Former Ireland and Lions star Stephen Ferris has selected Wales centre Jonathan Davies in his Dream Team ahead of his former captain Brian O’Driscoll.
Davies is the one Welshman to make the side which the ex-Ulster flanker has selected from the best players he played with or against during his career.
Ferris won 35 Ireland caps between 2006 and 2012, pretty much all of those alongside Lions skipper O’Driscoll.
But the legendary Leinsterman doesn’t make the cut in his Dream Team, with new Test centurion Davies getting the nod ahead of him at 13.
That’s an echo of the 2013 Lions tour of Australia where Warren Gatland preferred Davies to O’Driscoll for the deciding final Test in Sydney.
Ferris’ selection has provoked a lively reaction on social media, with one Dubliner asking: “Are you Gatland in disguise?”.
A number of other people have expressed their surprise, with one Tweeting: “Ha ha ha, no Brian O'Driscoll. When did you lads fall out?”
In the team, which 2009 Lions tourist Ferris has picked for World Rugby, he includes six New Zealanders, but there is no place for All Blacks legend Richie McCaw.
Instead he has gone for his former Ireland back row colleague Paul Wallace on the openside flank, while his choice of France’s Sebastien Chabal at No 8 has provoked further debate.
Responding to people questioning his selection of Chabal, he said: "Unfortunately, I felt his power on a couple of occasions. Freak athlete."
Stephen Ferris Dream Team
15. Kurtley Beale (Australia)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
13. Jonathan Davies (Wales)
12. Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand)
11. Hosea Gear (New Zealand)
10. Dan Carter (New Zealand)
9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa)
2. John Smit (South Africa)
3. Carl Hayman (New Zealand)
4. Paul O’Connell (Ireland)
5. Bakkies Botha (South Africa)
6. Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)
7. Paul Wallace (Ireland)
8. Sebastien Chabal (France)
To get the latest rugby news and analysis delivered straight to your inbox, you can sign up for our Welsh rugby newsletter.
