Dream Team: Mike Powell – Moseley and former London Welsh and Ospreys lock

1. Jason Leonard – A great prop who transfered from the amateur to pro era with ease. Also runs a pub in Richmond which may have helped his inclusion as the only Englishman!
2. Sunia Koto – An excellent scrummager and ball carrier and a top guy on and off the field at London Welsh. Villi Masi will probably give me some abuse for choosing a Fijiian over him!
3. Adam Jones – another excellent scrumager with a good rugby brain. I’m sure if he was 20stone lighter he’d be a great outside-half.
4.Paul O’Connell – A great all round second row and athlete who is a good lineout tactician and always plays with his heart on his sleeve.
5. Sebastian Chabal – on his day Seabass was an awesome ball carrier and defender and someone who looks like he would enjoy a beer.
6. Lee Beach – The World Cup winning sevens captain just edges out George Smith. Lee has a great engine, will keep going for the full 80 and makes a lot of hits.
7.Martyn Williams – gets in just ahead of Marty Holah. Martyn would be the perfect linkman between the monster pack. He was awesome in both attack and defence.
8.Ryan Jones – Used to travel to training with Ryan when we both joined Bridgend then linked up with him again at the Ospreys. I need someone in the team to have smaller calfs than me and he definatley has. Ryan also enjoys a beer, when it is deserved.
9. Justin Marshall – Another who at his best was the best in the world. A bit of a maverick but was a brilliant player and someone who would command respect to boss the forwards.
10. Neil Jenkins – World class goal-kicker with a lot more to his game.  I know a lot of players who have benefited from his help.
11.Shane Williams – He’d terrify any defence and in training he was the person I would fear more than any of the the big forwards. His magic footwork would get him past you in a second.
12. James Hook – Toughest selection but Hooky just edges Gav Henson and Scott Gibbs. He is a great entertainer and a player people love to watch.
13. Brian O Driscoll – a class act. In my first game against him for Bridgend we were both sin-binned for fighting – the only time I have been congratulated by the coach for getting a yellow card!
14. Josh Drauinui – Josh is a wonderful talent and supreme finisher. He edges the spot ahead of Paul Sampson who I used to love watching as a youngster.
15. Juan Martin Hernanadez – The Argentinian full-back who played for Stade Francais when I faced them for Ospreys in the Heineken Cup. Another world class performer who shines in most games. Errie Classens would have made the team if he was to work on his right foot step!
*This article was first published in The Rugby Paper on June 29.