Friday XV

[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
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.

Just updating this now that Shields is fully qualified. I wonder why NZ locks don't seem to chase the pound as much as backs and loose forwards?

[Doorzetbornandbred]

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
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.

Just updating this now that Shields is fully qualified. I wonder why NZ locks don't seem to chase the pound as much as backs and loose forwards?

Because the pig huntings shite in the UK...

[Rich]

Japanese vehicle XV:

1. Nissan Armada
2. Toyota Tacoma
3. Honda Pilot
4. Toyota Tundra
5. Nissan Titan
6. Subaru Ascent
7. Subaru WRX
8. Toyota Landcruiser

9. Honda Civic
10. Lexus NX

11. Nissan Skyline
12. Toyota Highlander
13. Nissan Maxima
14. Lexus LC

15. Subaru Outback

[Lizard]

Don’t be absurd.

Armada is a tighthead.

[Lizard]

Slightly more seriously, what's the best World XV you can make up by selecting 1 player who played in the November tests from each of the top 15 ranked nations (TRC, 6N, Geo, Japan, USA, Tonga)?

I'm sure you could do better than this effort:


1. Mikheil Nariashvili (Geo)
2. Agustin Creevy (Arg)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ire)
4.Eben Etzebeth (SA)
5. Leone Nakarawa (Fij)
6. Michael Leitch (Jpn)
7. Fotu Lokotui (Ton)
8. Louis Picamoles (Fra)
9. Aaron Smith (NZL)
10. Owen Farrell (Eng)
11. Mattia Bellini (Ita)
12. Paul Lasiki (USA)
13. Huw Jones (Sco)
14. George North (Wal)
15. Israel Folau (Aus)

[Lizard]

1. Jesse Ryder
2. Ian Smith
3. Mark Greatbatch
4. Richard Hadlee
5. Richard Collinge
6. Bert Sutcliffe
7. Brendon McCullum
8. Lance Cairns
9. Adam Parore
10. Kane Williamson
11. Neil Wagner
12. Martin Crowe
13. Ross Taylor
14. Shane Bond
15. Daniel Vettori

[Galfon]

All record breakers at something or other for NZ Test team.Mostly batting records I would say, despite the number of bowlers listed.

[Lizard]

All record breakers at something or other for NZ Test team.Mostly batting records I would say, despite the number of bowlers listed.

No, just what I’d pick for an all time XV of top NZ test cricketers. No deeper logic than that.

Martin Donnelly should probably be in there actually, seeing as he played test rugby (for England).

[Galfon]

Some good shouts therefore Liz. - most, if not all of these, have done something really exceptional within their high quality international stint.*
Bit disappointed Glenn Turner not on the list - my hero for a while at Worcs (thousand before end of May '73/ champs in '74).He never could replicate consistently at test level his county deeds.Think he still does stuff in the game back home.

* Might be worth a bit of digging if crimbo gets boring..

[Lizard]

Some good shouts therefore Liz. - most, if not all of these, have done something really exceptional within their high quality international stint.*
Bit disappointed Glenn Turner not on the list - my hero for a while at Worcs (thousand before end of May '73/ champs in '74).He never could replicate consistently at test level his county deeds.Think he still does stuff in the game back home.

* Might be worth a bit of digging if crimbo gets boring..

Not sure what Turner would bring on the rugby pitch. Seems like the sort of bloke who want to be a 2nd playmaker at 12 but stand deep and just kick for touch every time he gets the ball.

[Mellsblue]

Some good shouts therefore Liz. - most, if not all of these, have done something really exceptional within their high quality international stint.*
Bit disappointed Glenn Turner not on the list - my hero for a while at Worcs (thousand before end of May '73/ champs in '74).He never could replicate consistently at test level his county deeds.Think he still does stuff in the game back home.

* Might be worth a bit of digging if crimbo gets boring..

Not sure what Turner would bring on the rugby pitch. Seems like the sort of bloke who want to be a 2nd playmaker at 12 but stand deep and just kick for touch every time he gets the ball.

He sounds like a world class, test match animal, saviour of English rugby ice man.

[Galfon]

He sounds like a world class, test match animal, saviour of English rugby ice man.

Some similarities, but not a vocal or starey leader, and tended to time his shots well rather than late.
His defence was solid too.
He would however be useful for pitch invasions, Erika Roe stylee, due to his adeptness at dealing with bouncers.

[Galfon]

Snorkers XV

1. Gla Morgan
2. Knob le Wurst
3. Cum Berland
4. Kas Zanka
5. Knack Wurst
6. Brat Wurst
7. Dr Isheen
8. Sav El Oy
9. Chip O'Lata
10.Wiener Wurst
11.Frank Furter
12. Pep Peroni
13. Lorne Doon
14. Chori Zo
15. Hot Dog

[Lizard]

Who can guess the theme here?

