Friday XV

[Lizard]

All record breakers at something or other for NZ Test team.Mostly batting records I would say, despite the number of bowlers listed.

No, just what I’d pick for an all time XV of top NZ test cricketers. No deeper logic than that.

Martin Donnelly should probably be in there actually, seeing as he played test rugby (for England).

[Galfon]

Some good shouts therefore Liz. - most, if not all of these, have done something really exceptional within their high quality international stint.*
Bit disappointed Glenn Turner not on the list - my hero for a while at Worcs (thousand before end of May '73/ champs in '74).He never could replicate consistently at test level his county deeds.Think he still does stuff in the game back home.

* Might be worth a bit of digging if crimbo gets boring..

[cashead]

The Could've Done More 2008~2018 All Blacks edition

1. Jamie Mackintosh
2. Hika Elliot
3. Ben Afeaki
4. Kevin O'Neill
5. James Broadhurst
6. Jarrad Hoeata
7. Scott Waldrom
8. Tanerau Latimer
9. Alby Mathewson
10. Tom Taylor
11. Rene Ranger
12. Benson Stanley
13. Tamati Ellison
14. Rudi Wulff
15. Charles Piutau

[Lizard]

Some good shouts therefore Liz. - most, if not all of these, have done something really exceptional within their high quality international stint.*
Bit disappointed Glenn Turner not on the list - my hero for a while at Worcs (thousand before end of May '73/ champs in '74).He never could replicate consistently at test level his county deeds.Think he still does stuff in the game back home.

* Might be worth a bit of digging if crimbo gets boring..

Not sure what Turner would bring on the rugby pitch. Seems like the sort of bloke who want to be a 2nd playmaker at 12 but stand deep and just kick for touch every time he gets the ball.

[Mellsblue]

Some good shouts therefore Liz. - most, if not all of these, have done something really exceptional within their high quality international stint.*
Bit disappointed Glenn Turner not on the list - my hero for a while at Worcs (thousand before end of May '73/ champs in '74).He never could replicate consistently at test level his county deeds.Think he still does stuff in the game back home.

* Might be worth a bit of digging if crimbo gets boring..

Not sure what Turner would bring on the rugby pitch. Seems like the sort of bloke who want to be a 2nd playmaker at 12 but stand deep and just kick for touch every time he gets the ball.

He sounds like a world class, test match animal, saviour of English rugby ice man.

[Galfon]

He sounds like a world class, test match animal, saviour of English rugby ice man.

Some similarities, but not a vocal or starey leader, and tended to time his shots well rather than late.
His defence was solid too.
He would however be useful for pitch invasions, Erika Roe stylee, due to his adeptness at dealing with bouncers.

[Galfon]

Snorkers XV

1. Gla Morgan
2. Knob le Wurst
3. Cum Berland
4. Kas Zanka
5. Knack Wurst
6. Brat Wurst
7. Dr Isheen
8. Sav El Oy
9. Chip O'Lata
10.Wiener Wurst
11.Frank Furter
12. Pep Peroni
13. Lorne Doon
14. Chori Zo
15. Hot Dog

[Lizard]

Who can guess the theme here?

1 M Vunipola
2 Berghan
3 Atonio
4 Budd
5 Te'o
6 Hardie
7 Tuivaiti
8 Shields
9 Carbery
10 Anscombe
11 Maitland
12 Aki
13 Grigg
14 Parkes
15 Hayward

[cashead]

Who can guess the theme here?

1 M Vunipola
2 Berghan
3 Atonio
4 Budd
5 Te'o
6 Hardie
7 Tuivaiti
8 Shields
9 Carbery
10 Anscombe
11 Maitland
12 Aki
13 Grigg
14 Parkes
15 Hayward

NZ-born players who appeared this last weekend in the 6 Nations?

[Lizard]

Who can guess the theme here?

1 M Vunipola
2 Berghan
3 Atonio
4 Budd
5 Te'o
6 Hardie
7 Tuivaiti
8 Shields
9 Carbery
10 Anscombe
11 Maitland
12 Aki
13 Grigg
14 Parkes
15 Hayward

NZ-born players who appeared this last weekend in the 6 Nations?

Possibly true, and definitely close enough. It’s NZ-born players in the 6N published squads (as per Wikipedia).

[Lizard]

OK, what are the criteria here? For a bonus point, what does the asterisk mean?
1. B. Franks
2. D. Witcombe
3. O. Brown
4. G. Rawlinson
5. J. Kaino (arguably bracketed with J. Collins, S. Lauaki & R. So'oialo)
6. J. Kaino*
7. C. Masoe
8. R. So'oialo
9. T. Kerr-Barlow
10. A. Mehrtens
11. S. Sivivatu
12. A. Ieremia
13. M. Fekitoa
14. J. Rokocoko*
15. M. Muliaina*

[Galfon]

Most AB caps in each position for players born overseas.
Asteriskers most tries also for that position ?

