Dream Team: Paddy Johns – Former Ireland, Ulster and Saracens lock

1. Jason Leonard – The number of caps he got for England is incredible. He was just a really solid player – very consistent. He was battle-hardened and incredibly durable.
2. Sean Fitzpatrick – I played against him when he was playing for the All Blacks – he is one of the best hookers of all time and played a huge role in one of the best international rugby sides in my lifetime.
3. Olo Brown – He was another incredible All Black front-rower and just an awesome player all-round. He was a tremendous ball carrier and a terrifying guy to come up against.
4. John Eales – He could play anywhere on the pitch and he could kick a conversion from the halfway line. Most of my team has captained their country or the Lions and he was one of the best leaders there was.
5. Martin Johnson – A super player – physically strong and a natural leader. There were some players you upped your game for and I always did that when I came up against him.
6. Francois Pienaar – Very brave and with good hands. He was also very smart and a born leader. A very committed player and his achievements outlived him.
7. Fergus Slattery – I played with him in 1987 in Canada when I was just 18, so I was buzzing to meet somebody so important. He was getting on but he was still awesome on the pitch.
8. Zinzan Brooke – He was a hooker, a No.8, a nine, a ten – the guy could do almost anything. It was worth stopping to watch him in action.
9. Gary Armstrong – He was really difficult to play against – he was always getting his hands in and causing problems. Kyran Bracken is a close second.
10. Michael Lynagh – You won’t see the likes of him for a long time. He was so intelligent – he could throw the first pass without looking. An all-round complete No10.
11. Jonah Lomu – 6ft 5in, 20st and ran the 100 yards in nine point something. His legs were so wide, you couldn’t wrap your arms around him.
12. Phillipe Sella –  Sella was lightning quick and a superb tackler and he won a tremendous number of caps. It was an absolute joy  to play with him.
13. Brian O’Driscoll – The best player Ireland have produced in 30 or 40 years. He is just a complete player and if it wasn’t for him, Ireland would not have enjoyed so much success.
14. David Campese – A wizard. He did things other people could not do. He was so difficult to tackle and his lines were incredible.
15. Gavin Hastings – I’ve got more Scots in here than the British & Irish Lions in Australia! Hastings was a class act and a brilliant point scorer.