If Rugby Positions Were Countries

If Rugby Positions Were Countries

If we were forming a rugby team comprised of countries as positions, here's how we'd do it.

May 1, 2020 by Alex Rees
If Rugby Positions Were Countries

If you were to pick a rugby team, but each position had to be a different nationality, which countries would you put in each spot?

If we were picking an all-time XV, we'd probably be able to pick a team strictly comprised of Kiwis and South Africans, but such is not the case. 

Here's our best stab at representing a different nation in each position:

Props | Georgia

Though Georgia has yet to fully emerge on the Tier 1 rugby scene, there's no question about their ability to scrummage. The Georgians are full of brute strength, and have put some of the best teams in the world to the sword at scrum-time in the past. 

Watch this clip of them against the All Blacks in the 2015 Rugby World Cup -- a team that could be considered the greatest of all time:


Hooker | Ireland

Between Keith Wood, the second all-time leading try-scorer in front row history, and iron man Rory Best, the Irish have had two of the best hookers in the northern hemisphere since the turn of the century. The next line of Irish hookers are set to fill Best's shoes valiantly as well, with hookers like Sean Cronin who can score tries like this:


Locks | South Africa

Where to even begin with incredible South African locks? Frik du Preez, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha all set the standard for elite lock play. Then this past World Cup, the quartet of Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert, and R.G. Snyman set the new standard for second rowers, winning all but one lineout the entire tournament and generally smashing people across the park. And that's not even to mention reigning world player of the year, flanker Pieter Steph du Toit, who has spent a large part of his test career in the locks. 


Flankers | Australia

George Smith, David Pocock, and Michael Hooper will all go down as some of the best Australian players to ever play the game. Each one was different, but each one has been a near perfect flanker with his tackling, jackling, and ball carrying ability. 


No. 8 | Italy

To be honest, this pick is solely because of the great Sergio Parisse, but he is just that: great. The towering Italian has been a shining light on a terrible team for his entire career, and has competed in a miraculous five World Cups.


Scrum-half | France

Like Napoleon before them, French half-backs have always been excellent little generals. There was Pierre Berbizier, now coach of Racing Metro (since 2007), and Fabien Galthie, head coach of this new-look, dangerous French side. There's also been Morgan Parra and now, possibly the best of them all, Antoine Dupont. 


Fly-half | New Zealand

Pretty easy choice here. While we could have picked a New Zealander for any number of positions, this is the one we feel is the most important. From the club level through the professional ranks, you constantly see Kiwis lining up at 10 for their respective outfits all over the world. With pedigree like Dan Carter, Carlos Spencer, Andrew Mehrtens, Grant Fox, Aaron Cruden, and now Beauden Barrett, the All Blacks have been spoiled with fly-half talent for decades. 


Centers | England

At center, England has had some greats over the years, including Jeremy Guscott, Will Carling, Will Greenwood, and Mike Tindall. In recent times, England has had studs like Manu Tuilagi and Owen Farrell commanding the midfield. 


Wings | Fiji

It seems like every team in the French Top14 has some Fijian or another on the wing, and for good reason. Fijians have proven over and over again to be the hardest guys to tackle and the best at creating chances out of nothing. Rupeni Caucaunibuca was one of the best to ever do it, and since him Nemani Nadolo, Semi Radradra, and Josua Tuisova have carried the torch for Fiji. In addition, there have been plenty of outstanding Fijian-born players who played wing for other countries, including Joe Rococoko (NZ), Sitiveni Sivivatu (NZ), Waisake Naholo (NZ), Marika Koroibete (Aus), and Sevu Reece (NZ). 


Fullback | Wales

In the past 25 years, Wales has lost its crown of being the king of fly-halves. However, they do still have a long and rich history of great fullbacks going all the way back to the days of JPR Williams. Since him, Gareth Thomas, Leigh Halfpenny, and Liam Williams have all been excellent.