Lock: Courtney Lawes – “No explanation required!”
Lock: Victor Matfield – “Big Vic was past his best by the time he arrived at Saints but he changed the game and certainly our lineout. One of my favourite players as I grew up in the game and it was a pleasure to share the field with him.”
Flanker: James Haskell – ” Great man to have in the squad, made my England debut alongside him and he has a huge amount of experience and physicality.”
Flanker: Richie McCaw – “I’m going with all-time legend status and hero of mine growing up, the one and only Richie. Beating NZ in 2012 is still up there as a career high.”
Number 8: Louis Picamoles – “Kieran Read, Billy Vunipola, Samu Manoa or Picamoles? Brutal decision to make. I’m going with King Louis as he was one of the most casual men in training and in the build-up to big games and barely spoke a word of English, but playing against him he was an absolute nightmare to tackle and playing with him the biggest challenge was hurdling all the bodies he’d knocked over to support him!”