Country of Birth International XVs

[Mr Ruggleby]

With a bit of debate around international eligibility rules, I thought it would be interesting to see how the top teams in rugby would fare if they could only pick players born on home soil. Similarly, would those rules see some lesser nations move up the pecking order...?

 

[Mr Ruggleby]

England XV

1. Genge
2. George
3. Sinckler
4. Kruis
5. Lawes
6. Itoje
7. Curry
8. Morgan
9. Youngs
10. Farrell
11. May
12. Lozowski
13. Slade
14. Nowell
15. Daly

Lacking a fair bit of punch in the backs!

 

[MikeTheNative]

Wales:

Rob Evans
Elliot Dee
Samson Lee
Alun Wyn Jones
Seb Davies
Ellis Jenkis
Justin Tipiruic
Josh Navidi
Gareth Davies
Rhys Patchell
Liam Williams
Scott Williams
Owen Watkin
Josh Adams
Leigh Halfpenny

That's still a decent team for Wales but the bench would start to look a bit weak.

England could have Jon Davies and George North who both were born there but moved to Wales when they were about 2.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Ryan
5. Beirne
6. O'Mahony
7. Van der Flier
8. O'Brien
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. Larmour
12. Henshaw
13. Ringrose
14. Earls
15. Kearney
16. Cronin
17. McGrath
18. Porter
19. Henderson
20. Leavy
21. Cooney
22. Byrne
23. Stockdale

Unavailable starter: Stander (SA)
Unavailable 23: Carbery (NZ) Murphy (Spain)
Unavailable squad: Aki (NZ) McGrath (Canada) Herring (SA) Bealham (Australia) Marmion (England) Roux (SA) Ruddock (Wales) Addison (England) Arnold (England)

This shows and slightly exaggerates how Ireland use the project player system for the most part. They don't go for guys for the 23 because then you'll just be trying to beat other teams with players they don't need and that won't work. Having them as your own back ups because you don't produce as many players as NZ, SA and England due to the sheer numbers game has seen them become very competitive.

There's five residency guys in there, two of which aren't the last guy in their position to make the squad.

Carbery is the bigger of the two losses to the 23 too imo.

England XV

1. Genge
2. George
3. Sinckler
4. Kruis
5. Lawes
6. Itoje
7. Curry
8. Morgan
9. Youngs
10. Farrell
11. May
12. Lozowski
13. Slade
14. Nowell
15. Daly

Lacking a fair bit of punch in the backs!

Would you not throw guys like North in there??

 

[MikeTheNative]

I like Slade but Davies were certainly be starting 13. Also Aaron Shingler was born there as well and he is a lot better choice at 6 than Itjoe.

 

[Thingimubob]

I like Slade but Davies were certainly be starting 13. Also Aaron Shingler was born there as well and he is a lot better choice at 6 than Itjoe.

*Gets popcorn* ooooh boy here we go

 

[TRF_Olyy]

 

[MikeTheNative]

He has played 2nd row for Wales once so you would think he would very good shout for 6 for England.

 

[Which Tyler]

I like Slade but Davies were certainly be starting 13. Also Aaron Shingler was born there as well and he is a lot better choice at 6 than Itjoe.

Let's be honest, it's still be Ford, Farrell Joseph, Slade likely on the bench

 

[Aristodemus]

Fiji could certainly put out a better side, Zimbabwe would improve dramatically. Scotland on the other hand....

 

[TRF_Olyy]

He has played 2nd row for Wales once so you would think he would very good shout for 6 for England.

One has three caps for the Lions,
The other has a brother who willingly tried to play for Scotland.

 

[Croket66]

Fiji could certainly put out a better side, Zimbabwe would improve dramatically. Scotland on the other hand....

Zimbabwe could looks this
1- Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks & South Africa)
2- Matthew Mandioma (CR Liceo Frances)
3- Brian Mujati (Ospreys & South Africa)
4- Don Armand (Exeter Chiefs & England)
5- Mike Williams (Leicester Tigers)
6- David Denton (Leicester Tigers & Scotland)
7- Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)
8- David Pocock (Brumbies & Australia)
9- Ian Prior (Western Force)
10- Kyle Godwin (Connacht & Australia)
11- Takudzwa Ngwenya (San Diego Legion & USA)
12- Angus Curtis (Ulster)
13- Nick Holton (Manly RUFC)
14- Sam Phiri (Western Province Academy)
15- Tapiwa Mafura (Leopards)

16- Brian Muntanga (Life University)
17- Farai Mudariki (Worcester Warriors)
18- Lovejoy Chawatama (London Irish)
19- Eli Snyman (Blue Bulls)
20- Sebastian Negri (Benetton Treviso & Italy)
21- Marco Mama (Worcester Warriors)
22- Hilton Mudariki (Jersey RFC)
23- Marcel Coetzee (ex-Sharks & Germany)

 

[BPM]

That Zimbabwe side is pretty good from 4-8. Not sure I'd have the back row like that though? Surely you'd have Pocock at 7 with Denton or Ewers at 8?

