Dream Team with Andy Northey
The Former North of England, Northampton, St Helens RLFC, Waterloo, Rotherham & Sedgley Park centre chooses the best XV he has played with or against…
1. Garry Pagel – World Cup winner with South Africa. Huge physical presence and scrummager, with a great engine for a big man.
2. Freddie Mendez – Big boost when he came to Northampton. Very much his own man and it only needed an expresso and a red Malboro to get him going.
3. Martin Hynes – I'm playing him out of position at tight-head but he has to be in for his aggression, humour and his ability to BBQ and drink long into the night.
4. Martin Johnson – England's World Cup-winning captain, no more really needs to be said. Massive admiration for his ‘no-nonsense, get-thejob-done' attitude.
5. John Phillips – Went under the radar, which is a surprise given his size, but was massively important to the Northampton team I played in. Great set-piece work and distributor of justice when required, on and off the pitch.
6. Junior Paramore – Played both codes like myself. Came across him whilst he was playing for Gloucester and Bedford. Always played on the edge and was an aggressive ball carrier and defender. You always wanted to know where he was on the pitch, to try and avoid him or prepare yourself for what was to come!
7. Tony Ireland – Played with “Big Vern” for the North of England. He was destined for big things but injury and offthe-field issues held him back.
8. Pat Lam – Agreat signing for Northampton. Dynamic ball carrier and leader who played a massive part in our 2000 Heineken Cup success.
9. Austin Healey – In for his utility value as well as his athletic ability to win games. brought an X-factor to any team he played in and also got under the opposition's skin.
10. Jonny Wilkinson – He was only young and just starting out when I came up against him but his records says it all. I remember once trying to run over him and getting my head rocked back. A brilliant defender at 10.
11. Gary Connolly – ARL legend but also had spells in Union with Harlequins and Munster. Never beaten in an arm wrestle and still holds the record of 54 cans on a flight back to Australia, Took the record off David Boon.
12. Scott Gibbs – If you wanted someone to give you go-forward, he was your man. Was always good fun post-match, too. I remember the pair of us mithering the ‘British Bulldog' (former British wrestler, RIP) in Mr Smith's Nightclub in Warrington.
13. Allan Bateman – Played against him in both codes and together at Northampton. Best defender in the toughest position to defend. In a world of chicken and pasta, he always stuck to his pre-match meal of chips.
14. Va'aiga Tuigamala – Also played against him in both codes and to say he was always a handful is an understatement. Almost impossible to defend one-on-one. Always played with a smile on his face and it was a sad day when he passed away way too young.
15. Jason Robinson – Style, speed and footwork. One of the very few players who didn't lose speed when he changed direction. I'm not ashamed to say I missed him more than I got him.
