"Defensively sound" - Shawn Edwards selects incredible dream pack

The Wigan-born has overseen some of the most gargantuan clubs in the world and achieved huge success in the process having won the Heineken Cup, Premiership, Challenge Cup and three Six Nations in his storied career. 

Not only that, Edwards is an incredibly amiable character, one who has a charming and humble aura despite the scale of his achievements. 

Here, the legend picks his dream pack that he thinks would dominate any team across any era across the set piece and open play.

LP: Os du Randt (South Africa) – “Winner of two World Cups – in 1995 and 2007 – which makes him special and the most capped Springbok forward when he retired after beating England in Paris.”

HK: John Smit (South Africa) – “Another of the 2007 Springbok front row and the inspiration for his team.”

TP: Phil Vickery (England) – “Not too many tighthead props last the course but Vickery, despite injuries, made two World Cup finals and picked up the Heineken Cup and Premiership titles after moving to Wasps.”

LK: Simon Shaw (England) – “Again the Edwards bias may be showing through but he would be the man packing down behind the tighthead. I think he is one of the most underrated players in recent history. He had everything. Johnson doesn't fit into this line-up if I'm honest.”

LK: Victor Matfield (South Africa) – “Never seen anyone better in the lineout. Ben Kay and Paul O’Connell are up there but Matfield is the best. Remember the seven steals against England in the 2007 final?”

FL: Rocky Elsom (Australia) – “Difficult but I put the Australia captain a short head in front of the Springbok Schalk Burger, because of his heroics during Leinster’s winning Heineken Cup campaign. He'd knock at Balboa, he's that strong.”

FL: Richie McCaw (New Zealand) – “You can’t look past the All Black captain but George Smith and Serge Betsen have their followers.”

N8: Lawrence Dallaglio (England) – “Simply the best captain I have ever known and one of those guys who was in at the start of my coaching career. Two World Cup finals, two Heineken Cups, four Premiership championships and a couple of Anglo‑Welsh cups says it all.”