Your Clubs Best Ever English / British XV v World XV

Im bored sat at work , and thought this could be interesting...

Whats your clubs best ever home nation produced XV v Your Clubs best ever World XV
Ie Newcastle Falcons = An English XV v World XV. Other home nations players go in the World XV side.

Falcons.........V................World XV

1: Jon Golding V Nick Popplewell
2: Matt Thompson V Ross Nesdale
3: Davy Wilson V Carl Hayman
4: Garath Archer V  Stuart Grimes
5: Geoff Parling V Doddie Weir
6: Mark Wilson V Pat Lam
7: Phil Dowson V Nili Latu
8: Hugh Vyvyan V Aly Hogg

9:Lee Dickson V Gary Armstrong
10:Johnny Wilkinson  V Jimmy Gopperth
11:Jon Bentley V Inga Tuigamala
12:Tm May V Mark Mayerhofler
13:Jamie Noon V Alan Tait
14:Tony Underwood V Vereniki Goneva
15:Matt Tait V Matt Burke

World XV wins......

Leicester Tigers

1. Rowntree / Ayerza
2. Cockerill / Kayser
3. Cole / Castrogiovanni
4. Johnson / Lavanini
5. Kay / van Heerden
6. Croft / Mafi
7. Back / Kafer or Kronfeld
8. Corry / Taufua - could have had Richards / H Tuilagi
9. Youngs / Dupuy
10. Ford / Stransky
11. May / A Tuilagi
12. Allen / Howard
13. Manu / Rabeni
14. Healey / Veainu
15. Hare / Murphy

There's some noticeable omissions I'll put down to my age. Dave Matthews, Leon Lloyd, Woodward, Rory Underwood and Peter Wheeler. I'll put it down to my age (too young).

Who wins Sam?

Rugby I think Geordie. Would be one hell of a game. A lot of people would pay to see the scrum battle alone.

Manu v Rabeni....BOOM!! lol

GeordieFalcon wrote:Manu v Rabeni....BOOM!! lol

That would be a very enjoyable watch, both were all about the big hits more than defending their channel as well. Johnno Vs Lavanini in the second row royal rumble out be pretty fearsome as well. Hare Vs Murphy trading drop goals from halfway...

Surprised no Floody in you Falcons team (at 12 obviously). He very nearly made the Tigers one.

I like this...

Bath, who i've only followed for last 15 years. Some real strong areas in the english front 5 and 10-15. Nicely, we're really strong in the world team, but overall I really struggled. Points a little to a pretty poor overseas recruitment strategy perhaps!

Flatman / James
Mears / Humphreys
Stevens / Perenise
Borthwick / Lobbe
Grewcock / Fa’amatuainu
Underhill / Faletau
Lipman / Louw
Beattie / Lyle or Feanuti
? Walshe / Claassens
Ford / James
Banahan / Carraro
Barkley / Hape or Fuimanolo-Sapolo
Joseph / Fleck
Watson / Brew
Bendy or Perry / Maddock

formerly known as Sam wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Manu v Rabeni....BOOM!! lol

That would be a very enjoyable watch, both were all about the big hits more than defending their channel as well. Johnno Vs Lavanini in the second row royal rumble out be pretty fearsome as well. Hare Vs Murphy trading drop goals from halfway...

Surprised no Floody in you Falcons team (at 12 obviously). He very nearly made the Tigers one.

Yeah, but Jamie Noon, was fantastic for us at 13, and Tom May was a brilliant player. So flood misses out..
We have much tougher choices in the backs than the forwards...that says alot!

formerly known as Sam wrote:Leicester Tigers

1. Rowntree / Ayerza
2. Cockerill / Kayser
3. Cole / Castrogiovanni
4. Johnson / Lavanini
5. Kay / van Heerden
6. Croft / Mafi
7. Back / Kafer or Kronfeld
8. Corry / Taufua - could have had Richards / H Tuilagi
9. Youngs / Dupuy
10. Ford / Stransky
11. May / A Tuilagi
12. Allen / Howard
13. Manu / Rabeni
14. Healey / Veainu
15. Hare / Murphy

There's some noticeable omissions I'll put down to my age. Dave Matthews, Leon Lloyd, Woodward, Rory Underwood and Peter Wheeler. I'll put it down to my age (too young).

Kafer? Only Kafer I can remember was Rod, a 10/12. I would have Salvi in the International team, and would probably seriously consider Eric Miller at 8 and Leo Cullen and Brad Thorn in the second row.

