Former England and Wasps captain Lawrence has picked his ‘perfect’ World XV for The Times.
The World Cup-winning back-rower from being a schoolboy chorister to one of the most formidable physical presences in the game of rugby.
Had it all in his prime – pace, power, aggression, pride and a steely mind-set. A Lions series winner, a World Cup winner and a trophy magnet with Wasps.
Find his ‘perfect’ rugby team below.
15 CHRISTIAN CULLEN (NZ): Comes down to Cullen or Serge Blanco. While Blanco might have been a great player for a longer period, Cullen’s best years were sensational
14 DAVID CAMPESE (AUS): Wasn’t always generous in his comments about England but he was a great player and, really, he walks into the team
13 JERRY GUSCOTT (ENG): The way Jerry could accelerate onto a pass made him unique in my eyes. One of those players with the ability to do something that changed a game
12 FRANK BUNCE (NZ): Lots of people will say ‘how can you not pick Tim Horan at No 12?’ Horan was a great player, a better attacker than Bunce but I loved Bunce’s physicality
11 JONAH LOMU (NZ): If only for the matches he played against England, he would get in, but Lomu played plenty of other great matches.