Telegraph picks a 'wasted talent XV' with three England internationals included
Rugby NewsThursday, 29 June 2023 at 15:03
According to The Telegraph, a Rugby XV of wasted talent has been selected, taking into consideration the following criteria: players must have earned 10 caps or fewer for their respective countries, their international rugby careers must be concluded, and they must have been capped at least once (uncapped players are excluded).
15. Isa Nacewa (Fiji, one cap)
14. James Simpson-Daniel (England, 10 caps)
They wrote: "Injuries hampered Simpson-Daniel’s ability to regularly break into an all-conquering England side, but his days with Gloucester showed his electric brilliance, while no one will forget in a hurry his burning of Jonah Lomu against the Barbarians. Leaving out the wasted talent of Christian Wade or the crude strength and pace of Joeli Vidiri was tough."
13. Philippe Bidabe (France, two caps)
12. Regan King (New Zealand, one cap)
11. Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Fiji, eight caps)
They wrote: "Oh, what might have been. The grandest waste of talent in the history of rugby, “Caucau’s” prowess on the world stage came and went in a flash, dazzling audiences and scorning defences at the 2003 World Cup. Years of wilderness and off-field indiscipline ensued, but those fortunate to watch Agen were treated to irregular glimpses of mastery in his later years."
Get your tickets to the Rugby World Cup matches at viagogo, the world’s leading ticket marketplace. Find out how by clicking here.
10. Alex King (England, five caps)
They wrote: "Stuart Barnes was a terrific fly-half, who should have got far more caps, but King was the beating heart of that splendid Wasps side who won a hat-trick of Premiership titles and two Heineken Cups – it took a certain Wilkinson to keep him out of the international spotlight. After his successes in conducting a back line on the field, he later turned his accomplished hand to conducting from the coaches' box: first with Clermont; then Northampton and Wales; and now Montpellier."
9. Julien Dupuy (France, eight caps)
1. Garry Pagel (South Africa, five caps)
They wrote: "A Gloucester legend, Azam made over 200 appearances for the Cherry and Whites and, such was his affinity with his surrogate homeland, he opened a restaurant in nearby Cheltenham. Nicknamed ‘Ollie’ by the Shed faithful, the combative, nuggety hooker was abrasive – sometimes on the wrong side of the law – but adroit, too."
2. Olivier Azam (France, 10 caps)
3. Benoit Lecouls (France, six caps)
Get your tickets to the Rugby World Cup matches at viagogo, the world’s leading ticket marketplace. Find out how by clicking here.
4. Alistair Hargreaves (South Africa, four caps)
5. Thibaut Privat (France, 10 caps)
6. Xavier Rush (New Zealand, eight caps)
7. Steffon Armitage (England, five caps)
They wrote: "It is a moot point as to what the former London Irish flanker might have achieved in an England shirt, at a time when his country was crying out for a rambunctious openside – 50 caps, perhaps? In a different life... He went on to pummel the Top 14 and still plays in France, for Biarritz. Toulouse's elegant flanker, Jean Bouilhou, would be an admirable benchman."
8. Henry Tuilagi (Samoa, 10 caps)
Get your tickets to the Rugby World Cup matches at viagogo, the world’s leading ticket marketplace. Find out how by clicking here.
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
Loading