For the England team I would have Stimpson ahead of Hare, Rory at 11 (Shunting May to 14 and Healey to the bench). Lenny probably gets in due to length of service, but Ellis was special. For the england side though I would arguably consider separate amateur and pro teams.

Bathite wrote:I like this...

Bath, who i've only followed for last 15 years. Some real strong areas in the english front 5 and 10-15. Nicely, we're really strong in the world team, but overall I really struggled. Points a little to a pretty poor overseas recruitment strategy perhaps!

Flatman / James
Mears / Humphreys
Stevens / Perenise
Borthwick / Lobbe
Grewcock / Fa’amatuainu
Underhill / Faletau
Lipman / Louw
Beattie / Lyle or Feanuti
? Walshe / Claassens
Ford / James
Banahan / Carraro
Barkley / Hape or Fuimanolo-Sapolo
Joseph / Fleck
Watson / Brew  
Bendy or Perry / Maddock

Some good lineups there mind!
Louw v Lipman woudl be some battle.

I think the English Xv would edge that one.

Irish (over the last 15 years - I am sure I will have forgotten plenty of players):

1. Corbisiero/Dermody (tie)
2. Paice/Coetzee (advantage England)
3. Hoskins/Kepu (advantage overseas)
4. Kennedy/Coleman (advantage overseas)
5. Garvey/Casey (tie)
6. Danaher/Leguizamon (advantage England)
7. Armitage/Cowan (advantage England)
8. Narraway/Hala'Ufia (advantage overseas)

9. Hodgson/O'Leary (advantage England)
10. Myler/Humphreys (advantage England)
11. Lewington/Tagicakibau (advantage overseas)
12. Hepetema/Mapusua (advantage overseas)
13. Joseph/Seveali'i (advantage England)
14. Ojo/Naholo (advantage England)
15. Armitage/Hewat (advantage England)

Would make for a fascinating match-up!

LondonTiger wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Leicester Tigers

1. Rowntree / Ayerza
2. Cockerill / Kayser
3. Cole / Castrogiovanni
4. Johnson / Lavanini
5. Kay / van Heerden
6. Croft / Mafi
7. Back / Kafer or Kronfeld
8. Corry / Taufua - could have had Richards / H Tuilagi
9. Youngs / Dupuy
10. Ford / Stransky
11. May / A Tuilagi
12. Allen / Howard
13. Manu / Rabeni
14. Healey / Veainu
15. Hare / Murphy

There's some noticeable omissions I'll put down to my age. Dave Matthews, Leon Lloyd, Woodward, Rory Underwood and Peter Wheeler. I'll put it down to my age (too young).

Kafer? Only Kafer I can remember was Rod, a 10/12. I would have Salvi in the International team, and would probably seriously consider Eric Miller at 8 and Leo Cullen and Brad Thorn in the second row.

For the England team I would have Stimpson ahead of Hare, Rory at 11 (Shunting May to 14 and Healey to the bench). Lenny probably gets in due to length of service, but Ellis was special. For the england side though I would arguably consider separate amateur and pro teams.

Good shout in Salvi at 7 (I think I meant Kronfeld not Kafer but my memory was having a moment). I knew I was forgetting a quality lock, Leo alongside Lavanini. The big puma has been outstanding this season. Imagine if we could have paired him with Parling or Deacon that would have been great for us. Cullen was a very good player whilst he was with us, a shame when we went back home.

I'm a big Ellis fan but I had to go the 99 international cap, B&I Lion and one club man didn't I. Hare I had in because of his ridiculous points scoring record and Healey was such a character but year Underwood was the better winger.

There'd be some great games there so far....be interesting to see the rest of the teams.

1.Rowntree 2.Cockerill 3.Cole 4.Johnson 5.Kay 6.Croft 7.Back 8.Richards
9.Ellis 10.Ford 11.R Underwood 12.Greenwood 13.M Tuilagi 14.Healey 15.Stimpson

1.Ayerza 2.Kayser 3.Castro 4.Van Heerden 5.Cullen 6.Kronfeld 7.Salvi 8.Newby
9.Dupuy 10.Stransky 11.A Tuilagi 12.Gibson 13.Rabeni 14.Veainu 15.Murphy

A lot of similarities to formerly know as Sam.

Daryl Gibson often gets overlooked compared to Pat Howard but I thought both were outstanding for Tigers and Gibson was around a bit longer as a player.

Leaving Corry out was tough but I have so many fond memories of Crofty and Deano was phenomenal.

