GEORGE ORAM, DONCASTER'S NEW SIGNING AND FORMER ENGLAND COUNTIES, BLACKHEATH, ROTHERHAM, BIRMINGHAM MOSELEY & COVENTRY LOCK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…
1. James Gibbons – Looks like he runs in slow motion but gets through a lot of work. Top bloke to share a changing room with at Cov; terrible lid.
2.Gavin O'Meara – Best arrows of anyone I've played with. A great servant to Blackheath and good in the bar after.
3. Phil Boulton – I'll forgive him for captaining like David Brent because he's a great Championship stalwart. Not many hit over 300 Champ games. A great friend too.
4. Barney Maddison –Helped me immensely when I was arrived at Roth as a rather green, young second row. Can do everything on the pitch, and a good man off it.
5. James Ryan – I played against Leinster A for Roth and got smoked every carry by an 18-yearold Ryan. Unsurprising he reached the level he is at now only a few years later.
6. Jack Ram – A freak. If you created a back row forward in a lab, Jack would be spat out. Strong as hell, hits like a bull yet still puts people on skates when he carries. One of the great sights at Cov was seeing him on a line break carrying the ball like a peanut.
7. Jack Preece – One of the best I've had the pleasure of playing with. Played together in many games for Coventry, Rotherham and Moseley, he was almost always the best player on the pitch.
8. Jake Polledri –Played against him at Hartpury, and the physicality was disturbing. Seasoned professionals got thrown off him with alarming regularity. Joined up later in the season for an England Counties tour and the barbarism continued, this time in the same shirt. Good to see him doing well for Gloucester and Italy.
9. Pete White –A brilliant player for Cov with a nose for a gap. Games in the balance almost always went our way when he entered the game. If I ran a good line, he'd find me.
10.Will Maisey – Incredible that a man with such small calves can kick the ball so well. Swayed a fair few close games with his metronomic boot. Unleashing that mental Bedford backline now.
11.Max Trimble – A natural finisher with some serious wheels. Equal levels of commitment to his rugby and to socials. Many fond memories from Coventry drinking establishments.
12. Anthony Fenner – Unlucky with injuries but always a class act for Cov. I've seen him play almost every position in the backline apart from 9 and be a cut above. Seems to have so much time on the ball and always makes the right play.
13. Markus Burcham – Managed to string together 155 consecutive starts in the Blackheath 13 shirt. An unbelievable testament to his durability.
14. Rob Knox – One of the most naturally gifted players I've ever seen. Quick, strong with wonderful feet.
15. James Stokes –Uncanny ability to get on the end of and convert half chances at Cov. So happy to see him going so well at London Irish.
