Who would be in your starting XV (International)

[Millsy]

If you could choose the starting XV for the international team you support, what would it look like?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

for me
1) Marler
2) George
3) Cole
4) Itoje
5) Launchbury
6) Williams
7) Kvesic
8) Vunipola
9) Robson
10) Farrell
11) Watson
12) Slade
13) Manu
14) Nowell
15) Haley

 

[Millsy]

Strong squad.

for me
1) Marler
2) George
3) Cole
4) Itoje
5) Launchbury
6) Williams
7) Kvesic
8) Vunipola
9) Robson
10) Farrell
11) Watson
12) Slade
13) Manu
14) Nowell
15) Haley

 

[nickdnz]

First time in a while it's tough for me.

1. Wyatt Crockett (although I really don't care if it's Moody)
2. Dane Coles
3. O. Franks (although again I like Laulala a lot. As long as no Faumuina tbh).
4. Retallick
5. Whitelock
6. Kaino
7. Cane (although Savea is great too).
8. Read
9. A.Smith
10. Cruden
11. Savea
12. SBW
13. Fekitoa
14. NMS
15. B.Smith

16. Taylor
17. Moody
18. Laulala
19. Tuipolotu
20. Savea/Canes
21. Peranara/Webb
22. Barrett
23. Naholo

 

[Millsy]

I think my Wallabies lineup would look like this;
1) James Slipper
2) Stephen Moore (C)
3) Sekope Keep
4) Will Skelton
5) Rob Simmons
6) Sean McMahon
7) Michael Hooper
8) David Pocock
9) Nic Stirzaker
10) Bernard Foley
11) Rob Horne
12) Matt Toomua
13) Israel Folau
14) Luke Morahan
15) Dane Haylett-Petty

- - - Updated - - -

Just like every AB lineup, this is a strong one.

First time in a while it's tough for me.

1. Wyatt Crockett (although I really don't care if it's Moody)
2. Dane Coles
3. O. Franks (although again I like Laulala a lot. As long as no Faumuina tbh).
4. Retallick
5. Whitelock
6. Kaino
7. Cane (although Savea is great too).
8. Read
9. A.Smith
10. Cruden
11. Savea
12. SBW
13. Fekitoa
14. NMS
15. B.Smith

16. Taylor
17. Moody
18. Laulala
19. Tuipolotu
20. Savea/Canes
21. Peranara/Webb
22. Barrett
23. Naholo

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

1. Marler (116)
2. Hartley (110)
3. Cole (123)
4. Itoje (116)
5. Launchbury (118)
6. Hughes (125)
7. Harrison (106)
8. Vunipola (126)

Pack Weight: 940kg! I doubt many teams can boast that (Although it is somewhat irrelevant). It's also worth mentioning that the back row is 8kg heavier than the front row. Which is arguably not good.

9. Robson
10. Ford
11. May
12. Faz
13. Tuilagi
14. Watson
15. Nowell

16. George
17. Vunipola
18. Hill
19. Lawes
20. Beaumont
21. Care
22. Slade
23. Daly

 

[riffraff]

What if you had to have 5 each from tier 1, 2, and 3 nations on your starting 15?

 

[ianw16]

What if you had to have 5 each from tier 1, 2, and 3 nations on your starting 15?

You'd lose! Seriously, I don't know enough (to my shame) about the tier 2 and 3 teams to answer the question sensibly. Where is the cut-off for the tiers, anyway? Could anybody really still consider the likes of Italy (or even Scotland) as tier 1?

 

[Moaker]

I don't think you could seriously find 5 players from tier 3 nations to play in a top league let alone - tiers at the following link (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_rugby_union_teams).

How about 5 tier 1 northern hemisphere, 5 tier 1 southern and 5 tier 2. Think you could build a top team with that. My example below

1. Davit Zirakashvili (tier 2)
2. Hartley
3. Ben Tameifuna (tier 2 - announced in most recent Tonga squad?) or any other georgian prop...
4. Itoje
5. Nakarawa (tier 2)
6. Gorgodze (tier 2)
7. Pocock
8. Parisse
9. A. Smith
10. Barrett
11. Nadolo (tier 2)
12. Farrell
13. Kuridrani
14. Williams
15. B. Smith

 

[Ali AK9]

Springboks...
1. Tendai Mtawarira (vc)
2. Malcolm Marx
3. Julian Redelinghys
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Franco Mostert
6. Jaco Kriel
7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
8. Duane Vermuelen (c)
9. Faf de Klerk
10. Handre Pollard
11. Bryan Habana (vc)
12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg
13. Jesse Kriel
14. Ruan Combrinck
15. François Steyn
16. Bismarck du Plessis
17. Trevor Nyakane
18. Vincent Koch
19. Pieter-Steph du Toit
20. Warren Whiteley
21. François Hougaard
22. Pat Lambie (Jantjies is my 3rd choice flyhalf)
23. Lionel Mapoe