DREAMTEAM

HUW TAYLOR, THE FORMER WORCESTER, DRAGONS, SALE, SEATTLE AND ENGLAND U20s LOCK WHO NOW PLAYS FOR PLYMOUTH ALBION, SELECTS THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…

1. Brok Harris – Longevity gets Brock in for me. I played with him at Dragons and he had about 150 caps there and 150 for Stormers. Still going at 40 tells you everything.

2. Richard Hibbard – Hibbard could have come to Dragons and just collected a cheque, but he cared so much. Proper leader, hard as nails and brilliant for us.

3. Nick Schonert – I played with Nick at Worcester and Sale and he was one of the best tight-head scrummagers in the league for years. Tough as anything and massively underrated.

4. Donnacha O’Callaghan – He came to Worcester later in his career, but you could instantly tell what a leader he was. The way he spoke, drove standards and carried himself was different class.

5. James Ryan – I played against him in the U20 World Cup final and he destroyed our lineout. We lost heavily and he was just nicking everything. You knew he was special.

6. Siya Kolisi – Facing Siya away at Sharks was pretty cool. You could see how hard he worked around the field and what he brought physically, but also what he means to the game.

7. Jack Willis – I played with Jack through the age groups and he was always brilliant over the ball. A proper breakdown threat and relentless who has now proved it at the top level.

8. Aaron Wainwright – At Dragons, Aaron was electric. Physical, rapid and skilful, with everything you want from a number eight. Not my favourite musician, but some rugby player!

9. Gonzalo Bertranou – Gonzo was brilliant at Dragons. He’d be away with Argentina, come back and slot straight in. When he hit form in MLR too, he was probably the best player in the league.

10. Ryan Lamb – I’ve gone for Lamby partly because he’s my head coach now! But playing with him, he had that carefree attitude, huge skillset and could still control games brilliantly.

11. Josh Adams – I lived with Josh for a few years at Worcester and saw his rise close up. Written off by Scarlets, then Nottingham, Worcester, Wales and the Lions – unbelievable journey.

12. Ma’a Nonu – I played against him with Seattle Seawolves and he just had that aura. One of the best 12s to ever do it, you could feel his class.

13. Tevita Kuridrani – Tevita was fairly quiet, but when he got fit at Seattle he was outstanding. A world-class centre in his prime, breaking tackles for fun and quickly getting back to that level.

14. Bryce Heem – At Worcester, Bryce and Josh Adams were probably the best wing pairing in the Premiership. Six foot four, 110 kilos, physical, quick and so hard to stop.

15. Chris Pennell – Chris was probably the best under the high ball I’ve ever played with. Worcester legend, so composed at the back, and I always thought he deserved more international recognition.