malcolm O'Kelly – I wasn't a good thrower but I would have been a lot worse if not for Big Mal. He could twist his body in the air to make a very crooked throw look reasonably straight. Got me out of trouble so many times I probably owe my career to him.
5. Paul O'Connell – I went on an Irish Colleges tour to South Africa with Paul in 1998 and got to play for Ireland with him as well. As an opponent with Munster he was always very difficult to face. The ultimate competitor and leader.
6. Rocky Elsom – Spent a year in Leinster in 2009 and he won seven ‘man-of-the-match' awards out of nine games in the run to winning the Heineken Cup in Murrayfield. He was world class but a knee injury hampered his career after that.
7. Sean O'Brien – Sean is a neighbour of mine and came into the Leinster Academy when I was a senior player. Could play 6/7/8 and was a matchwinner for Leinster and Ireland.
8. Anthony Foley – A thinking man's No.8 and a great captain. Made up for a lack of top end speed by reading the game better and faster than anyone else.
9. Bryan Redpath – Brush was my captain at Sale and was brilliant. Knew how to open holes for you and could run, kick and pass as well as any nine I played with.
10. Johnny Sexton –Came off the bench against Munster in front of 82,000 people in Croke Park in 2009 and is still delivering at the highest level. Makes everyone else raise their game better than anyone.
11. Jason Robinson – Played with Jason at Sale and he was just different gravy.
12. Yannick Jauzion – The big Toulouse and French centre was much quicker than he looked and was a nightmare to tackle. Was a big part of Guy Noves' off-loading and freespirited Toulouse team.
13. Brian O'Driscoll Creative, quick and evasive and had superb vision as well as being a great leader. Could do everything.
14. Shane Horgan – A huge driver on and off the field in Irish and Leinster rugby. A brilliant teammate to have.
15. Gio Aplon – I'm going to play my cheat card here by picking someone I coached instead. I coached him at Grenoble for two years and he is quite simply the best full-back I have ever seen.