Fiji is a bit of a funny one. Hughes would help at 8 but most of the other players they've lost to other countries are back three players.

They have Nadolo and Tuisova on the wing. Adding in Rokoduguni, Vakatawa, Nakataci, Cokanasiga etc. would definitely improve their 23, but it's not like they could realistically play 6 wingers.

 

[BPM]

To be fair, I forgot about Kuridrani, Kerevi and Naholo. Fiji's squad would be quite a bit better.

If we we kept the criteria for both parents but were less strict on where players were actually born, Tonga and Samoa would be a lot better.

Tonga could have the Vunipolas, Faletau, Tupou and Folau. Samoa would have a good proportion too.

 

[Immenso]

Tonga

15 Pakalani (unchanged)
14 Halai
13 Fekitoa
12
11 Halaifonua (unchanged)
10
9 Takalua (unchanged)
8 Faletau
7
6 Fifita
5 Frizzell
4 Timani
3 T Tupou
2 Polota-Nau
1 Uhila (unchanged)
----------------
16
17 Tolu Latu
18 Tu'ungafasi
19
20 A Mafi
21
22
23

 

[BPM]

No Veainu for Tonga?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No Veainu for Tonga?

Born in New Zealand

 

[Immenso]

My Fiji attempt.

15. K Murimurivalu (unchanged)
14. J Tuisova (unchanged)
13. S Radrada (unchanged)
12. S Kerevi
11. W Naholo
10. A Veitokani
9. H Seniloli (unchanged)
8. N Hughes
7. N Dawai (unchanged)
6. P Yato (unchanged)
5. L Nakarawa (unchanged)
4. T Cavubati (unchanged)
3. M Saulo (unchanged)
2.
1. P Ravai (unchanged)
--------------
Subs:
Ouside back - Sevu Reece (as he can cover fullback)
Flyhalf - Lomani
Halfback - Matawalu (unchanged)
Loose forward - Naisarani
Lock - Ratuniyarawa (unchanged)
Prop - Rinakama (unchanged)
Hooker -
Prop - Tawake / or Sorovaki

Fiji don't lose many, Volavola as playmaker would be a big loss. Only other losses are fringe players Ma'afu and Matavesi.

Obviously gain loads in wings, quite a few midfielders, and loose forwards.

As so many of their pros play in France, I am just guessing with some of them based on reputation (or incumbency) rather than having watched much of them.

Major points.
6/8: Isa Naisarini doesn't make the starting 15, but makes the bench. Viliame Mata & Pita Gus Sowakula miss out.
Midfield: Tamanivalu, Goneva, Botia, Vatubua and Kuridrani don't make a 23.
Wings: Where do you start on who misses out ..... Korobiete, Naiyaravoro, Navialu, Nebuli, Nadolo, Cokanasiga, Rokodoguni, Naikataci, Voka, Nagusa, Nareki, Mataele


As mentioned earlier by others, although so many Fiji born players are unavailable to them, they mostly play the same positions. In my 23 there are actually only 4 players added (Naholo, Kerevi, Hughes and soon to be wallaby Nasarani) while there is one loss (Volavola). Sevu Reece (a 5th) is status unknown, and to be honest is the most tenuous inclusion in this 23 IMO (in ahead of others due to his only slight versatility at fullback).

 

[Immenso]

Australia:

15. Banks
14. Folau
13. Hodge
12. Beale
11. Maddocks
10. Foley
9. Gordon
8. B Vunipola
7. Hooper
6. McMahon
5. Coleman
4. Rodda
3. Kepu
2. Fainga'a
1. Sio

 

[Immenso]

Samoa

15. A Tuala
14. M Nanai
13. M Tuilagi
12. R Le-Lo
11. K Pisi
10. T Pisi
9. M Matavao
8.
7.
6.
5. J Tekori
4.
3. N Laulala
2.
1. L Mulipoa

It's a struggle tbh. A few old men in there and lots of gaps. Gain 3 good players in Laulala, Tuilagi and Nanai, but lose untold.