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Kiwi Lions XV v Kiwi France XV

Started by ABasquefan4 REPLIES313 VIEWS· 26 Dec 2016, 17:41
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AB
ABasquefanPro2,549 posts
26 Dec 2016, 17:41
#1
26 Dec 2016, 17:41#1
Kiwi Lions XV v Kiwi France XV : Which team of rugby stars would win this contest?


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Charles Piutau and Ma'a Nonu are two former All Blacks now plying their trade in Europe.

New Zealand continues to produce some of the world's finest rugby players, with many heading to Europe due to the lure of big money contracts. But who would make up a team of Kiwi XVs playing in the UK and Ireland and France? And who would win a match between the two?

KIWI LIONS XV

15. James Marshall - London Irish

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James Marshall was a Super Rugby winner with the Hurricanes in 2016.

28-year-old left the Hurricanes after winning the Super Rugby title to join London Irish, who were relegated to the English Championship earlier this year.

Played for New Zealand's sevens in two legs of the 2011 World Series.

14. Jason Woodward - Bristol

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Jason Woodward was preferred to All Blacks winger Julian Savea.

Another member of the Hurricanes' Super Rugby title-winners headed to England, as the 26-year-old winger, who was preferred to the out-of-form Julian Savea throughout the season, joined Bristol this year.

Played in New Zealand's under-20s in 2010, as they went unbeaten to win the world rugby championships.

13. Jared Payne - Ulster

REUTERS

Jared Payne has become a key figure in Ireland's midfield.

31-year-old left the Blues in 2011 to join Irish club Ulster, having played for the Crusaders and the Chiefs in Super Rugby.

Became eligible for Ireland on residency grounds in 2014, and has since won 20 caps, which included a start in the famous 40-29 victory over the All Blacks in Chicago last month.

12. Willis Halaholo - Cardiff Blues

ALDEN WILLIAMS/FAIRFAX NZ

Willis Halaholo was a revelation as the Hurricanes won their maiden Super Rugby title.

26-year-old was a revelation for the Hurricanes as they won their maiden Super Rugby title, but he had signed a three-year contract with Cardiff Blues earlier this year and made his debut for the Welsh club last month.

Played for New Zealand Secondary Schools in 2007 and represented Tonga at the under-20s world rugby championships in 2009.

11. Charles Piutau - Ulster

ANTHONY PHELPS

Former All Blacks winger Charles Piutau left New Zealand last year.

25-year-old surprisingly opted to leave the Blues in 2015 to sign for Ulster, who had to loan him to London Wasps for one season because their foreign allocation was full.

Won 16 All Blacks caps after his debut in 2013 but hasn't played since he was omitted from the 2015 World Cup squad.

10. Nick Evans - Harlequins

REUTERS

Nick Evans has become a Harlequins legend since leaving New Zealand.

36-year-old is still with Harlequins and has scored more than 2000 points and played 200 times for the English club, after leaving the Blues in 2008, having played for the Highlanders between 2004 and 2007.

Won 16 All Blacks caps between 2004 and 2007 and was selected in the 30-man squad for the 2007 World Cup in France.

9. Jamison Gibson-Park - Leinster

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Jamison Gibson-Park was another Hurricane to leave after winning Super Rugby.

Another Super Rugby champion with the Hurricanes this year, Gibson-Park left New Zealand to join Irish club Leinster. 24-year-old had also played for the Blues between 2013 and 2015.

Played eight times for New Zealand Maori between 2012 and 2015.

8. Nasi Manu - Edinburgh

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Nasi Manu celebrates winning Super Rugby with the Highlanders in 2015.

28-year-old played for the Crusaders (2008-2009) and Highlanders (2010-2015), leaving the latter as co-captain after their Super Rugby title success in 2015, to join Scottish club Edinburgh.

Played for New Zealand squads that won world titles at under-19s and under-20s level in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

7. John Hardie - Edinburgh

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'Kilted Kiwi' John Hardie has represented Scotland since leaving the Highlanders after last year's Super Rugby triumph.

28-year-old 'Kilted Kiwi' joined departing team-mate Manu in signing for Edinburgh from the Highlanders last year, which concluded with a Super Rugby title after playing for the franchise between 2010 and 2015.

Qualifies for Scotland through his grandmother and has won 13 caps since his debut last year.

6. Jarrad Hoeata - Cardiff Blues

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Jarred Hoeata runs at former Chiefs winger Lelia Masaga in his Highlanders days.

Versatile 32-year-old signed for Cardiff Blues in 2014 after three years with the Highlanders, following one season with the Chiefs.

Won two All Blacks caps in 2011 and played nine times for New Zealand Maori between 2007 and 2012.

5. Jeremy Thrush - Gloucester

BRUCE LIM

Jeremy Thrush wrapped up by Waikato defenders in NPC in 2015.

31-year-old signed for Gloucester in 2015 after winning 110 Super Rugby caps with the Hurricanes between 2008 and 2015.

Won 11 All Black Caps between 2013 and 2015.

4. Michael Fitzgerald - Leicester Tigers

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Michael Fitzgerald spent three years with the Chiefs.

