My Fantasy XV: Allan Jacobsen

06/08/11 EMC TEST SCOTLAND v IRELAND (10-6) MURRAYFIELD - EDINBURGH Allan Jacobsen in action for Scotland.

First in the series is Allan Jacobsen, the loosehead prop who represented Scotland with distinction over the course of 65 caps between 2002 and 2012. ‘Chunk’, as he is affectionately known, is Edinburgh Rugby’s record appearance holder with a remarkable 273 outings for the club. Let’s take a look at his dream line-up:

15)  Andy Irvine (Scotland)

A great of the Scottish game who could glide into the line and cut angles through defences. He would probably go though a match untouched playing behind this team. I played in a memorial match around 1995  it was an East Lothian Select versus the ‘84 Grand Slam team!

Pictured: Andy Irvine in Calcuatta Cup action, 1980.

14) Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Fiji)

Had the dream combination of speed, power and aggression. Tthere was a period where he was unstoppable and if he didn’t run round you he would run through you!

13) Scott Gibbs (Wales)

He was a menace in the 13 channel – fast, robust and had the mindset to dominate anyone in front of him; just ask Os du Randt!!

12) Jamie Roberts (Wales)

Rugby is about winning the gainline and I don’t think I played against a 12 who dominated there more than this man. He would do it over and over again in attack and defence against the best back lines in the world.

Pictured: Jamie Roberts scoring against Scotland, 2014.

11) Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)

Needs no explanation. Rugby is the way it is now because of the way he changed it at 1995 Rugby World Cup. The first real world rugby superstar and the nicest person you could ever meet – off the pitch that is..!

10) Carlos Spencer (New Zealand)

A competitor who hated to lose, he was deceptively powerful and had every trick in the book, and wrote a few of his own.

9) Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

What can you say about him? He had all the skills and flair of the best scrum-halves but also a level of determination and physicality that none could match.

Pictured: South African legend Joost van der Westhuizen getting the ball away from a scrum under the gaze of Gary Armstrong, Rugby World Cup 1999.

1) Federico Méndez (Argentina)

They don’t come much tougher than Mendez. He could play anywhere in front row and if things went south, he would be at the front – just ask Paul Ackford, the giant English lock who was knocked out by an 18-year-old Mendez!

2) Trevor Leota (Samoa)

This guy was like the Tasmanian devil, as wide as he was tall, a strong scrummager who could annihilate players in the tackle and would carry a ball through brick walls.

3) Julian White (England)

A fierce competitor and one of the strongest scrummagers out there. A man who came from a long line of tough farmers who only wanted to dominate in the scrum, and he did.

4) Sébastian Chabal (France)

A great combination of speed, size and power, very difficult to stop at full tilt and a great balance of intensity and aggression. He lives up to his nickname – l’homme des caverns. He is a true caveman.

5) Bakkies Botha (South Africa)

A no compromise forward who also had the fierce competitive edge. A powerful giant of a man, he would go right to the edge of the laws to get his team on the front foot.

6) Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia)

A man mountain in the back row who could shift and had unbelievable strength in contact, and loved to mix it up in the tight.

Pictured: Georgia’s Mamuka Gorgodze vying for line-out supremacy with Scotland’s Jonny Gray, 2016.

7) George Smith (Australia)

Has to be one of the greatest 7s of all time , unbelievable on the floor winning ball and had pace, strength and skill. He had the full tool box and used them superbly.

8) Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand)

An all-action forward who had it all. A tough man who loved to dominate but could pass the width of the pitch and drop goals from halfway. Also beat me in a pint-downing contest at the World Cup in 2003, which still grates!