I was struggling at number 8 in the World XV but had 3 exceptional flankers in mind so shoehorned all 3 in. Henry Tuilagi was the other one I was considering. Henry was excellent in bursts but his impact was more fleeting than Newby.

Give Taufua and Lavanini time they could be in the World XV no doubt. I hope they stay long enough to make that impact.

An honourable mention as well for Andy Goode. Yes he ended his career as a woefully out of shape semi-retired pantomime villain at Falcons. He's also continued as somewhat a pantomime villain as a pundit. For much of Tigers golden period he was a rock at fly-half though. Kicking everything from the tee, controlling the game well and putting up exceptional restarts before kickoffs were viewed as 'the third set-piece'.

Let's have a think about Wasps:

1. Mullan 1. Dowd
2. Thompson 2. Ibanez
3. Vickery 3. Moore
4. Launchbury 4. Hadley
5. Shaw 5. Rowlands
6. Worsley 6. Betsen
7. Rees 7. Young
8. Dallaglio 8. Carr
9. Dawson 9. Howley
10. Cipriani 10. Sopoaga
11. Varndell 11. Tuigamala
12. Flutey 12. Gopperth
13. Daly 13. Fekitoa
14. Wade 14. Logan
15. Lewsey 15. Beale

Honourable mentions go to Nathan Hughes, Billy Vunipola, James Haskell, Tom Voyce, Will Stuart, Charles Piutau, Willie LeRoux, Trevor Leota, Dan Robson, Joe Simpson, Tom Palmer, Martin Offiah, Phil Greening, Andy Goode, Thom Evas, David Lemi and Andrea Masi amongst many others. I suppose I could include Dan Ward-Smith in that list as he was SO near to an England cap but for injury, but the competition at 8 was monstrous!

I couldn't even begin to call a potential result - but the game itself would have been epic.

A few of that England Wasps team were past their best when they arrived at Wasps (thinking Thompson, Vickery & Dawson). Personally, based on form for Wasps, I would have Taylor, Cooper-Wooley (sp), and Robson (and Simpson) ahead of them.

Surely any Wasps backline needs Fraser Waters? The man who operated their blitz defence, the midfield rock. Tended to be the unsung hero of their golden period.

Carlos I was a big fan of Craig Newby he was one of those that did everything well, gave everything to the cause and made it easier for others to perform better. Having said that when he signed I thought we'd see more impact from him ball in hand. Didn't he do a job at centre Vs Ospreys when we struggled to out a team out and got a TBP draw?

Andy Goode what a legend. Great club level flyhalf. Kept Worcester up for years and then did the same at Falcons.

Flutey and Waters were one of the best in Europe for a season or 2, and certainly among the best I've seen at club level. I remember their battles with Munster. The Wasps midfield was up against another class outfit in Mafi and Tipoki.

Take the point of Thompson & Dawson being perhaps not at the top of their game, but Phil Vickery's still going strong and is as good as ever.

That English back line I selected though is good enough to rip defences to shreds though - pace and individual magic everywhere. May not necessarily be the best for defence though...

For Saints it is difficult, we have relied on imports in certain positions for a long time, this is my effort from the year 2000 onwards.

1.   Corbisiero     -   Smith                England
2.   Thompson     -  Brotherstone      England
3.   Painter      -    Mujati                  World
4.   Day    -      Samoa               World
5.   Lawes    -     Lobbe                Evens
6.   Haskell     -     Best                  England
7.   Wood     -     Poutney             England
8.   Dowson     -     Picamoles          World
9.   Dawson      -   Reinach             World
10. Grayson    -     Biggar               World
11. Cohen     -      Lamont              England
12. Francis     -     Proctor              World
13. Burrell     -    Pisi                    England
14. Ashton    -    North                 Evens
15. Beal      -      Reihana              Evens

A number of the picks will be contentious, but they are based on how I like to see rugby played, Lobbe over Matfiels for instance. But Lobbe just had everything, probably why I am such a fan of Lawes. Thompson over Hartley. Thompson was a head of his time and had better open play skills.

