DREAMTEAM

CONNOR BROCKSCHMIDT, THE CHINNOR AND FORMER GOLDEN LIONS & WITS UNIVERSITY LOCK, SELECTS THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…

1. Kyle Whyte – Facing Kyle at Ealing, he was horrible to shift. Rock solid at scrum time, awkward at lineout, brilliant defensively and quietly led by example without saying much.

2. Malcolm Marx – We go right back to playing football as kids, then school rugby together in South Africa. Even then you could see greatness – physical, skilful and a brilliant bloke.

3. Rob Hardwick – At Leicester Lions, Rob played huge minutes and kept growing every season. He’s a young prop with a massive engine, good hands and feet, and is already holding his own against experienced packs.

4. PJ Steenkamp – Back home in South Africa, PJ was miles ahead physically even as a youngster. Now playing in Japan, but even at 19 you could see he had something serious.

5. George Merrick – George came to us after Harlequins and was outstanding. Calm, professional, ran the lineout brilliantly and fitted into the squad socially as well as anyone.

6. Alex Everett – Playing Cornish Pirates, Alex was one of the most physical players I faced. Huge carrier, horrible to tackle and the player we always knew we had to stop.

7. Will Montgomery – I know he often plays eight for Ealing, but he’s been electric this season. Pace, power, great lines and unbelievable skill – he can break a game open.

8. Izzy Wharton – Izzy gets in over Olly Cracknell because we’ve played together for a few seasons. Deceptively damaging, runs hard lines and always gets you over the gain-line.

9. Morne van den Berg – At Varsity Cup, Morne could come off the bench and change everything.

Electric speed, quick service and a nightmare around the ruck. Springbok caps now say it all.

10. Connor Eastgate – Connor came to Chinnor for a season and brought real calm at fly-half. He could play full-back too, kicked well and always made you feel the game was under control.

11. Daniel Kasende – Daniel came from a smaller rugby school in South Africa and grafted his way up. Rapid, physical, brilliant feet and now tearing it up with the Ospreys.

12. Wandile Simelane – Wandile’s vision and footwork were unreal when we were younger. Sees space, beats defenders and puts people through holes – just Kasende a naturally gifted rugby

13. Tom Watson – Tom-my has been devastating for us this season. Massive carrier, huge tackler and a proper tank in midfield. When he gets the ball, he’s coming straight through.

14. Gabe Goss – With GB Sevens experience and a proper pinball running style, he’s impossible to tackle. Great footwork, physical, and now one of our senior leaders too at Chinnor.

15. Tyrone Green – From schoolboy rivalries to Varsity Cup, Tyrone was always the man to produce something special. Step, break, kick, score – a proper game-breaker and brilliant all-round full-back.