Dream Team with Luke Sheriff

The former Harlequins & Nottingham flanker, chooses the best XV he has played with or against…

1. Jason Leonard – True great of the game who spanned both eras. Quietly went about his business, fitting in extra training sessions when no one was looking. Never made himself the centre of attention but at the same time managed to have a huge influence on the whole team.

2. Keith Wood – Dynamic, charismatic, skilful, tough … he had the lot and did it all with a smile on his face. Despite how big a name he was, he always had time for people and was engaging, thoughtful and a great craic as a team-mate.

3. Ceri Jones – Could play both sides and you'd want him on the pitch regardless of whether he had a one or three on his back. A fantastic motivator, great team-mate but also a fantastic footballer with ball in hand. Personally, I think he should have played a lot more for Wales.

4. Martin Johnson – His influence over a game may not have been obvious from the stands, but the physicality that the Leicester pack he commanded had was huge and his ability to make sure they maintained that week in week out was the reason they were so hard to beat.

5. Nic Rouse – Much of our success at Nottingham was built around consistent performers in key positions, and Nic's ability to come up with the ball in key attacking and defensive positions from the lineout was something we relied on. On top of that, he was pretty useful in open play as well.

6. Craig Hammond – Captain Fantastic! A true players' player who bled and more for his team! A Kiwi with rugby in his blood, I don't think I have ever played with anyone who was truer to themselves. Never failed to give 100 per cent on and off the pitch. There was no one I was more happy to follow into battle.

7. Richard Hill – Rarely do you meet your childhood hero and they exceed your expectations, but that was the case with Hilly. I was lucky enough to see Hilly train up close when I was in the Saracens academy, but playing against him was another level altogether. In my mind, the best England player of his generation. The perfect 6!

8. Tom Guest – Off the base of the scrum he was devastating. One of the new generation of players who were simply bigger, faster and stronger than we'd ever seen before.

9. Danny Care – Simply awesome. From when I first played with him as an 18 year old it was clear he was going to go all the way. Still a threat and someone who can change a game.

10. Danny Cipriani – It's a shame he wasn't able to deliver consistently over a long period but he is by far the most threatening ball in hand fly-half I have ever played against.

11. Dan Norton – Clearly an out and out 7s player but for me that doesn't take away from his finishing prowess. To score a record 358 World Series tries puts him in a class of his own. I always felt if you got the ball to him it was try time.

12. Will Greenwood – One of, if not the most, cerebral rugby player of his or any generation. His understanding and reading of the game was incredible. He was truly two or three steps ahead of the anyone else and his ability to get the best out of the players around him for England was amazing to watch.

13. Tim Molenaar – If there was a prize for never taking a backward step and getting us on the front foot, Tim would get it. I don't think I took more offloads from any other player I ever played with, such was the regularity with which he broke the gain line.

14. Jason Robinson – Untouchable. The phrase, ‘he could step you in a phone box' should be reserved for this man. You just prayed it wasn't you who ended up on your backside as he ran past.

15. Christian Cullen – Probably my favourite player of all time. I remember the first time I saw him play for NZ 7s, he just glided past people like they were standing still. He lit up the Super 12s but more impressively, still managed to find the same space and time playing for the All Blacks. Insane highlights reel.