I have actually made a second version which apart from a couple of slots is not a lot weaker, in the world XV anyway

Waller    -    Tonga'uiha
Hartley   -    Morris
Hill    -     Murray
Ribbans   -   Matfield
Rodber   -   Ackermann
Gibson   -   Blowers
Ludlam   -   Brussow
Harrison   -   Beattie
Dickson  -    Fotuali'i
Myler    -    Hepher
Sleighthome   -   Naiyaravoro
Downey   -   Horne
Waldouck   -   Leslie
Hunter  -    Pisi
Foden   -    Spencer

Mr Bounce wrote:Let's have a think about Wasps:

1.  Mullan                        1.  Dowd
2.  Thompson                   2.  Ibanez
3.  Vickery                       3.  Moore
4.  Launchbury                 4.  Hadley
5.  Shaw                          5.  Rowlands
6.  Worsley                      6.  Betsen
7.  Rees                           7.  Young
8.  Dallaglio                     8.  Carr
9.  Dawson                      9.  Howley
10. Cipriani                     10. Sopoaga
11. Varndell                    11. Tuigamala
12. Flutey                       12. Gopperth
13. Daly                          13. Fekitoa
14. Wade                        14. Logan
15. Lewsey                     15. Beale

Honourable mentions go to Nathan Hughes, Billy Vunipola, James Haskell, Tom Voyce, Will Stuart, Charles Piutau, Willie LeRoux, Trevor Leota, Dan Robson, Joe Simpson, Tom Palmer, Martin Offiah, Phil Greening, Andy Goode, Thom Evas, David Lemi and Andrea Masi amongst many others. I suppose I could include Dan Ward-Smith in that list as he was SO near to an England cap but for injury, but the competition at 8 was monstrous!

I couldn't even begin to call a potential result - but the game itself would have been epic.

I'd go for Stuart Abbott at 12 in that line-up, I reckon he'd link really well between Cipriani and Daly. He was a decent size, had a good turn of pace, ran very nice lines and had a tidy step. Having apprenticed in the 2003 WC squad, he should have been a regular fixture in the lean centre years that followed, save for a string of bad and eventually career ending injuries, so similar to his teammate Rees, he never got to realise his career potential.

So weve got:
Wasps
Tigers
Falcons
Irish
Bath
Saints

Just need:
Saracens
Exeter
Gloucester
Worcester
Sale
Quins
Bristol

I'll have a go for Glos

1. Woodman/Somerville
2. Fortey/Azam
3. Vickery/Nieto
4. Savage/Ian Jones
5. Attwood/Mostert
6. Buxton/Boer
7. Hazell/Polledri
8. Morgan/Qera

9. Heinz/Lawson
10. Cipriani/Spencer
11. May/Haliofanoua
12. Mills/Fanolua
13.  Trinder/Meakes
14. Sharples/ San-Andre
15. JSD/Paterson

Could have Roncero/Collazo also in the front row. Tough to leave some players out (mercier, hamilton, galarza, delve amongst others! Took some liberty with some positions. I think the world xv would take this.

Interesting Lyd,

What about Mike Teague or NIck Wood, an absolute Stahlwart

Those backs though...wow....it'd be a fun game to watch

For the Gloucester backs I'd probably go with Olly Morgan at 15, JSD at 14 and Sharples missing out.

Ah James Simpson-Daniel. What a player he was, yet also could have been!

Andy Gomarshall at 9 had his best clubs years at Gloucester as well. Tindall is another who's tough to leave out. A lot of very good backs.

In the World XV forwards Marco Bortolami was a very fine second row for Gloucester for around 5 seasons as well.

Leinster
Coach Cullen v Schmidt

15 Kearney - Nacewa
14 O'Reilly - Lowe
13 BOD - Te'o
12 Darcy - Gopperth
11 Horgan - Tuquiri
10 Sexton - Contemponi
9 Reddan - Whitaker
8 Heaslip - Elsom
7 Slattery - Fardy
6 SOB - Finegan
5 Cullen - Thorn
4 Ryan - Hines
3 Furlong - Wright
2 Cronin - Strauss
1 Healy - van der Merwe

GeordieFalcon wrote:Interesting Lyd,

What about Mike Teague or NIck Wood, an absolute Stahlwart

Those backs though...wow....it'd be a fun game to watch

I had a go at keeping some partnerships together plus ones I can remember watching hazell and Buxton always stood out for me.

Agree with teague though, Gomersal was a tough one to leave as was tindal!! Forgot about Olly Morgan though!

king_carlos wrote:For the Gloucester backs I'd probably go with Olly Morgan at 15, JSD at 14 and Sharples missing out.

Ah James Simpson-Daniel. What a player he was, yet also could have been!

Andy Gomarshall at 9 had his best clubs years at Gloucester as well. Tindall is another who's tough to leave out. A lot of very good backs.

In the World XV forwards Marco Bortolami was a very fine second row for Gloucester for around 5 seasons as well.

One of my favorite of all time. Should have been an England great....

