Warren Gatland ranks the five best players he's ever coached

Gatland was speaking on BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast and paid tribute to the five best players he has ever coached.

The New Zealander split his list into three categories – the best pound-for-pound player, the best captain, the best Lion and the most talented player.

“Probably pound-for-pound, Shane Wiliams. He had some incredible brilliant attacking attributes,” Gatland said.

“But sometimes Shane could score three tries and let in two. But pound for pound he was unbelievable when he was at his best.”

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The New Zealander was asked about the most impressive player he has coached during his time with the Lions.

"I saw him in 2009, having given him his first cap as a youngster coaching Ireland. I was unbelievably impressed with his development over eight or nine years and how mature he was, and how much he understood the game.

"He was sensational in terms of his rugby understanding and rugby knowledge. The way he prepared and approached. He's probably the best players I've coached from a Lions perspective."

“His leadership, attitude and demeanour, along with his performances, have placed Sam up there as one of the best and most respected players in the world.

"He finished with a record that he should be extremely proud of and should look back on his career with huge pride.”

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When it came to the best leader on the pitch, Gatland chose his old Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio.

“The best captain that I’ve ever been involved with was Lawrence Dallaglio.

“He had that unbelievable ability to motivate players in a way that I’ve never seen anyone else able to do. Particularly in the changing rooms,” Gatland explained.

“He’d talk the talk and then walk the walk. I’ve so much admiration for his leadership and honesty in that role.”

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Finally, for the most talented player, Gatland chose former All Black Sitivebi Sivivatu, who he worked with when he was head coach of Waikato.

“Probably the best player I’ve ever coached, [who] played for the All Blacks, Waikato and Clermont, was Sitiveni Sivivatu,” Gatland said.

“He tried to portray himself as this easy go, dumb-looking Fijian – but he wasn’t like that. He was a very, very intelligent rugby player. I saw him have the ability to make up moves during a game from the wing.

“I remember a game where Waikato played Northland and he pulled his hamstring, it was our scrum and we were in the 22 and the physio went on and said ‘Siti you gotta come off you’ve pulled your hamstring’, and he said ‘no, no just let me score the try first and then I’ll come off’.

“So we had a scrum and went ten and there was sort of a ten/wing cut and he hobbled across the line and put the ball down and walked off the field!

“But he was probably the most talented rugby player I’ve ever coached. And I’ve been lucky enough to coach a lot of quality players in my time.”

Sivivatu was only 25 by the time Gatland left Waikato, which goes to show just how talented the former All Blacks winger was at a young age.