[Lizard]

Most AB caps in each position for players born overseas.
Asteriskers most tries also for that position ?

Correct for the overall criteria. Not correct for the asterisk.

I was quite suprised that we haven’t had more than 1 proper lock born overseas, or a specialist openside.

I should note that I’ve disregarded foreign born players who specialised in the old-fashioned (and now banned because England couldn’t handle it) wing-forward position - David Gallaher, Cliff Porter, and Frank Solomon.

[Lizard]

I've found out how to distinguish 6 from 7. So I've edited the team to be clear that Masoe is the 7. He has 6 caps starting there, opposed to So'oialo's 3 (none of the others mentioned have any).

[Galfon]

Most AB caps in each position for players born overseas.
Asteriskers most tries also for that position ?

Correct for the overall criteria. Not correct for the asterisk.
.

Most AB caps for that position ?

[Lizard]

Most AB caps in each position for players born overseas.
Asteriskers most tries also for that position ?

Correct for the overall criteria. Not correct for the asterisk.
.

Most AB caps for that position ?

Bingo.

[Lizard]

OK, what are the criteria here? For a bonus point, what does the asterisk mean?
1. B. Franks
2. D. Witcombe
3. O. Brown
4. G. Rawlinson
5. J. Kaino (arguably bracketed with J. Collins, S. Lauaki & R. So'oialo)
6. J. Kaino*
7. C. Masoe
8. R. So'oialo
9. T. Kerr-Barlow
10. A. Mehrtens
11. S. Sivivatu
12. A. Ieremia
13. M. Fekitoa
14. J. Rokocoko*
15. M. Muliaina*

So for those keeping score at home, that's:
5 Samoans
3 Australians
2 Fijians
2 South Africans (actually, that's every South African capped for NZ!)
1 American Samoan, twice
1 Tongan

For an all-time Immigrant All Blacks XV, I'd swap TKB for fellow Ocker Des Connor and bring John Schuster back from his early departure to league in place of fellow Samoan, Ieremia. You could possibly argue for Toeava at 13, as well.

John Gallagher might have been a shout if he'd stuck it out a bit longer and if Mils hadn't so very handy. Naholo has a theoretical shot at overtaking on or other of his countrymen, but seems to be fading. Coming up is the young, erm, Japanese player Akira Ioane who will have a tough road trying to unseat the Samoan legends at 6 and 8. Nepo Laulala is a more modern specimen than Olo Brown but isn't the finished article yet. Tu'ungafasi over B. Franks could be a good call in a few years, too.

[Galfon]

Guess the selection criteria for this team:

1. g jenkins
2. r ford
3. j hayes
4. d o'callaghan
5. aw jones
6. c charvis
7. m williams
8. j heaslip
9. m phillips
10. r o'gara
11. r underwood
12. j roberts
13. b o'driscoll
14. g thomas
15. r kearney

Reps:
16  j leonard
17 k owens
18.a jones
19 p o'connell
20 l dallaglio
21 b youngs
22 s jones
23 n jenkins

[Puja]

Guess the selection criteria for this team:

1. g jenkins
2. r ford
3. j hayes
4. d o'callaghan
5. aw jones
6. c charvis
7. m williams
8. j heaslip
9. m phillips
10. r o'gara
11. r underwood
12. j roberts
13. b o'driscoll
14. g thomas
15. r kearney

Reps:
16  j leonard
17 k owens
18.a jones
19 p o'connell
20 l dallaglio
21 b youngs
22 s jones
23 n jenkins

Most caps in that positions from Home Nations players?

Puja

[Galfon]

That is nearly correct, there is 1 other criteria giving eligibility for selection...a few different names would be there if just most-capped.

[Puja]

That is nearly correct, there is 1 other criteria giving eligibility for selection...a few different names would be there if just most-capped.

Most capped players who have Lions test caps?

Puja

[Banquo]

That is nearly correct, there is 1 other criteria giving eligibility for selection...a few different names would be there if just most-capped.

That neither their christian nor surnames begin with a capital letter

[Galfon]

Yes. ('Most capped players who have Lions test caps?')
Some notable absentees (playing wise) for sure.
The capital letters would have just given the game away..

[Banquo]

Yes. ('Most capped players who have Lions test caps?')
Some notable absentees (playing wise) for sure.
The capital letters would have just given the game away..

[Mikey Brown]

That is nearly correct, there is 1 other criteria giving eligibility for selection...a few different names would be there if just most-capped.

That neither their christian nor surnames begin with a capital letter

It made me feel a bit sea sick reading that.