How Many Countries Have You seen In Test Rugby?

First topic message reminder :

Just having a think about this earlier- the number of teams I've seen in Test Rugby. Thought I would publish my list and people could publish theirs and we could have a bit of a competition to see whose is longest. If you saw them once or a hundred times, it doesn't make a difference. All must be countries who appear on the IRB Rankings, with the exception of the British and Irish Lions. Sound fair? Every country is worth one point, if you saw a country (or the Lions) in a midweek match or an A international thats worth half a point. But you can't count the same country twice. i.e. if you saw the All Blacks beat Munster and Ireland thats still just 1 point.

Ok? Ok.

This is just meant to be a bit of fun but I'll be updating a league table. NO LYING!

Table

PenfroPete, 21 points (20 countries + the Lions)
GunsGerms, 19 points (18 countries + Pacific Islanders)
tigertattie, 19 points (19 countries)
EWT Spoons, 19 points (19 countries)
LordDowlias, 19 points (17 countries + the Lions + the Pacific Islanders)
LondonTiger, 17.5 points (17 countries + the Lions)
hjumpshoe, 17 points (16 countries + the Lions)
BigWilly, 17 points (16 countries + the Lions)
Swperb, 16.5 points (17 countries)
offload, 16 points (16 countries)
doctor-grey, 16 points (15 countries + the Lions)
bedfordwelsh, 16 points (15 countries + the Lions)
BristolDave, 16 points (15 countries + the Lions)
GLove39, 16 points (16 countries + Pacific Islanders)
debaters1, 16 points (15 countries + Pacific Islanders)
the goon, 15 points (15 countries)
Notch, 14 points (15 countries)
thomh, 14 points (14 countries)
Glas a Du, 14 points (14 countries)
Jenifer McLadyboy, 14 points (14 countries)
Pete330v2, 13 points (13 countries)
dailym, 12 points (12 countries)
beshocked, 13 points (12 countries + Lions)
Risca Rev, 12 points (12 countries)
The Saint, 11 points (10 countries + the Lions)
captain carrantuohil, 11 points (11 countries)
kiakahaaotearoa, 10 points (10 countries)
Gibson, 10 points (10 countries)
Mickado, 10 points (10 countries)
fa0019, 10 points (9 countries + the Lions)
tomhughesnice, 9 points (9 countries)
bsando, 8 points (8 countries)
MetalTiger, 8 points (8 countries)
Shifty, 7 points (8 countries)
ScarletsSpiderman, 7 points (7 countries)
mckay1402, 7 points (6 countries + the Pacific Islanders)
Breadvan, 6.5 points (7 countries)
Biltong, 5 points (5 countries)
asoreleftshoulder, 4 points (4 countries)
Looseheaded, 3 points (3 countries)
Geordie Falcon, 1.5 points (2 A games and a club vs country)
Thomond, 1.5 points (3 club vs country)

GunsGerms wrote:
All of them included Ireland plus I saw Australia play NZ in Landsdowne road and SA play the BaBas in Landsdowne.

I have also seen NZ play Leinster also in Landsdowne.

Well done. You must have been very young. I was away when the 1991 world cup was on. A world cup is a great chance to see a lot of teams together.

Will have to make sure I get to as many as possible in 2015.

I was about 9 when I went to my first match (that I can remember), 7 the first time I played. Rugby is the only religion in my family, Landsdowne our place of worship.

Unfortunatly I cant remember the first International I went to but the first rugby match was at was Terenure v Gonzaga in the 89 Junior cup final again in Landsdowne.

I think Leinster v NZ was also in 89 but there is no info on it online at all.

GunsGerms wrote:
I think Leinster v NZ was also in 89 but there is no info on it online at all.

http://www.rugbyrelics.com/images/Programmes/tour/NZ2/1989-11-08.jpg

Thanks for that.

Oh bloody hell this will be hard =/

I was the Premiership XV vs Georgia last season, and Russia against both Ospreys and Dragons the season before that.

Wales against the Barbarians in 1990
Wales against Fiji in 1995
Wales against Italy in 1996
Wales against the Barbarians in 1996
Wales against France in September 1996
Wales against the USA in 1997
Wales against Japan in 2004

If it was Welsh premiership or regional games I would probably win but Wales games I'm pretty awful on I'm afraid.

I can't believe that the Barbarians or Pacific Islanders count. Can't be bothered working it out, over 10, probably over 15. Haven't been to game when the AB's have lost, hope that's not a curse.

Best Game - NZ Australia Wellington 1996, brilliant game in atrocious conditions
Best Atmosphere before a game - World cup final 2011 - Fan walk, pubs
Best Atmosphere during a game - Fiji v Argentina 1987
Best Atmosphere after a game - NZ v Australia 1996, can't beat drinking with one of the teams

Local knowledge helps BC! I was at that game in 1996. Best wet weather display I have seen. I was terrified the stand would collapse. It was swaying violently in the wind. The whole stadium was a wind tunnel. Carisbrook seemed luxury compared to that dinosaur. Bet you have good memories there though. I grew up being in awe of Bernie's corner and that toe punt of Hewson. Always liked Wellingtons style of rugby. Along with Otago and North Harbour they were my favourite teams outside of Canterbury. Auckland was more a mixture of awe and loathing!

