DREAM TEAM

PAOLO ODOGWU, THE WASPS AND FORMER SALE & ENGLAND U20s CENTRE/WING, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…

1. Simon McIntyre – My old friend and a very good mentor for me before he left Wasps for one of my old clubs, Sale Sharks.

2. Asafo Aumua – When I played for England U20s v New Zealand at the Junior World Cup he scored four tries in the final against us. He's as quick as me and 120 kilos, making him probably the scariest hooker I have ever played against.

3. Peni Ravai – I think he's more of a loosehead but I wanted to get him in the team because he is such an intimidating guy. He caused real damage to us when we played Clermont in the Champions Cup.

4. Joe Launchbury – Just such a great captain. I have never really had someone who is able to take control of a room or a huddle quite like him. He is not a loud person but when he speaks everyone listens.

5. Maro Itoje – He is horrible to play against and is such a powerful influence in everything he does. A great lineout froward and a great leader as well.

6. Tom Curry – I was with him at Sale when he first broke through and since then he has become one of the world's best players. He just works so hard and I have never seen him tired. He is a menace at the breakdown, constantly hits stuff and carries hard.

7. Jack Willis – The most flexible player over the ball I've ever seen. Any time anyone goes to ground near him, he turns them over. Also very hard to bring down when carrying.

8. Duane Vermeulen – Came up against him when Sale played Toulon and the size difference was ridiculous. It was intimidating to see him running in full flight. I managed to bring him down by getting tangled up in his legs!

9. Dan Robson – An all-round nine. Has a great kicking and running game and controls the field. You know you will get opportunities when you run off him as his anticipation is so good.

10. Jacob Umaga – Close friend and one of the most skilful players I've played with. He can do it all: passing, kicking, offloading, he's got footwork, and has played so many games at such a high level in only his third season of starting. Only going to get better.

11. Bryan Habana – A couple of years before I was playing as him in the ‘Rugby 08' game and then, all of a sudden, I found myself playing opposite him for Sale against Toulon. I was 19 and starstruck. One of the best wingers to ever do it.

12. Ma'a Nonu – Destructive carrier, dangerous on the ball, crazy in defence and has the dreadlocks as well which is my look now. A vivid memory from the Toulon game was about five minutes in when I was pinned to the floor at the bottom of a ruck and I was trying to get up and I couldn't move. A giant tattooed arm was pinning me down. I saw him standing over me and thought, ‘oh my god'.

13. Malakai Fekitoa – I loved playing with him the few times we started together in midfield last season. He makes all the hard tackles for me and is a great ball carrier and a defensive leader. When I first switched to 13, he went through all the plays with me. He loves to help the next generation of players even if you're direct competition and to be able to tap into his knowledge is unreal.

14. Anthony Watson – Probably one of the most athletically gifted players I have been around and trained with. His legs are literally turbo-charged and springy. He can jump over my head height and his footwork is unreal. He puts so much time and effort into perfecting his craft, which is why when he plays it all looks so effortless. I've definitely taken a lot from that.

15. Kotaro Matsushima – I've played with and against some class 15s, including James O'Connor at Sale, but I'm going to go with Matsushima from Clermont. He was the first person to step me when they were facing in the other direction and is so slippery and evasive in such a small space. A real game-changer and so strong for a small player.