Rugby: Springboks stalwart overlooks All Blacks legends Dan Carter and Richie McCaw

Richie McCaw and Dan Carter are not among the five best modern day All Blacks, according to Springboks stalwart Francois Louw.

When asked by his British club Bath to pick his dream starting XV, the South African loose forward did not select either McCaw or Carter.

Louw, who made his test debut in 2010 and has played 57 tests for the Boks, did, however, name five New Zealanders in his squad - Christian Cullen (fullback), Tana Umaga (second-five), Carlos Spencer (first-five), Jerry Collins (flanker), and Carl Hayman (tighthead).

Louw describes Cullen as "one of the most potent running fullbacks rugby has ever seen" while praising Umaga for being "one of the hardest tacklers in the game" as well as "one of the most respected players in world rugby".

He singled out Collins' "sheer strength", Hayman's "staggering power", and Spencer's "creative style of play".

As you might expect, the largest representation in Louw's team was from South Africa - with the country accounting for six of the 15.

No Australians made the cut.

Francois Louw's dream XV:
15. Christian Cullen (New Zealand) 14. Bryan Habana (South Africa) 13. Jean de Villiers (SA) 12. Tana Umaga (NZ) 11. Jason Robinson (England) 10. Carlos Spencer (NZ) 9. Fourie du Preez (SA) 8. Sebastian Chabal (France) 7. Schalk Burger (SA) 6. Jerry Collins (NZ) 5. Victor Matfield (SA) 4. Paul O'Connell (Ireland) 3. Carl Hayman (NZ) 2. Keith Wood (Ire) 1. Os du Randt (SA)