29-year-old joined Leicester Tigers in 2015 after winning 58 Super Rugby Caps with the Chiefs between 2012 and 2015.

The former Wanganui and Manawatu lock was signed by Leicester to replace retiring former All Black Brad Thorn.

3. Ben Franks - London Irish

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Two-time World Cup winner Ben Franks joined London Irish at the end of last year.

32-year-old joined London Irish after winning his second World Cup with the All Blacks last year, having played for the Hurricanes and the Crusaders in Super Rugby since 2006.

Won 47 All Blacks caps between 2008 and 2015, and came off the bench in both the 2011 and 2015 World Cup finals.

2. Dylan Hartley - Northampton Saints

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Rotorua-born Dylan Hartley led England to four victories over Australia as they went unbeaten in 2016.

30-year-old was born, raised and schooled in Rotorua but left New Zealand for England in 2002, and has played for Worcester and Northampton.

His mother is English and he was named England captain this year, with 78 caps currently to his name after making his debut in 2008.

1. Josh Hohneck - Gloucester

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Josh Hohneck was a Super Rugby winner with the Highlanders in 2015.

30-year-old signed for Gloucester this year after playing for the Highlanders (2015-2016) and the Chiefs (2012-2014) in Super Rugby.

Played once for New Zealand Maori in 2015.

KIWI FRANCE XV

15. Colin Slade - Pau

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Colin Slade last wore the black jersey in 2015.

Versatile 29-year-old joined Pau, after playing for the Crusaders and the Highlanders in Super Rugby, on a two-year deal in 2015 as the French club was promoted to Top 14.

Won 21 All Blacks caps between 2010 and 2015, and was named in the 2011 World Cup squad that went on to lift the William Webb Ellis Cup at Eden Park.

14. Hosea Gear - Clermont Auvergne

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Hosea Gear had a stint with the Chiefs in 2015.

32-year-old left New Zealand in 2013, having played for the Hurricanes and the Highlanders, to join Toulouse, before signing for Japanese club Honda Heat, then Clermont snapped him up in 2015. Played six Super Rugby games for the Chiefs last year, too.

Won 14 All Blacks caps between 2008 and 2013, as well as playing for New Zealand Maori and New Zealand sevens - winning a gold medal with the latter at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

13. Conrad Smith - Pau

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Conrad Smith joined Pau after last year's World Cup triumph.

35-year-old joined Slade at Pau after winning his second World Cup with the All Blacks last year, after winning 126 Super Rugby caps with the Hurricanes between 2004 and 2015.

Won 94 All Blacks caps between 2004 and 2015 and collected two World Cup winners medals in 2011 and 2015.

12. Ma'a Nonu - Toulon

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Ma'a Nonu scoring for Toulon, the club joined after winning his second World Cup with the All Blacks last year.

34-year-old was another All Blacks star to sign a lucrative deal with a French club after last year's World Cup triumph in England, as he joined Toulon after playing for the Hurricanes, the Blues and the Highlanders in Super Rugby.

Surpassed 100 All Blacks caps during last year's successful World Cup campaign, which was the second time he lifted the William Webb Ellis Cup after playing in the 2011 tournament in New Zealand.

11. Joe Rokocoko - Racing 92

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Joe Rokocoko is now playing for Racing 92 in France.

33-year-old signed for Bayonne in 2011 after eight years with Blues. He joined Racing 92 last year.

Joint second with Christian Cullen for most All Blacks tries in history, with 46 in 68 tests between 2003 and 2010 before he left for France.

10. Dan Carter - Racing 92

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And so is Dan Carter, another All Black who left New Zealand after winning last year's World Cup.

34-year-old was another All Blacks legend to head to France, joining Rokocoko at Racing 92, after winning the World Cup in England last year, after playing for the Crusaders between 2003 and 2015. Injury meant he played just five games for Perpignan between 2008 and 2008.

Record points scorer for the All Blacks (1,598) from 112 tests since his debut in 2003.

9. Nigel Hunt - Grenoble

ANDREW GORRIE/FAIRFAX NZ

Nigel Hunt played won gold with New Zealand's sevens at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006.

33-year-old signed for Grenoble in 2010 having never played Super Rugby. Represented Wellington and Bay of Plenty in NPC.

Won gold with New Zealand's sevens at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and played in the World Series between 2005 and 2007.

8. Victor Vito - La Rochelle

MONIQUE FORD / FAIRFAX NZ

Victor Vito joined La Rochelle after winning Super Rugby with the Hurricanes.

Versatile 29-year-old left the Hurricanes for La Rochelle, after winning his 100th Super Rugby cap since his debut in 2009, as they won their first title this year.

Won 33 All Blacks caps between 2010 and 2015 and collected two World Cup winners medals in 2011 and 2015.

7. Tanerau Latimer - Bayonne

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Tanerau Latimer scoring a try for the Chiefs in 2015.

30-year-old joined Bayonne after a brief stint with the Blues this year, having played for the Crusaders and the Chiefs, as well as Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus between 2014 and 2016.

Played in five All Blacks tests in 2009 following an injury to Richie McCaw, as well as playing in five games for New Zealand Maori between 2007 and 2012.

