The Could've been England Xv

[I R Geech]

Spent the afternoon in the pub listening to the usual cobblers about England forever poaching players so started trying to come up with a team of England qualified players that played for other Nations instead to turn it around. Bit drunk, not sure of numbers, but so far;

T Francis

Swinson
Charteris
H Watson
M Hooper
Moriarty
Pyrgos

Cuthbert?!

JD2
North
Er, John Gallagher

Can't think of ones to fill the gaps and I'm sure there are better players missed, but there are a few there that you'd give your left nut for. But on balance I'd Imagine they'd lose to an England team of imports.

[Scrumhead]

I hate all that sh!t about poaching. I'd rather we didn't do it, but literally every country does it and we are by no means the worst. We could pretty easily put out a very good squad of English born and bred players - most of the others can't.

You've already got most of the ones that spring to mind for me.

Are you sure you're not getting Pyrgos and Ali Price muddled up? Price is definitely one of ours, but I'm less sure on Pyrgos?

Anyway - ones to add would be:

Ali Price (Scotland)
Dan Lydiate (Wales) - born in Stockport or somewhere in that area IIRC

The main thing is that we probably haven't lost out on many.

I definitely would have liked Hooper, Watson, North at his peak (not so much now ...) and maybe Moriarty, but that's about it I'd say.

[Scrumhead]

Forgot Olly Cracknell but I don't think he's been capped yet?

[I R Geech]

Pyrgos was born in Dorzet.

If this ever gets completed, is there a 'poached' team to compare it against and unleash a proper flood of nonsense and abuse?

[oldbackrow]

If its English qualified then surely Warburton comes into it?!

[I R Geech]

If its English qualified then surely Warburton comes into it?!

Yeah, but can he play 6 1/2?

[Tigersman]

1) Allen (Scotland)
2)
3) Francis (Wales)
4) Swinson (Scotland)
5) Charteris (Wales)
6) Warburton (Wales)
7) Watson (Scotland)
8) Moriarty (Wales)
9) Pygros (Scotland)
10) Morgan (Wales)
11) Cuthbert (Wales)
12) Taylor (Scotland)
13) JD2 (Wales)
14) North (Wales)
15) Amos (Wales)

16)
17)
18) Jarvis (Wales)
19) McCarthy (Ireland)
20) Wilson (Scotland)
21) Price (Scotland)
22) Matavesi (Samoa)
23) Jackson (Scotland)

Best i can get ATM

[Scrumhead]

Pyrgos was born in Dorzet.

If this ever gets completed, is there a 'poached' team to compare it against and unleash a proper flood of nonsense and abuse?

Obviously there have been a good few over the years but even being really, really harsh on the definition of a poach, putting together a current 'poached' XV is quite tricky.

Capped/in recent EPS selections:

1. M. Vunipola (Tonga/Wales)
2. Hartley (New Zealand)
3. ???
4. Armand (Zimbabwe)
5. ???
6. Hughes (Fiji)
7. Harrison (New Zealand)
8. B. Vunipola (Tonga/Wales)
9. ???
10. ???
11. Rokoduguni (Fiji)
12. ???
13. Tuilagi (Samoa)
14. Solomona (Samoa)
15. ???

Uncapped/recent call-ups/eligible:

1. Hepburn (Australia)
2. ???
3. Schonert (South Africa)
4. Ribbans (South Africa)
5. ???
6. M. Williams (Zimbabwe)
7. O'Connor (New Zealand)
8. Ewers (Zimbabwe)
9. Heinz (New Zealand)
10. ???
11. Woodward (New Zealand)
12. ???
13. ???
14. Cokanasiga (Fiji)
15. T. Marshall (New Zealand)

[Ross. S]

Can you guys do us a favour and make a claim for Cuthbert now? Even just a legal curfuffle to stop him being picked for now will do.....

[Peej]

Hepburn was unwanted by Australia, who weirdly have decided they do want Billy Meakes

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Ali Williams for the Could've been England XV?

[I R Geech]

Good call. Williams, Hooper, Watson, Warburton, Lydiate, JD2 and North would all have been very handy to have in the mix.

[morepork]

Bring back conscription, for the Empire.

[Lizard]

For the "Could've been" team, are you including only English-born players? There's probably been a shitload of kiwis and Aussies meeting the 1 grandparent rule that have never even considered the option.

For the "Poached" XV, although it's correct to include the Vunipola's, they weren't poached from Tonga or Wales - they were born in Australia and NZ! Denny Solomona is also a New Zealander by birth.

[I R Geech]

For the "Could've been" team, are you including only English-born players? There's probably been a shitload of kiwis and Aussies meeting the 1 grandparent rule that have never even considered the option.

For the "Poached" XV, although it's correct to include the Vunipola's, they weren't poached from Tonga or Wales - they were born in Australia and NZ! Denny Solomona is also a New Zealander by birth.

Anyone who qualifies through birth or relatives. Had a notion that Scott Spedding would but can't prove it (contrary to forum rules).

[Mellsblue]

I believe it's now fact that Scott Spedding was qualified to play for England. All the nationals have been made aware.