Dream Team with Carl Fearns

Carl Fearns, the Newcastle Falcons and former Sale, Bath and Lyon no.8, chooses the best XV he has played with or against.

1. Andrew Sheridan – An absolute monster of a player. What he could lift in the gym was ridiculous. Went on to have a great career, here and over in France.

2. Deon Fourie – Can play back row as well so his versatility wins him my vote. A superb player and a former Lyon team-mate of mine. Still doing it at 37; I think he got man-of-the-match for the Stormers in the URC final.

3. Francisco Gómez Kodela – Another Lyon old boy who is looking even better now and starting for Argentina. Very solid set-piece and also has soft hands as we saw from the First Test v Scotland.

4. Dean Schofield – Captained me at Sale and was a big, tough man who looked after me. I remember when I went to pre-season at 17 and my enthusiasm got the better of me in a touch session and Sebastien Chabal and a few other guys were chasing after me. In the changing room afterwards I thought everyone hated me and I'd have to move clubs, but Schoey came in and put a big arm around me and said, ‘I love that, our kid'.

5. Bakkies Botha – Areal presence on the pitch and someone I don't think many people enjoyed playing against. Played with a lot of intent, and inevitably, he sometimes crossed the line.

6. Cameron Woki – An unbelievable athlete who does everything. With a big second row, his lineout skills would be much needed.

7. Liam Gill – Played with him at Lyon; he does everything. Not the biggest of guys but he punches above his weight and is great over the ball and also has a good rugby brain on him.

8. Duane Vermeulen – I'd have liked to have picked myself but I've gone with Duane, who I played against many times in France. Always makes himself available to carry ball and is good in the backfield under the high ball. In this day and age, with all the box kicks, he's very solid.

9. Baptiste Couilloud – Iwas going to go with Richard Wigglesworth but youth has won the day. A French version of Danny Care. Very quick and snipes a lot around the ruck for Lyon.

10. Charlie Hodgson – Definitely the best 10 I ever played with and one of the best 10s English rugby has ever produced. Played really flat to the line and could pick anyone out with his passes and had a good kicking game too. Never got the credit he deserved.

11. Chris Ashton – His record as a finisher speaks for itself. Always tracking the ball and looking to get that second touch. N

12. Kyle Eastmond – As a back rower he was amazing to play with because you knew if you ran a line, he would find you. Threatened defences himself, too, and that opened up holes for others to exploit.

13. Luke McAlister – Played with him at Sale. Would give the midfield a nice balance; has the biggest quads in rugby.

14. Toby Arnold – Was the first winger I thought of. A Lyon stalwart who never lets you down.

  15. Nick Abendanon – When he ran it just looked like he glided across the pitch. Really tough despite not being the biggest of guys.