15 Players you forgot played for England since their World Cup triumph
Ruck LifeWednesday, 13 April 2016 at 11:29
Apart from their recent Grand Slam triumph, England have enjoyed little success at international level over the last decade following their Rugby World Cup triumph in 2003.
Although some of those capped were promising young players who would form the backbone of this season’s Grand Slam winning team, others were dispensed with after earning a solitary cap.
Consequently, the last ten years has seen England cap more than a few forgettable players.
How many of these names do you remember pulling on the white shirt?!...
1. Ben Skirving - Won one cap in 2007
Skirving travelled to South Africa to take the place of the injured Peter Buxton in the full England squad for their two-test series against the Springboks.
The back-rower was not involved in the first test, but won his first England cap starting the second test on 2 June 2007
2. Darren Crompton - Won one cap in 2007
Crompton was selected for the tour of South Africa at the age of 34, nine years after his first senior England tour, as a result of his form in the Premiership.
Thus, the tighthead was able to win his full England cap when he took to the field during the first Test against the Springboks in Bloemfontein as a replacement for Stuart Turner on 26 May 2007.
3. Matt Cairns - Won one cap in 2007
He was called up to the full England side for their summer tour to South Africa in 2007, earning his first and only cap as a replacement during the first test against the Springboks on 26 May 2007.
The hooker though fell victim to the virus that prevented many England players being considered for the second test.
4. Perry Freshwater - Won ten caps between 2005 and 2007
The New Zealand-born prop qualified for England through his Plaistow-born father (he also had met the three-year residency requirement)
He made his international debut from the replacements bench during the 40–3 victory over Samoa in November 2005. He won a further two caps during the 2006 Six Nations Championship, against Scotland and Ireland.
Freshwater played in three games of the 2007 Six Nations Championship, and gained selection for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Freshwater played in two group games of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
5. Olly Morgan - Won two caps in 2007
Morgan and Gloucester made a great start to the 2006/07 season by beating Bath on the opening day with Morgan scoring a try.
He continued his great form and was rewarded with selection by England.
Unfortunately he was injured in his second appearance for England which ruled him out of the rest of the season including Gloucester's defeat to Leicester in the Guinness Premiership Final. The fullback would never play for England again.
6. Lesley Vainikolo - Won five caps in 2008
As a union player, Vainikolo was eligible to play for Tonga by birth, New Zealand by parentage or England by residence. He applied for a British passport and was included in the English squad for the Six Nations Championships in 2008.
He made his debut for England against Wales on 2 February 2008, while his second appearance came for England against Italy in Rome on 10 February 2008. He also played against France, also in the Six Nations on 23 February 2008, Scotland on 8 March 2008 and Ireland on 15 March 2008. So far he has played five test matches and is yet to score a try.
He was dropped by Rob Andrew for the England tour of New Zealand, and was left out of Martin Johnson's Elite Squad for 2008–2009.
7. Anthony Allen - Won two caps in 2006
He made his England debut against New Zealand on 5 November 2006, partnering Newcastle Falcons' Jamie Noon in the centre.
Allen received multiple stitches in his mouth halfway through that first half after being hit in the face by his New Zealand opposite number, but Allen was dropped after they lost 25–18 to Argentina and would never wear the white shirt again.
8. Ayoola Erinle - Won two caps in 2009
On 4 November 2009, he was named in the 22-man England squad to face Australia in the 2009 Autumn internationals.
After winning his first cap as a replacement against Australia, Erinle was named in the starting XV for the game against the All Blacks, which would be his last international appearance.
9. Chris Pennell - Won one cap in 2014
Worcester Warriors fan favourite fullback, Pennell was called up to the England training squad by coach Stuart Lancaster, and in May 2014 he flew out with the squad for the Barbarians' fixtures.
He made his England debut and only appearance to date during the tour, coming off the bench in the 20-15 loss to New Zealand
10. Shane Geraghty - Won six caps between 2007 and 2009
Geraghty was capped by England at U21 and A-level, before making the first of his six Test appearances to date off the bench against France in the 2007 Six Nations.
On his England debut against France he scored a penalty and a conversion, which were only points he scored during his short international career.
11. Nick Walshe - Won two caps in 2006
Walshe appeared several times over the years for the England A Team before winning his two full caps as a replacement on the 2006 tour to Australia.
12. Magnus Lund - Won ten caps between 2006 and 2007
The flanker was part of the 2006 Six Nations Championship Training squad, and was chosen in the 2006–07 Elite squad after a successful tour to Australia in the summer.
Lund was chosen for England in the 2007 Six Nations Championship opener against Scotland, in which he scored a try as England won 42–20.
He was called up to the England squad for the 2008 Six Nations Championship but did not feature.
13. Alex Brown - Won three caps between 2006 and 2007
The lock made his senior international debut for England during their 2006 summer tour, in a defeat to Australia.
Brown then played in both tests on the 2007 summer tour, England losing both games to South Africa.
14. Dean Schofield - Won two caps in 2007
Schofield made his England debut in a defeat to South Africa, during a summer tour prior to the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
The second row was named in the England squad to participate in the 2009 Churchill Cup, coming off the bench in the Final.
15. Hendre Fourie - Won eight caps between 2010 and 2011
Fourie was a relatively late developer at an elite level, only realising his potential under the tutelage of his mentor Andre Bester at the Rotherham Titans.
The prop then played eight games for England, making his debut against New Zealand at Twickenham in November 2010.
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
Loading