What could have been...

Following a pub chat, I was thinking about which 'smaller' rugby playing nations have been most affected by a talent drain, or more to the point what team could have been put out if all the players qualified for that team turned out for them.

I was originally thinking about Hong Kong as I know that Charlie Sharples, Graeme Morrison and John Barclay could all play for them, plus others I am sure.

But for me it must be Zimbabwe. Admittedly, they are a bit of a 1 off in terms of a country with a British background and South African influences, meaning rugby is more likely to be present that in other ruined dictatorships, but I thought I'd try and come up with a team that could in theory turn out for them. Its off the top of my head and I'm sure there are other Currie Cup players who could be included too, but a start anyway:


1. Beast (SA)
2. Pieter Dixon (SA)
3. Brian Mujati (SA)
4. Mike Williams ( Uncapped- just signed for Worcester)
5. ?
6. Scott Grey (Scotland)
7. David Pocock (Australia)
8. David Denton (Scotland)
9. ?
10. Nils Mordt (England sevens)
11. Ngwenya (USA)
12. Brad Barritt (England)
13. Max Evans (Scotland)
14. Chavanga (SA)
15. Thom Evans (Scotland)


I'll admit I struggled to think of current players in a few positions, but still, not a bad team and if it ever had taken the field together, would surely have done better than its current counterparts. Does anyone have any other smaller rugby nations 'could have been teams'?


By the way I don't mean a long discussion about the 3 year residency rules or Cuthbert being English etc. More are there any other countries ranked say 15th or below in the world who have 'lost' so many players?

Bathman

Not sure that Max Evans qualifies - was born in England. Thom was born in Harare though.

Probably a few more SA players with sufficient Zim / Rhodesia ancestry to fill the positions you're missing.

Well you'd have had Gregan as the number 9 if he was still playing....

Dixon was educated in SA, he was even the SA schools captain, so he would never have played for Zim.

Brian Mujati would be one you forgot.

Victor Matfield could fill the no.5 spot given his mom is Rhodesian... had he not been picked for the boks mind... small if that!!!!

Gregan is Zambian not Zimbabwean.

Zeeds zeedss.. you're right of course fa0019, I bladdy knew that yet somehow got it wrong!! Cheers!!

Yeah biltong, I didn't mean he or any of the others should have played for Zim, just that they could have in theory.

Matfield even now would still add something to that team.

Dummy half, I thought Mrs Evans was Rhodesian, but happy to be proved wrong.

Anyway, the point being that there can't be too many sides ranked in the 30's in the world which have such a large number of current pros playing elsewhere who could have played for them?

My wife was born in Zambia! don't worry I've got their priorities right, if my 2 boys turn out great young players with lots of potential then it's straight into the welsh academy, if they show promise then Zambia is fine by me - If they show no imagination or creativity then it's their country of birth and off to HQ and England it'll be

RubyGuby wrote:My wife was born in Zambia! don't worry I've got their priorities right, if my 2 boys turn out great young players with lots of potential then it's straight into the welsh academy, if they show promise then Zambia is fine by me - If they show no imagination or creativity then it's their country of birth and off to HQ and England it'll be

Now now then, give it some time- Mike catt's only had a year....

bluestonevedder wrote:

RubyGuby wrote:My wife was born in Zambia! don't worry I've got their priorities right, if my 2 boys turn out great young players with lots of potential then it's straight into the welsh academy, if they show promise then Zambia is fine by me - If they show no imagination or creativity then it's their country of birth and off to HQ and England it'll be

Now now then, give it some time- Mike catt's only had a year....

Nice response Bluestone