Flyhalf: Dan Carter (New Zealand)
Owens said: “There are a lot of great outside halves but none have the longevity that Carter has.
“Before the 2015 World Cup, some people said he was past his prime and wouldn’t make New Zealand’s squad for the tournament.
“But for Carter to come back from injury and play as well as he did back then is a testament to what a special player he is.”
Scrumhalf: Agustin Pichot (Argentina)
Owens said: “I loved watching Dwayne Peel in his prime as a scrum-half for Wales, Lions and Llanelli for a few years between 2004 and 2006. Talented, a great guy and he has a house close to mine!”
“But I chose Pichot because he has been a great Pumas player and a great ambassador for the whole of rugby.
“Picciotto and Felipe Contepomi were the men who helped transform Argentina into one of the best teams in the world. He was instrumental in their run to the 2007 World Cup semi-finals, which was a precursor to their incredible performance in the 2015 tournament.”
Loosehead prop: Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
Owens said: “He rarely smiles but he’s a great loosehead prop. When I give him a penalty and he smiles I know I’ve made the right decision!”
“But suffice it to say, when I refereed he didn’t smile much. He’s also someone who has stood the test of time and that speaks to his ability and character.”
Hooker: John Smit (South Africa)
Owens said: “He led the Springboks to victory at the 2007 World Cup in France and against the Lions in 2009 and is probably one of the best captains I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He was a good person and a very good hooker.”
Tighthead prop: Phil Vickery (England)
“I always looked up to him and thought he was a good guy and a good guy to officiate. He wasn’t one to complain about a call, he was one to accept the call and go with it,” Owens said.
“As a player he was fearsome during Wasps’ European dominance and at the height of his England international success in 2007.
“Slightly better than Carl Heyman. He’s also a great player and a pretty honest player. If he made a mistake and I gave him a penalty, he took it.”