Pot Hale wrote:Leinster
Coach Cullen v Schmidt

15 Kearney - Nacewa
14 O'Reilly - Lowe
13 BOD - Te'o
12 Darcy - Gopperth
11 Horgan - Tuquiri
10 Sexton - Contemponi
9 Reddan - Whitaker
8 Heaslip - Elsom
7 Slattery - Fardy
6 SOB - Finegan
5 Cullen - Thorn
4 Ryan - Hines
3 Furlong - Wright
2 Cronin - Strauss
1 Healy - van der Merwe

There'd be some battles in that game aswell!

GeordieFalcon wrote:

king_carlos wrote:For the Gloucester backs I'd probably go with Olly Morgan at 15, JSD at 14 and Sharples missing out.

Ah James Simpson-Daniel. What a player he was, yet also could have been!

Andy Gomarshall at 9 had his best clubs years at Gloucester as well. Tindall is another who's tough to leave out. A lot of very good backs.

In the World XV forwards Marco Bortolami was a very fine second row for Gloucester for around 5 seasons as well.

One of my favorite of all time. Should have been an England great....

In the should have been an England great backline with;

9. Duncombe
10. Cipriani
11. Varndell
12. Abbott
13. O Smith
14. JSD
15. Hmm Abendanon/Morgan/Balshaw?

hawalsh wrote:

Mr Bounce wrote:Let's have a think about Wasps:

1.  Mullan                        1.  Dowd
2.  Thompson                   2.  Ibanez
3.  Vickery                       3.  Moore
4.  Launchbury                 4.  Hadley
5.  Shaw                          5.  Rowlands
6.  Worsley                      6.  Betsen
7.  Rees                           7.  Young
8.  Dallaglio                     8.  Carr
9.  Dawson                      9.  Howley
10. Cipriani                     10. Sopoaga
11. Varndell                    11. Tuigamala
12. Flutey                       12. Gopperth
13. Daly                          13. Fekitoa
14. Wade                        14. Logan
15. Lewsey                     15. Beale

Honourable mentions go to Nathan Hughes, Billy Vunipola, James Haskell, Tom Voyce, Will Stuart, Charles Piutau, Willie LeRoux, Trevor Leota, Dan Robson, Joe Simpson, Tom Palmer, Martin Offiah, Phil Greening, Andy Goode, Thom Evas, David Lemi and Andrea Masi amongst many others. I suppose I could include Dan Ward-Smith in that list as he was SO near to an England cap but for injury, but the competition at 8 was monstrous!

I couldn't even begin to call a potential result - but the game itself would have been epic.

I'd go for Stuart Abbott at 12 in that line-up, I reckon he'd link really well between Cipriani and Daly. He was a decent size, had a good turn of pace, ran very nice lines and had a tidy step. Having apprenticed in the 2003 WC squad, he should have been a regular fixture in the lean centre years that followed, save for a string of bad and eventually career ending injuries, so similar to his teammate Rees, he never got to realise his career potential.

Can't believe I forgot about Stuart Abbott. A class player.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:

king_carlos wrote:For the Gloucester backs I'd probably go with Olly Morgan at 15, JSD at 14 and Sharples missing out.

Ah James Simpson-Daniel. What a player he was, yet also could have been!

Andy Gomarshall at 9 had his best clubs years at Gloucester as well. Tindall is another who's tough to leave out. A lot of very good backs.

In the World XV forwards Marco Bortolami was a very fine second row for Gloucester for around 5 seasons as well.

One of my favorite of all time. Should have been an England great....

In the should have been an England great backline with;

9. Duncombe
10. Cipriani
11. Varndell
12. Abbott
13. O Smith
14. JSD
15. Hmm Abendanon/Morgan/Balshaw?

OOsshhh tries galore!

GeordieFalcon wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:

king_carlos wrote:For the Gloucester backs I'd probably go with Olly Morgan at 15, JSD at 14 and Sharples missing out.

Ah James Simpson-Daniel. What a player he was, yet also could have been!

Andy Gomarshall at 9 had his best clubs years at Gloucester as well. Tindall is another who's tough to leave out. A lot of very good backs.

In the World XV forwards Marco Bortolami was a very fine second row for Gloucester for around 5 seasons as well.

One of my favorite of all time. Should have been an England great....

In the should have been an England great backline with;

9. Duncombe
10. Cipriani
11. Varndell
12. Abbott
13. O Smith
14. JSD
15. Hmm Abendanon/Morgan/Balshaw?

OOsshhh tries galore!

Could possibly throw Delon Armitage into that, on his day he was superb but even before moving to France seem to struggle mentally stringing performances together.