6. Luke Braid - Bordeaux-Begles

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Luke Braid played for the Blues and the Chiefs in Super Rugby.

28-year-old left New Zealand in 2015 after four years with the Blues, which followed two seasons with the Chiefs. He made his Super Rugby debut in 2010.

Played four times for New Zealand's under-20s, as they won the world rugby championships in 2008, and has played once for New Zealand Maori.

5. Ali Williams - Racing 92

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Ali Williams returned to rugby this year to join Carter and Rokocoko at Racing 92.

35-year-old came out of retirement to join Carter at Racing 92, having turned out for Toulon between 2013 and 2015, after playing for the Blues and the Crusaders since his Super Rugby debut in 2002.

Won 77 All Blacks test caps between 2002 and 2012 and was part of the 2011 World Cup winning squad.

4. Tom Donnelly - Montpellier

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Tom Donnelly plays for Montpellier, who Vern Cotter will take charge of next year.

34-year-old joined Montpellier in 2014 after 10 years in Super Rugby playing for the Highlanders, the Crusaders and the Blues.

Won 15 All Blacks test caps between 2009 and 2010.

3.  Ben Tameifuna - Racing 92

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Giant prop Ben Tameifuna was called into the All Blacks squad in 2012.

25-year-old joined Racing 92 in 2015 after winning 65 Super Rugby caps in three years with the Chiefs.

Was selected as the heaviest members of an All Blacks squad in 2012 but never won a test cap. He was part of New Zealand's under-20s squad that won the world rugby championships in 2011.

2. Hikairo Forbes - La Rochelle

GRANT REABURN

Hikairo Forbes (with the ball) played in New Zealand for Hawke's Bay.

30-year-old has been with La Rochelle since 2013 after two years with Bordeaux Begles, which followed three years playing at NPC level for Waikato and Hawke's Bay.

Scored the match-winning try on the hooter that sent Waikato into the 2010 NPC final at Auckland's expense, with the semi-final finishing 38-37 to the Mooloos.

1. Jamie Mackintosh - Pau

ROBYN EDIE/FAIRFAX NZ

Jamie Mackintosh also played in America in 2016, for the Ohio Aviators.

31-year-old signed for Pau this year after playing for Montpellier in 2015, which followed eight years in Super Rugby with the Highlanders (2007-2013) and the Chiefs (2014-2015).

Played in one All Blacks test in 2008 against Scotland on their northern hemisphere tour.


*** (players selected are or have been eligible for NZ and are playing in the UK and Ireland or France) ***


Kiwi Lions XV: 15. James Marshall, 14. Jason Woodward, 13. Jared Payne, 12. Willis Halaholo, 11. Charles Piutau, 10. Nick Evans, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park; 8. Nasi Manu, 7. John Hardie, 6. Jarrad Hoeata, 5. Jeremy Thrush, 4. Michael Fitzgerald, 3. Ben Franks, 2. Dylan Hartley, 1. Josh Hohneck.


Kiwi France XV: 15. Colin Slade, 14. Hosea Gear, 13. Conrad Smith, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 11. Joe Rokocoko, 10. Dan Carter, 9. Nigel Hunt; 8. Victor Vito, 7. Tanerua Latimer, 6. Luke Braid, 5. Ali Williams, 4. Tom Donnelly, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 2. Hikairo Forbes, 1. Jamie Mackintosh.

AB
ABasquefanPro2,549 posts
26 Dec 2016, 18:04
#2
26 Dec 2016, 18:04#2
  IMO those in France should win it

also interesting would be the Overseas Kiwi XV:

15. Colin Slade, 14. Charles Piutau, 13. Conrad Smith, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 11. Joe Rokocoko, 10. Dan Carter, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park; 8. Victor Vito, 7. Luke Braid, 6. Nasi Manu , 5. Ali Williams, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 2. Hikairo Forbes, 1. Ben Franks.


quite strong side,... stronger than anything SA or Aus could show,...
BR
BrycyPro4,671 posts
26 Dec 2016, 20:08
#3
26 Dec 2016, 20:08#3
 ... worth a mention is Johnny McNichol... he's another great winger/fullback now playing for Scarlets...and you may see him in a Welsh jersey one day...has just had emergency surgery and missed Scarlets back to back games against Toulon...but don't write the Scarlets off just yet...
...could also add Solomona , the top try scorer in Super Leaugue last year and now playing for the Sale Sharks...scored a spectacular try on the weekend , can play wing , fullback and centre ...only 23yr old, a player to watch although could've joined a better club...,
TH
TheTraditionalistPro4,003 posts
27 Dec 2016, 14:06
#4
27 Dec 2016, 14:06#4
 Especially as they share a collective fabric to build their team work on.

A bunch of retired, B players...

That quota story is an absolute must have to cover for all that stuff.

Justifying 15 rugby in SA would give world higher IQs a headache while intellectual midgets can see all the causes to stop.
RO
RooinekCaptain18,117 posts
11 Jan 2017, 17:14
#5
11 Jan 2017, 17:14#5
 Rugby back to the top.
— END OF THREAD —

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