I was down behind the posts, facing into the southerly. Mildly hypothermic before kickoff..............

It got much worse in the second half. Alcohol keeps out the cold but worsens the feeling of giddiness when the stand is shaking!

Where did you go afterwards to see the players?

One of the bars in town. Wasn't living here then, so don't remember the name. The Aussies. Good blokes. Remember thinking Tim Horan is a lot bigger up close.

Little Timmy Horan doesn't conjure up a big guy. He and Little ironically were giants of the game. My personal favourite centre partnership and I really admired Bunce and Little.

I forgot Wales v Barbarians twice (Shifty reminded me of 1996 and I also went to see a number of Dragons play against them recently).

Also, how could I forget Dragons v Russia.

So 13 for me now, I think.

I forgot about Russia too, Rev! So that's Newport v Uruguay and Dragons v Russia as my two left field entries!

 I've seen,

Wales
England
Ireland
Scotland
France
New Zealand
Australia
Fiji
Argentina
Italy
Canada
Barbarians
Cornwall

It seems like more

RubyGuby wrote: I've seen,

Wales
England
Ireland
Scotland
France
New Zealand
Australia
Fiji
Argentina
Italy
Canada
Barbarians
Cornwall

It seems like more

Oi Ruby Baby! That's not a proper country. So it doesnae really count  I'm afraid.

 

Gibson wrote:

RubyGuby wrote: I've seen,

Wales
Ireland
Scotland
France
New Zealand
Australia
Fiji
Argentina
Italy
Canada
Barbarians
Cornwall





It seems like more

Oi Ruby Baby! That's not a proper country. So it doesnae really count  I'm afraid.

Is that better mate -

 

RubyGuby wrote: 

Gibson wrote:

RubyGuby wrote: I've seen,

Wales
Ireland
Scotland
France
New Zealand
Australia
Fiji
Argentina
Italy
Canada
Barbarians
Cornwall





It seems like more

Oi Ruby Baby! That's not a proper country. So it doesnae really count  I'm afraid.

Is that better mate -

 

Ja! Far better for Planet Rugby as a whole.
See. This is why I love you man.  

  Having a recess at the moment Gib, waiting for the season to start again and then the AI's - It's all about the country for us with the Regions as feeders. Our Regions will struggle to compete but they remain a great breeding place for young welsh talent who can get the exposure they need. Ospreys getting to the HC 1/4's would be seen as success. That's just the way it is, but I'm comfortable with that as our rugby set up is geared for national success where possible and at least we are able to compete now. Having grown up in the 70's I was spoiled - I experienced the barren years when we lost a lot to Rugby League - but now we can compete again, that's all I want. We could have had a midfield of Jiffy at 10 and Scott Gibbs and Bateman in the centre for many years but we lost them. That would have been a midfiefld as good as anything we've ever had. Lets see where these young guns take us - Room for optimism

Yeah bud. Wales really  have it together at international-level, far better than the other 5 nations. The recent evidence is there for all to see. Specially after the Lions Tour. But I'd worry about the regions. The very source of it all.   They are being raped by France and England and the WRU don't seem to give a flyin-schitt about it. It may come back to haunt them over time.

In fact, it will come back to haunt them and all Welsh rugby fans, until it is redressed.

  Later Mo Chara

I've seen

Six Nations

Wales v Ireland
Wales v France

Other

Wales v Aus x 2
Wales v Fiji
Wales v Argentinia
Wales v Canada
Wales v SA
Wales v Western Samoa

And..... Newport Gwent Dragons v Russia  

Wales v South Africa, Australia, Argentina, France, Ireland (away) Scotland (away)

The only team I have ever watched away is England in Twickers. Awesome stuff!! Nearly as hallowed turf as the oldest rugby ground in the world Landsdowne.

England, Ireland, France, Scotland, Italy, Wales (Provincial Game)

Aust, Argentina, NZ

USA, Canada

Romania, Georgia

Fiji, Cook Islands (Does that count)

Lions

Griff wrote:I forgot about Russia too, Rev! So that's Newport v Uruguay and Dragons v Russia as my two left field entries!

Risca Rev wrote:I forgot Wales v Barbarians twice (Shifty reminded me of 1996 and I also went to see a number of Dragons play against them recently).

Also, how could I forget Dragons v Russia.

So 13 for me now, I think.

Fancy a stray Ospreys fan reminding the Dragons fans what countries they have seen their region play against!   
the Russian game was a cracker as well, especially Boris the prop!

Yeah, the Russia game has been a highlight in the last two seasons as well  

Risca Rev wrote:Yeah, the Russia game has been a highlight in the last two seasons as well  

I really enjoyed that game, and the atmosphere in the Hazell stand was brilliant, one of the nicest things I have seen in rugby was the standing ovation the Hazell stand gave the Russian squad who were running in front of it doing their pre-game warm ups, and some of them applauded and waved back. Classy touch from both groups.