Friday XV

[Which Tyler]

Cheat, I only wiki searched the Scilly isles as I was sure of its status. I couldn't think of anyone from there though.
Mind, I only knew Bennett because he played "with" my godfather (Bedford IIRC). I'd have a sneaking suspicion that Bennett played for the firsts whilst U.Ray played for the 6ths or something, butnyoud never get that I pressing from talking to him!
Equally, my Grandad had Sir Jack Hobbs caught off his bowling, I suspect on the boundary, but he's always give the impression it was a slips catch. (Actually grandad might have been that good, Cambridge blue in multiple sports, England trial for rugby)

I knew Bader played rugby (public school toff in the 30s, of course he played rugby). Didn't know he was Manx though

[Galfon]

Well Hobbs played for nearly 30 years so he must have faced a few bowlers in that time....sure it was a snorter that bagged him though...
The question set above is different to intended once I discovered none of Bennett, Lewsey, Huw Davies or B Morgan were Welsh born ..and IoM was just a Crown dependancy.

[Banquo]

odd one out ?..

I give in

[Galfon]

The small town that gave us the person after which the highest mountain in the world is named was also where this Eng. player was born.
The position in this team could have been filled by an Irish born Eng. player who ironically does similar rugby-related work post retirement to the said fellow.
2nd brucie bonus for this one..

[Banquo]

The small town that gave us the person after which the highest mountain in the world is named was also where this Eng. player was born.
The position in this team could have been filled by an Irish born Eng. player who ironically does similar rugby-related work post retirement to the said fellow.
2nd brucie bonus for this one..

Dewi Morris, of course the only one born in celt land. Kieran Bracken then.

[Galfon]

Dewi Morris, of course the only one born in celt land. Kieran Bracken then.

Correct answers.
Coconut in the post.
( still need a proper hooker meeting the selection criteria for a better xv..
others considered but not randomly selected..
d hilton, t smith, r metcalfe, g easterby.)

[Galfon]

Revised anglo-geboren XV after further eligibility checks:
1. t smith sco
2. k kennedy ire
3. d sole sco
4. j hamilton sco
5. m o'kelly ire
6. d lydiate wal
7. s easterby ire
8. c charvis wal
9. d morris eng(*)
10. p burke ire
11. g north wal
12. r henderson  ire
13. j davies wal
14. s geoghegan ire
15. h southwell sco

Reps:
16. b llewellyn wal
17. d hilton sco
18. a reed sco
19. b pountney sco
20. k bracken eng(*)
21. d maggs ire
22. s webster sco

Head Coach i mcgeechan sco
assts.- n redman eng (*),
n bennett eng (*)

(*) players qualifying under residency only, born outside england.

[Galfon]

The * - ******** XV:

1. m stevens
2. k wood
3. p clohessy
4. l cullen
5. t rodber
6.  j haskell
7. j worsley
8. l dallaglio
9. k bracken
10. r o'gara
11. r baird
12. w carling
13. r gravell
14. g davies
15. j williams

16. p rendall
17. z fagerson
18. i paxton
19. c robshaw
20. m blair
21. a ward
22. a goode

these players have something in common..

[Spiffy]

The * - ******** XV:

1. m stevens
2. k wood
3. p clohessy
4. l cullen
5. t rodber
6.  j haskell
7. j worsley
8. l dallaglio
9. k bracken
10. r o'gara
11. r baird
12. w carling
13. r gravell
14. g davies
15. j williams

16. p rendall
17. z fagerson
18. i paxton
19. c robshaw
20. m blair
21. a ward
22. a goode

these players have something in common..

The Army - either in it or parent in it.

[Galfon]

not on my card..but a few in there right enough.

[Banquo]

not on my card..but a few in there right enough.

I give in

[Galfon]

Too early for clues-es, but the fullback gives the game away.It's a silly one..

[Banquo]

Too early for clues-es, but the fullback gives the game away.It's a silly one..

ah ok, initially I struggled

[Galfon]

bingo!.

[Spiffy]

bingo!.

The power of three!

[Galfon]

Which of these names does not feature on any of the birth certificates of the Power-of-Three XV (and replacements), listed above ?

Mallinson, Welbon, Nero, Reames, Tarquin, Ragnar, Yankel, Vallance.

[Banquo]

Which of these names does not feature on any of the birth certificates of the Power-of-Three XV (and replacements), listed above ?

Mallinson, Welbon, Nero, Reames, Tarquin, Ragnar, Yankel, Vallance.

Tarquin?

[Galfon]

Yup, Tarquin does not feature.

[Lizard]

The Brad Shields Memorial Kiwi England XV

I don't think it is possible yet to select an entire, realistic XV of NZ-born, England-capped players, but here's my best shot. All players fit that description unless noted. I've struggled with locks and I'm not sure of the best positional arrangement in the midfield. Any improvements welcome:

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Dylan Hartley
3. Perry Freshwater (I know he's really a loosehead)
4. Martin Johnson (English-born but played for NZ U21)
5. Michael Paterson (uncapped but called into an England touring squad as injury cover)
6. Teimana Harrison
7. Brad Shields (uncapped but probable England selection later this year)
8. Thomas Waldrom
9. Willi Heinz (uncapped but was selected for England training camp)
10. Rikki Flutey
11. Ian Botting
12. Shontayne Hape
13. Ben Te’o
14. Denny Solomona
15. Mark van Ginsbergen

Other qualified players (all centers or outside backs) include:
Jamie Salmon (the only man capped by NZ and England)
Martin Donnelly (more famous as NZ test cricketer than an English rugby player)
Henry Paul (arguably more famous as NZ league player than an English rugby player)
Alan Adams
Ernest Fookes
Alick Palmer
Ernest Parsons

Just for balance, there have been 2 English-born All Blacks test players, and another 6 who played tour matches but no tests. All but one (John Gallagher) were probably colonists, being selected in 1884-1910.

[morepork]

Nice work. Good to see that ex-league backs on the right hand side of 10 have a safety net in the international arena.

[Lizard]

Makes you wonder how different the Kiwi England XV would look if New Zealand ever selected its designated “Next Senior” team, capturing eligibility of that next tier down. NZ has always (i.e. since 2003) nominated the “Junior All Blacks” (which is a daftly-named “A” team, not an age-group side) but it hasn’t been selected since the 2009 Pacific Nations Cup.

This policy is probably NZ’s greatest gift to Pacific Island rugby.

[Lizard]

OK, who can guess the selection criteria?

1. Boxer Harding (Wales) / Alfred Brice (Wales)
2. Twyber Travers (Wales)
3. Jannie du Plessis (SA)
4. Bob Norster (Wales)
5. Robin Brooke (NZ)
6. Jerome Kaino (NZ)
7. Jean-Claude Skrela (Fra) / Josh Kronfeld (NZ)
8. Jehoida Hodges (Wales)
9. Francois Hougaard (SA)
10. Barry John (Wales)
11. Stuart Watkins (Wales)
12. Rusty Gabe (Wales)
13. John Dawes (Wales)
14. Willie Llewellyn (Wales)
15. JPR Williams (Wales)

[Galfon]

Something around not being English, or doing a notable thing such as being in a fist-fight in an international ?

[Lizard]

Something around not being English, or doing a notable thing such as being in a fist-fight in an international ?

Not a bad start. It’s something to do with playing against England.

[Numbers]

Carded against England for a bit of argy-bargy?

Most of those players are pre-card era so not that, this is tricky.