LIST: International Rugby’s One Cap Wonders XV

Rugby News
Tuesday, 06 March 2018 at 11:01
oencapwonders
Ever wondered what a team of one-test internationals would look like if you gathered them all up and sent them onto the field?
Wonder no longer. RUCK.co.uk sports writers Steve Smith and Sam Foster have selected the games One-Test Wonders XV, picking from players from the past 20 years or so.
Fullback: Mark van Gisbergen - England
Yes, he has a cap – only a fleeting one, as a late replacement for Mark Cueto against Australia in 2005 – but he does boast a 100% winning ratio in international colours, so you can’t knock that. An exceptional player at club level, scoring over a 1000 points for Wasps, things just didn't come together for him on the Test stage.
Winger: Frank Halai - New Zealand
He's big, he's Tongan, he's fast, he's powerful, he's the One-Test Wonders' version of Jonah Lomu. Spread it wide and give big Frank Halai some space to move and he can be devastating.
Centre: Mark Bartholomeusz - Australia
Australian Bartholomeusz was part of the ACT Brumbies team that won the Super Rugby title back in 2004. Before moving to England and joining Saracens, the Wallabies centre played all of 2 minutes and 33 seconds against Italy – one of the shortest international careers in the history of rugby.
Centre: Regan King - New Zealand
Scarlets fans will probably remember King as one of their best ever players, and if it had not been for his solitary cap for the All Blacks back in 2002 he would almost certainly have played for the country he spent 11 years plying his trade in.
Winger: Steve Hanley - England
Aged 19, Hanley was one of two Sale players to make their international debut in England's final match of their 1999 Five Nations campaign along with Barrie-Jon Mather. Although Hanley scored a try, this proved to be his only ever international appearance despite a stellar club career with the Sharks.
Fly-half: Stephen Myler - England
Full international honours came in 2013 when Myler was called up to the England squad for their summer tour to Argentina. He made his Test debut as a second half replacement for Freddie Burns, scoring a conversion in the 51-26 victory.
Scrum-half: Kevin Senio - New Zealand
The Kiwi made his first and only appearance for the All Blacks as a replacement for Piri Weepu during the 34 – 24 win over Australia during the 2005 Tri Nations. After spending most of his career battling for starting spots with an array of All Black scrum halves, Senio left his home country to play for Clermont Auvergne in France.
Prop: Jamie Mackintosh - New Zealand
The man known as Whopper has been the heart and soul of the Southland team for 11 seasons. He's now playing for the Ohio Aviaters in Major League Rugby.
Hooker: Mark Bell - Australia
In an era when Australia had considerable depth at hooker, it was difficult for Bell to get a look in. However, his opportunity came in 1996 when he started against Canada for his country. The home side won 74 – 9, but he'd never featured for the Wallabies again.
Prop: Ben Afeaki - New Zealand
If it weren't for concussion issues, Afeaki would likely be a Rugby World Cup-winning prop with a big future ahead of him. Instead, the 27-year-old is retired with only one test cap to his name.
Lock: Hugh Vyvyan - England
The Newcastle and Saracens legend, who made 245 Premiership appearances, won a deserved first England cap against Canada in the Investec Challenge match in 2004 and scored a try as captain.
Lock: Scott Morgan - Wales
Welshman Morgan enjoyed a long and glorious career in domestic rugby, making 89 appearances for Cardiff Blues and 30 appearances for the Dragons, plus time spent at Bristol and Leeds – with whom he won the Powergen Cup in 2005. In 2007 Morgan made his one-and-only appearance his country, in a 31 – 0 defeat to Australia in Brisbane.
Flanker: George Whitelock - New Zealand
Three of the four Whitelock brothers have represented the All Blacks, and brothers George and Luke actually had to battle each other to make this team. George won the battle of the one-test Whitelock brothers.
Flanker: Calum Clark - England
Clark has featured for his country at age group level, playing for England U18’s up to U20’s. He progressed to senior International rugby in 2014, captaining the Saxons before making a full debut against France in the Rugby World Cup 2015 warm-up match against France. However, this would be his only appearance.
Number 8: Fabrice Lalanne - France
Making his only appearance for France against Romania in Bucharest, the US Dax and Stade Montois player helped his team to a 67-20 victory but never played for Les Bleus again. In fact, Lalanne is one of only a few one cap wonders at number eight in the professional era.
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