LE BOURGEOIS, THE BEDFORD BLUES PLAYER-COACH AND FORMER WASPS AND JERSEY REDS CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST...
1. Joe Marler – Very good at scrummaging but I also love the way he takes the mick. He is playful about the pitch, has a good time, and gets up to the old man tricks – like tugging your shirt, tugging your laces, and things like that.
2. Schalk Brits – He’s well retired now but he was one of the most skilful players I ever came across. I loved the way he played. Also a really nice bloke. Was a star for Saracens.
3. Kieron Brookes – Played with him at Wasps, he was my housemate so I couldn’t leave him out. Great at the scrum, loves a drop goal and kicking out of hand and when he puts his mind to it, he is very quick. There’s a clip of him running around me in training.
4. Thibaut Flament – He came from Loughborough, where he played 10, to Wasps and very quickly went off to Toulouse. Has won multiple trophies with them and also been capped by France. He’ll be around for a long time.
5. Courtney Lawes – Has come into his own again this year! My first experience of playing against him was when I was playing for Bedford and he absolutely melted me as I got my pass away. I had to stay down for a few minutes to catch my breath. It’s in his compilation of ‘big hits’. He got me good and proper.
6. Peter O’Mahony –Avery smart player, a bit gritty. Does a lot of the hard work and hard yards. Playing against Munster once, he was over the ball, making big shots, he was phenomenal. He is captain or Ireland now so he has done something right.
7. Jack Willis –My next door neighbour at Wasps. Showed outstanding resilience to come back from his injuries. Brilliant over the ball – he was getting four or five a game - and also a brilliant bloke.
8. Jerome Kaino – I almost went for Thommo (Guy Thompson, ex-Wasps and Jersey), but I’ve gone for another player who has done me damage. I came up against him in a game against Toulouseuse and he was way bigger than I thought he was going to be; really thick-set.
9. An