1 M Vunipola
2 Berghan
3 Atonio
4 Budd
5 Te'o
6 Hardie
7 Tuivaiti
8 Shields
9 Carbery
10 Anscombe
11 Maitland
12 Aki
13 Grigg
14 Parkes
15 Hayward

[Lizard]

Who can guess the theme here?

1 M Vunipola
2 Berghan
3 Atonio
4 Budd
5 Te'o
6 Hardie
7 Tuivaiti
8 Shields
9 Carbery
10 Anscombe
11 Maitland
12 Aki
13 Grigg
14 Parkes
15 Hayward

NZ-born players who appeared this last weekend in the 6 Nations?

Possibly true, and definitely close enough. It’s NZ-born players in the 6N published squads (as per Wikipedia).

[Lizard]

OK, what are the criteria here? For a bonus point, what does the asterisk mean?
1. B. Franks
2. D. Witcombe
3. O. Brown
4. G. Rawlinson
5. J. Kaino (arguably bracketed with J. Collins, S. Lauaki & R. So'oialo)
6. J. Kaino*
7. C. Masoe
8. R. So'oialo
9. T. Kerr-Barlow
10. A. Mehrtens
11. S. Sivivatu
12. A. Ieremia
13. M. Fekitoa
14. J. Rokocoko*
15. M. Muliaina*

[Galfon]

Most AB caps in each position for players born overseas.
Asteriskers most tries also for that position ?

[Lizard]

Most AB caps in each position for players born overseas.
Asteriskers most tries also for that position ?

Correct for the overall criteria. Not correct for the asterisk.

I was quite suprised that we haven’t had more than 1 proper lock born overseas, or a specialist openside.

I should note that I’ve disregarded foreign born players who specialised in the old-fashioned (and now banned because England couldn’t handle it) wing-forward position - David Gallaher, Cliff Porter, and Frank Solomon.

[Lizard]

I've found out how to distinguish 6 from 7. So I've edited the team to be clear that Masoe is the 7. He has 6 caps starting there, opposed to So'oialo's 3 (none of the others mentioned have any).

[Galfon]

Most AB caps in each position for players born overseas.
Asteriskers most tries also for that position ?

Correct for the overall criteria. Not correct for the asterisk.
.

Most AB caps for that position ?

[Lizard]

Most AB caps in each position for players born overseas.
Asteriskers most tries also for that position ?

Correct for the overall criteria. Not correct for the asterisk.
.

Most AB caps for that position ?

Bingo.

[Lizard]

OK, what are the criteria here? For a bonus point, what does the asterisk mean?
1. B. Franks
2. D. Witcombe
3. O. Brown
4. G. Rawlinson
5. J. Kaino (arguably bracketed with J. Collins, S. Lauaki & R. So'oialo)
6. J. Kaino*
7. C. Masoe
8. R. So'oialo
9. T. Kerr-Barlow
10. A. Mehrtens
11. S. Sivivatu
12. A. Ieremia
13. M. Fekitoa
14. J. Rokocoko*
15. M. Muliaina*

So for those keeping score at home, that's:
5 Samoans
3 Australians
2 Fijians
2 South Africans (actually, that's every South African capped for NZ!)
1 American Samoan, twice
1 Tongan

For an all-time Immigrant All Blacks XV, I'd swap TKB for fellow Ocker Des Connor and bring John Schuster back from his early departure to league in place of fellow Samoan, Ieremia. You could possibly argue for Toeava at 13, as well.

John Gallagher might have been a shout if he'd stuck it out a bit longer and if Mils hadn't so very handy. Naholo has a theoretical shot at overtaking on or other of his countrymen, but seems to be fading. Coming up is the young, erm, Japanese player Akira Ioane who will have a tough road trying to unseat the Samoan legends at 6 and 8. Nepo Laulala is a more modern specimen than Olo Brown but isn't the finished article yet. Tu'ungafasi over B. Franks could be a good call in a few years, too.

[Galfon]

Guess the selection criteria for this team:

1. g jenkins
2. r ford
3. j hayes
4. d o'callaghan
5. aw jones
6. c charvis
7. m williams
8. j heaslip
9. m phillips
10. r o'gara
11. r underwood
12. j roberts
13. b o'driscoll
14. g thomas
15. r kearney

Reps:
16  j leonard
17 k owens
18.a jones
19 p o'connell
20 l dallaglio
21 b youngs
22 s jones
23 n jenkins

[Puja]

Guess the selection criteria for this team:

1. g jenkins
2. r ford
3. j hayes
4. d o'callaghan
5. aw jones
6. c charvis
7. m williams
8. j heaslip
9. m phillips
10. r o'gara
11. r underwood
12. j roberts
13. b o'driscoll
14. g thomas
15. r kearney

Reps:
16  j leonard
17 k owens
18.a jones
19 p o'connell
20 l dallaglio
21 b youngs
22 s jones
23 n jenkins

Most caps in that positions from Home Nations players?

Puja

[Galfon]

That is nearly correct, there is 1 other criteria giving eligibility for selection...a few different names would be there if just most-capped.